Troyer horizontals or Troyer verticals? Which do you prefer?

[BillieJR]

I'm going to order a few more Troyer gourds and I'm trying to decide which one to order. I have some of both already and I can't really tell if the martins prefer one more than the other. It seems to me that the horizontals would keep them safer from predators because they appear to have a longer tunnel than the verticals. I haven't actually measured them to see if there is that much of a difference or not. Also - the verticals appear to have a deeper nesting cavity than the horizontals. "My" martins use both. I have 20 gourds out and there are nests in all 20.

I'd like your opinions on which you think are all around the better of the two - horizontals or verticals.

Do your martins seem to prefer one over the other?

Thanks!

[Martintown33]

Hi Billie. I too have both. I can’t say I notice a preference as they use both. Personally I think they both have advantages. The verticals with tunnels seem to have a bigger nesting area, while the horizontal has the longer tunnel and the nesting area is farther back. I like and use both.
Rob

[paule]

Billie,
I prefer the verticals because with the proper ventilation the nest stay dryer due to a chimney effect allowing more air flow. I don't think the martins care until the young become wet and chilled.
Just my two cents worth,
Paul

[Unk Bond]

Hello Billie
I have also both
And quiet agree with Paul and his post reason for his choice

Later Unk

[Dave Reynolds]

I have both type vertical and horizontal by Troyer…I done think the Martins care one way or another.. I’m happy with either kind.. Both are great gourds…. Have a great year

Dave

[BillieJR]

Thank you ALL for your replies and opinions. Sounds like we're all pretty much on the same page - both styles seem to make the martins happy - and that's what it's all about, right? Thanks again!

I hope you all have a great and successful martin season!

[Thomas Maddox]

I choose the verticals. Why? Because I thought they look better. Just being honest.

[BillieJR]

Thanks, Thomas!

[Martin man RI]

Hi Thomas
I manage around 400 gourds about 200 vertical and 200 horizontal. Without question the most popular gourds in New England are Troyer gourds.
You have the best state of the art gourd. What I can tell you. Both are excellent. But should you have a owl attack they will bend the gourd down
if you have aluminum arms. Some of my gourds have been bent only the horizontal gourds was not a major event 3 gourds bent yearly. ok after the shock
of seeing the gourds bent down i open them up the the chicks were safe back in there nest bowl. Now not sure had this happen in the vertical gourds the turn
out would have been the same. The vertical gourds are very easy to clean. But if i had a choice i would go with horizontal gourds and remove the aluminum arms
and purchase stainless steel arms that way they can't bend them on you martins will be much safer. I have a ton of vertical gourds and would not give them up for anything.
Coopers hawks will land on the horizontal gourds and bend them a little. Not as much as a owl will.


Hope this will help
Ray ---in Rhode Island

[Thomas Maddox]

Thanks Ray! Never had or even thought about bent arms. Where did you get the stainless steel ones?

[Unk Bond]

t
Hello
When I bough my gourds from Troyer
I had the option of stainless or aluminum arms
Later Unk

[Thomas Maddox]

Thanks Unc!