Hand warmers

[Thomas Maddox]

I'm definitely going to try to flip crickets and superworms. Are you starting today or tomorrow?

[Dave Duit]

Here are the basics provided by the PMCA about cold weather.
Weather
Weather can play a large factor in the year-to-year success of the Purple Martin population. Since Purple Martins are aerial insectivores—meaning they catch all of their insects in flight—they are extremely vulnerable to weather conditions such as excessive cold, heat, or drought.

Cold/Wet Weather
Purple Martins are adversely affected by weather if the temperature is constantly below about 48 degrees for three days or there is constant rain for a period longer than three days. The martins dietary staple, flying insects, do not fly in these conditions; and after the three day period martins will begin to die from starvation.

How to Help
Supplemental Feeding
Although martins normally catch their insects while flying, they can be trained to accept supplemental food such as crickets, mealworms, or even scrambled eggs. Visit the Supplemental Feeding page for more information.

Heating
If you have unoccupied cavities, place a light bulb or hand warmers inside the cavity, making sure that the entrance is blocked so martins cannot enter. This will help heat the surrounding cavities.

Observation
Cold weather will also lead to “communal cavity roosting” by martins (i.e., many birds will congregate in one nest cavity for warmth). During times of severe weather, the bird closest to the entrance may die, preventing the other martins from leaving. Observe your colony site to make sure the entrances are not blocked.

[hobbiehobbie]

Friday for sure down here, they will be quite ready. Wednesday hope they hunker down. Its food, have to get something in them.
I plan on no flipping, too much wasted effort for them. Ill put worms on the porches and my makeshift platforms over the gourd racks. Throw some on my roof. Iv 6k superworms, this is when they need them most.
Its going to be bad enough for us and especially bad for our northern landlords.

Did you have any luck with the worms? What kind of worms do you use?

I've put crickets on porches and inside the openings, but my martins seem to be ignoring them.

I'm worried. I had 5 staying the night in my gourds, but I've only seen three today.

I flipped crickets and scrambled eggs with absolutely zero interest from the martins.

I've got a ton of red worms...

[Thomas Maddox]

Friday for sure down here, they will be quite ready. Wednesday hope they hunker down. Its food, have to get something in them.
I plan on no flipping, too much wasted effort for them. Ill put worms on the porches and my makeshift platforms over the gourd racks. Throw some on my roof. Iv 6k superworms, this is when they need them most.
Its going to be bad enough for us and especially bad for our northern landlords.

Did you have any luck with the worms? What kind of worms do you use?

I've put crickets on porches and inside the openings, but my martins seem to be ignoring them.

I'm worried. I had 5 staying the night in my gourds, but I've only seen three today.

I flipped crickets and scrambled eggs with absolutely zero interest from the martins.

I've got a ton of red worms...

Keep trying! Try flipping the crickets directly at them. Keep putting some into their cavities.
Super worms have been used successfully. I just got some from a local pet store. I've personally never heard of using red worms, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Fight the Good fight!

[Martintown33]

I flipped 300 crickets just now.. at them, over them, cross from them, 45 degree angle, you name it., no takers.. not good.
Rob

[Martintown33]

I wanted to pass this on.. I just checked my housing. All the crickets I put in the front rooms of the compartments are gone. I hope the martins ate them and didn’t clean house with them. I reloaded each compartment they’re in, with about 30 crickets each. Might be worth a try for those having no luck flipping, like me..
Good luck
Rob

[Phil01]

Congrats Rob! Sounds like they are eating them! I hope all of you experiencing the very cold weather this week have luck with your Martins eating and they all make it! Keep up the good work gentleman, they are in good hands!

Just and FYI, yesterday for the first time I got mine to eat flipped crickets.. took a while and no takers during the first plate. I would whistle every time before I flipped to let them know it was coming. What seemed to trigger the first time they started grabbing them was when I flipped multiple crickets.. I was sending 3 and 4 up at a time and finally a female grabbed one. The others started once they saw her eating them. Don’t know if that was the difference or just dumb luck, but worth a try..

Good luck all!
Phil

[Martintown33]

Phil, that’s a great accomplishment! Awesome that you finally got them to do it. I’ve tried the multiple cricket flip before, no luck, but I’ll give it another shot. Congrats!
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Friday for sure down here, they will be quite ready. Wednesday hope they hunker down. Its food, have to get something in them.
I plan on no flipping, too much wasted effort for them. Ill put worms on the porches and my makeshift platforms over the gourd racks. Throw some on my roof. Iv 6k superworms, this is when they need them most.
Its going to be bad enough for us and especially bad for our northern landlords.

Did you have any luck with the worms? What kind of worms do you use?

I've put crickets on porches and inside the openings, but my martins seem to be ignoring them.

I'm worried. I had 5 staying the night in my gourds, but I've only seen three today.

I flipped crickets and scrambled eggs with absolutely zero interest from the martins.

I've got a ton of red worms...

Man I'm sorry so late to you. My day is spent feeding martins it seems like.
I use the term worm loosely...its superworms, look like meal worms but about 2 inches long.
Keep at the crickets on porches, if they aren't flying give that a shot.

[Martintown33]

Just checked housing again. I’m having no luck flipping but good success with them eating crickets inside of house compartments for those who aren’t having luck flipping. 2 days in a row almost all crickets are gone from occupied compartments. Give it a try.
Good luck
Rob