I write this every year. My experience is that above 103 actual temp everything that can get to an entrance starts jumping out like humans jumping out of burning buildings to their death.
The first sign of excessive heat is the parents stop feeding.
I eventually started using misters on my houses. With misters they do not stop feeding.
I've survived actual temps of 108 with no problem.
I have not had a single jumper after misting.
When it is that hot I do not think you have to worry about wet nest problems.
I have a well so cost does not concern me. I turn them on once heat index hits 102 which yesterday was at actual temp of 91, and turn them off an hour before sunset.
fan of misters for heat
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Very interesting observations.. thanks for the info … so far, in the past, under very hot conditions, temps definitely above 91, with 2 , 1 inch elbow vents, in each gourd, I haven’t had jumpers.. but hey, whatever works! It’s very humid here in SE Louisiana, and I am a little Leary of wet nests, with the heat… probably works well in the dry heat of Oklahoma! …
Good luck
Rob
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 2876
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair,
PMCA member
Second Rob, whatever it takes to keep them healthy. Its humid enough down here too, they do slow feeding in hot weather...chicks lay flat. Food picks up in the am and pm. Siesta time mid day. Im good with venting, i could shield if pushed but our stiff sea breeze pushes air in and around the gourds.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
I’ve noticed the same behavior in very hot weather Tom. Feeding definitely slows down or stops during hottest part of afternoon. Agree, I believe it allows the chicks to just sleep, in that period of time, less movement equals less body heat. I think it’s natural instinct .. the parents know to let them just sleep at that hottest time of the day, during high heat periods.
Rob
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Visitors
Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 58 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 128 Eggs, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 156 Eggs, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 162 Eggs, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 146 Eggs, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 157 Eggs, 130 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Eggs, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Eggs, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 39 Eggs, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair 64 Eggs, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 89 Eggs, 84 Fledged
.. I did put a sprinkler out near the houses ... but not on the houses.. The Moms and Pops would fly through the water and seem to really like it.. But never sprayed the houses..
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Dave, that must be cool to watch them fly through the sprinkler to cool off. There’s lots of natural water around my site. I’ve seen them come back soaking wet sometimes on hot days, after they’ve cooled off. Fun to watch. I may give the sprinkler (not on the houses) a shot next season. Would be cool to see.
Rob
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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Phil01
- Posts: 214
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:42 pm
- Location: Fernandina Beach FL
- Martin Colony History: 34 Cavities offered.
24 unit gourd rack with Troyer Horizontal and Vertical Gourds. Sunset Inn aluminum house with 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds.
2020- 1 pair, 4 eggs, fledged 3
2021- 3 pair, 15 eggs, fledged 8
2022- 5 pair, 26 eggs, fledged 21
2023- 10 pair, 53 eggs, fledged 27
PMCA Member
That would be cool to watch them fly through the sprinklers! I bet that really helps cool them off!
We have a 5 acre retention pond about 200ft from the housing with a fountain that shoots water 50 ft in the air. I see the martins flying through the mist all the time when it’s hot. I also watch them skimming the pond to drink. You’ll see big splashes when skimming the water sometimes. I think they are bathing on the fly. They do it in the mornings and then around 7-8 pm. Like Rob described, they come back and perch on the housing soaking wet. So cool to watch!
Phil
We have a 5 acre retention pond about 200ft from the housing with a fountain that shoots water 50 ft in the air. I see the martins flying through the mist all the time when it’s hot. I also watch them skimming the pond to drink. You’ll see big splashes when skimming the water sometimes. I think they are bathing on the fly. They do it in the mornings and then around 7-8 pm. Like Rob described, they come back and perch on the housing soaking wet. So cool to watch!
Phil
PMCA member
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fernandina Beach, FL