I just purchased the book to make the T14 nesting box. I looked up the price for cedar and it was$600 for 70 feet and I was wondering could I use pine or other materials to make the nesting box I know Cedar would probably be the best but if you guys have any suggestions. The old box that I have is from tractor supply i've had it for 5 years it's been working but now I think it's time to get in the game for real and do it the right way. i really like the chirpynes
Thank you
T14 purple Martin nesting box
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- Posts: 256
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
- Location: Highland Village, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4
Cedar is much lighter than pine and you want as little weight as possible up there. I like the Troyer Poly t-14(not sold here) the best because it has a 3 inch pole and will never rot or rust. They're expensive but you'll never buy another one.
Our nation's destruction is not incompetence. It's intentional. YOU are the carbon they want to reduce. Once you understand this, you understand everything.
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- Posts: 22
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2022 7:23 pm
- Location: Florida
- Martin Colony History: Panama City, FL
2024 - 12 gourds - 12 nests - 61 eggs - 45 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (2) TH C; (3) TV C; (3) TV R
2023 - 12 gourds - 9 nests - 42 eggs - 36 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (2) TH C; (2) TV C; (2) TV R; (2) natural gourds R
2022 - 12 gourds - 11 nests - 54 eggs - 30 fledged (raccoon attack mid-season)
- Single pole 6 over 6; (4) SG R; (4) TV C; (2) TV R; (2) old Heath one piece R
2021 - 10 gourds - 4 nests - 18 eggs - 15 fledged
- Single pole 6 over 4; (4) SG R; (2) TV C; (4) TV R
2020 - (6) SG R gourds - first year; no nests but did see investigators
2018 - Hurricane Michael tore down many trees to open up habitat - set up array Feb 2020
I made a T-14 out of 1x12 roof decking recovered from a hurricane damaged 60-year-old house. The 3/4" thick walls and roof should be good for insulation, but I know that they will be heavy. I made it several years ago after Hurricane Michael did his damage but will just get around to putting it up in a couple weeks for my first colony expansion for next year's birds. Expecting the weight, I will be using a 3"x3" galvanized steel pole, SS cable, and a heavy-duty winch with braking. I will have to let you know how it works out when I get it installed. Wish me luck.
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- Posts: 3647
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Yeah, lumber prices have gotten crazy over the years. The first T 14 I bought was from reclaimed hemlock wood from an old barn a friend had torn down. I think I paid him $50.00 for all the lumber. That was 15-20 years ago. I built another T14 several years ago using cedar and had between 200-300 dollars in materials. A year or so after I built that last one I built one for a friend of mine and had over $600.00 in cedar. At the time I built the one for my friend you could buy one directly from Troyers for not much more than DIY. When I started building them there was a big difference in building your own v DIY.
As mentioned below you can use pine, it will weigh more and will need more attention to keep from rotting away. The hemlock I used was very old when I got it. I had never heard of hemlock but was told a lot of old tobacco barns were built out of it partly because if it's life span, plus it's availability in the south.
As mentioned below you can use pine, it will weigh more and will need more attention to keep from rotting away. The hemlock I used was very old when I got it. I had never heard of hemlock but was told a lot of old tobacco barns were built out of it partly because if it's life span, plus it's availability in the south.
2025 HOSP count-5
2024 HOSP count-44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2024 HOSP count-44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.