Crickets...get your Crickets!!

[Laverne]

Just a reminder to all - the martins are on their way to your housing to begin the mating season. The early arrivers could require a supplemental feeding here and there to insure their survival. Now (when flying insects may be scarce) is a good time to attempt training your returning birds to accept your offerings of food. If you have never fed your PMs before, I would suggest start by flinging a live cricket high in the air so it comes down in front of your martins as they perch on your housing. If they are hungry they will go after them.

Recent years have proven that a late cold and/or rainy spell can kill your Purple Martins. Please don't let this happen to your faithfully returning birds.

A $10 or $15 investment in crickets, kept in your freezer, or kept alive in a bin, could be the difference between life and death to your colony. Scrambled eggs work well, too - but, we have to make the effort to train the birds to recognize eggs as food.

I would like to thank each of you in advance for all you do to "conserve" the Purple Martin species. But, I know I don't need to thank anybody - the pleasure found in the presence of the Purple Martins, as they build their nests, lay their eggs, and raise their young - that is thanks enough...

May your God grace each of you with a productive purple season. Enjoy...

[Lislou]

Where does one go about finding crickets for sale?

[Lislou]

Or meal worms for that matter......

[CraigMo.]

Hi you can usually find crickets at any pet store, and a lot of them have the mealworms. I think you can buy them from the pmca shop also. But it sounds like Laverne knows where to buy them cheaper in a bulk supply. Since you are brand new I would not buy any this year since you don't have martins yet. You can always run to the store if you get martins and it turns cold. More than likely you will get the subadults which will arrive later than the adults so more than likely it won't get that cold for that long. This always is not true it is possible to get adults on your 1rst year. These adults might be looking for a new house because of hurricanes or last years house is no longer there, could be many reasons. If you get martins this year I guess you could train them to eat from you this year so in case next year you could feed them when it was cold. I am gonna send you a private message also. Good Luck

[Guest]

Hi Laverne - Glad you brought up the cricket and meal worm subject early.

My natural gourds have turned out good so far. Still need to do a little work on them before they are ready to be hung. Hopefully, the martins will like them, too.



Have a great martin season


Lanell

[Guest]

Lislou,

Crickets you can also find at any fishing bait store in your area.

Rip.

[Fred Kaluza~MI]

Ahhh, but you'll go broke buying crickets in small quantities. The PMCA has a link that will get your crickets fast and inexpensively. In in the archives or may well be made a "sticky" on the forum before the season gets very far along! Alternatively you can always search the web.

[Laverne]

The PMCA had a quick link button on their Home page last season. They have replaced it with some other useful information at this time. However, you can always go to PMCA Shop (click button above) then click on Martin Food - then click on the colorful box near the bottom. This will take you to the place that sells the crickets for $10/1000. You can get 500 for $9.00 and 250 for $8.00.

When I bought crickets at PetsMart - I paid $10 bucks for 50 crickets.

Mary Dawnsong posted how many crickets a Purple Martin could eat at one feeding and how often they could eat that many - but, I don't remember the numbers. Mary, if you're out there - I miss you...

[roblrich]

If you use a platform feeder use mealworms as obviously the crickets will jump and flee in no time. I have never used a sling shot (as some have) shooting crickets at the PM's, but it does sound fun. BUT, I think my money at my colony is better spent on mealworms that can not escape.

Also, as a lot of PM landlords are, I am also a Bluebird guy. There is nothing more fun than sitting on the patio slow smoking some baby back ribs, guzzlin' beer, and watching your backyard pair of Eastern Bluebirds (sharing with the PM's) eat your mealworm offerings and bring them back to their young.


Edited for spelling.

[Dave S (Texas)]

Hurst_Young is a cricket seller. Google for website. Free shipping to some close-by areas.