Which gourd is the best?

[Guest]

I am thinking about hanging a gourd rack under my mss-8. Which one should I get?

Austin Martin

[roblrich]

IMO, Naturals > Troyers > S&K Whistle Gourd > S&K Double Gourd > Excluder > Supergourds, any with a SREH entrance.

It's probably too late for you to prepare natural gourds in your area. I don't know. But there has been a lot of praise lately for the Troyers found at http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/p ... scent.html

[CraigMo.]

I have the Super Gourds with crescent openings and I love them. You might check out how much weight your rack can hold and then maybe go from there. I know Super Gourds weigh a little more than some. They say natural gourds work best , but the plastic ones are mostly maintainance free and last forever.

[Dale Hrncirik]

Austin,

Does the mss-8 come with a telescoping pole or is it rope and pulley? I recommend using natural gourds under it due to weight issues. NGs weigh about half that of plastic gourds and martins love them. My 2nd pole at my old colony was a seperate gourd rack holding 12 gourds...I usually mixed SGs and naturals with good results. Just be prepared to make them starling resistant (if they come with round holes) because once a starling comes in and kills a martin, you will get a wake-up call and hopefully take this hobby to a higher level.

Dale

[Guest]

I have Super Gourds because, well thats what they(Bird's Unlimited) had when I bought mine. I didn't think I would need them last year, but was proven wrong.
I think alot of it is what your comfortable with. I wouldn't recommend hang more than 5-6 on a telescoping pole..... trying to pin the pole while holding the weight with the other hand gets old quick.

Chuck

[T K I]

I would go with the S&K gourds. They are cheaper than others and have as much quality as the others do. They have many to choose from on their site too. Do a google websearch for their site because I cannot post it here.

[Louise Chambers]

There are sure a lot of different gourds out there these days - one of the very nice things that's come about in recent years. Check out the link below to see several types available.

http://www.purplemartin.org/shop/GHouses1.html

As to hanging them below your Trio house, you could wire two to the sides - one on each 'solid' end of the house, without adding much weight to your total system. Staying with lighter weight gourds (naturals, troyers, s&k or natureline) is probably a good idea for your set up. I don't know of any rack system you can mount below the house.

Gourds are a 'magic bullet' for attracting martins, to many landlords' thinking, mine too! good luck -

Louise

[~Patrick~]

I put 4 supergourds underneath my 6 compartment Trio on a telescoping pole. I wouldn't put any more than 4 because of the weight of the gourds as well as the bracing to support them. Supergourds weigh about 2 lbs each.

Patrick

[Joe D. Bryant]

IMO, Naturals > Troyers > S&K Whistle Gourd > S&K Double Gourd > Excluder > Supergourds, any with a SREH entrance.

"My Martins are prettier than your Martins. My Martins sing better than your Martins. My Martins change out my empty beer kegs from my kegerator, and yours don't."l

Roblich, I agree with your list except that I would not choose a Troyer before an S&K Whistle Gourd or Double Gourd. Those are my two most favorite that I have.

BTW If I get any martins to start my colony this year, I sure hope they're SY's from your martins. WOW

[Guest]

Joe - I predict your martins will come this year!!!!!


Lanell

[Joe D. Bryant]

Joe - I predict your martins will come this year!!!!!


Lanell

Thanks, Lanell, I hope you're right. Good luck to you too.

[klcretired]

Austin,
for a few year's i had The SG's (Super Gourd's) that i purchased from the pmca , then a couple of year's ago i got some HZ Troyer's to mix in w/ my SG's....Man the PM's took to em in a flash and they are always occuppied fill up and are chosen first. I also have a Lonestar Goliad house up and get a few pair in there as well but in my area they seem to like the gourd's much better for some reason.

[Sparky]

I have the Supergourds and Troyer gourds. I always have the largest clutches of all in the Supergourds. I don't know why? Maybe this year with the anti-slip modifications, I'll get more activity with the Troyer gourds