I think I bought the wrong house

[Guest]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbie. Let me tell you how I got started. My father is dying. He has gardened and watched birds for years. He is feeble and can't garden but he is able to watch the birds from the house. In February, he asked for a purple martin house. I am a research queen, so I went to the internet and started reading. I saw that the martins were beginning to come so I quickly ordered a house (not realizing yet that if I attract birds, it will be the SY and they come later). The house is in and up and now that I had time to read further, I think I goofed. I bought a Nature House 12 Room Hexagonal DH-12N. The compartments aren't large enough, are they, since the insides basically are a triangle. I read that the martins like to put the nest as far back as they can. I have other issues as well, such as location, but I really wanted to grant my father's dying wishes. We live in Georgia in a subdivision on one acre of land with tall pine trees all around. The only location that I have is in the middle of my back yard which is only 35' away from the tall trees. I also read that in the south that the birds aren't quite as picky so I put it up and started praying. Since the SY birds are here yet in Georgia should I go ahead and modify my hexagonal house? I thank you in advance.

cw

[roblrich]

(Self imposed 24 hour ban is over 30 mins ago )

Welcome to the forum cw! I googled the Nature House 12 Room Hexagonal DH-12N, and it looks similar to a Heath. Thank God you didn't get a Heath.

First of all, I don't know anything about this house, as I have never seen one. But if it can be done and you know how to modify this house to make larger compartments, I suggest doing so. It may make the difference of attracting martins or not. According to the description, the house came with entrance plugs, so you will be able to double the size of the rooms and plug the extra entrance holes.

It also sounds like you have it in the best spot available to you. I hope you attract martins for your father and he has a wonderful summer!

[RC Moser]

Yes, you can modify the house IMO being you haven't got any established birds yet. It won't bother them to remove the house during the day and put it back up late afternoon. You said you brought the wrong house, well buy the right one and you will qualdruple you chances with two house up. I like the Bo Bungalow, should be available now, and already comes with big cavities and Srehs and you get 6 compartments that can be expanded to 12 on the same pole. Only modification I can see is traction on the floors and porches IMO otherwise it's ready to use out of the box of course after assemble.

You really don't need to modify DH-12 house, PM's has successfully fledged babies in that house for atleast 30 years. IMO the triangle shaped compartment are bigger than a standard 6x6 compartments. That's why the starlings like that house so much. So if you seen or have starlings in the area you will need to plan a strategy for them, otherwise they will probably run off any PM you get, but not always starling and PM have nested in the same house after nest competition has been settled (Starlings take the cavities they want and the PM gets the leftovers)

If you modify that house make sure the top floor has a ceiling or starlings will go over the top of the compartment if you have any plugged and build in the plugged up compartment. I put screen wire across the top of mine years ago if it is the same design as Health.

My area for PM isn't ideal either, but my colony has grown to 26 pairs and should get more this year, so you can get them as long as your house aren't against or in the trees. 35' will be good enough if they have a path to get to the house. I sure you'll get some more opinions, good luck put up another house if you can afford it and you chances will go way up with two IMO.

[John Miller]

As RC says, these houses have hosted martins for decades.

It's usually better to remodel and make the 6 x 6 compartments into 6 x 12. However, most folks then need to add starling restrictive entrance holes, and sometimes it's challenging to get martins to use these holes at a new site. The key is to have an optimal wide open site. As your site is marginal -- like most of us -- and timing this season and perhaps for your Dad is short, I'd consider holding off remodeling until next year.

Add some cut up white pine needles or straw, laid flat on the floors of the compartments to resemble old nests. Maybe smear a spot of mud at the entrances. Next, order two natural gourds from the PMCA (PMCA sells in a 4 pack) or from other vendor. The PMCA gourds come with round holes and are cleaned out, just paint and hang below the house. It will look funny, but will give you the best chance to get a pair of martins this year. Next season, add access ports and special SREH entrances to the gourds if you choose.

Continue learning all you can. The archives here are filled with good information. Even if you don't get nesting martins this year -- you will eventually and getting you started in this wonderful hobby may really be what your Dad intends.

John Miller

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

This is what I've decided. I'm going to hold off with the modification for this year. I think the Bo Bungalow is very attractive. Maybe I can add it next season. I don't know if I have starlings in my area or not. Someone in Georgia might let me know.

John, I like your idea of adding a couple of natural gourds. Do I have time to prepare them for this season? And you said "maybe next season add access ports and SREH entrances". Did you say next season due to my time limit or possible budget limit. I will also add pine straw and mud. I purchased dawnsong cd & will be getting the powerhorn up soon. So far, I haven't seen any other bird trying to access the house.


I think I'm hooked and I don't even have birds yet.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I also love the looks of the Bo Bungalow, and it has many of the nice features that are always recommended here. You can get it with the SREH to help you with the starlings.

[roblrich]

...

[John Miller]

CW

I suggested hanging two gourds as-is because timing is short, and fully preparing gourds is a hobby in itself. If you get the PMCA four-pack you could paint and hang two right away and consider working to add access ports and SREH entrances to the other two. You'd have until well into May to attract sub adult martins. I can recommended a good alternate gourd vendor by PM as well.

There's a web page by Chuck Abare that gives detailed steps of preparing gourds. Go to the links page on this website. Emil who responded above also knows more about gourds than did the Indians, as do others here.

John Miller

[Guest]

CW;
I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. You both should get a lot of pleasure together watching Purple Martins.
If you just ordered this house from Nature House you'll have an easy time adding SREH after you enlarge the compartments. I use several of these six sided houses and they were originally called Dura-Craft. A less expensive house made by Trio. The new style has the same door as the Trio and you can order the SREH doors from nature House or PMCA. I hope the house is held together by the screws and acorn nuts that is used in the Dura-Craft. The Trio's used aluminum tabs that you bend over to connect everything. If your house has these tabs you need to be very careful not to break these off. When you decide to modify the compartments all you need to do is take out every other inside partition and drill a 2" hole about an inch off the floor and about an inch from the back. I use a file and sandpaper to smooth the sharp edges after drilling. When I can run my finger around the hole without bleeding, it is ready. Then place these back in and do the same for the next level. I stagger the compartments so I don't have two outside openings directly on top of each other. This I believe eliminates porch domination from above. You'll also need porch dividers and place the nest sub floor in the compartment that will be closed off from the outside. I also use bath tub safety tape at the opening the help give the PM's traction entering through the SREH. Don't hesitate to ask questions, a lot of us have been through this.

[carlymac]

I really like the look of a castle style house, So I offer the same house as you. I have modified my house into double compartments along with a host of other improvements. Don't worry, I had martins the first year in my "out of the box" house and I'm sure you will too .
If you ever decide to modify your house let me know and I will assist you in any way I can.
Best of luck this martin season for you have the best reason to get birds I've heard yet...There is something to be said about the therapeutics purple martins offer their host...
You may contact me anytime
[email protected] or (615)824-6050
Carl McCoy

[Nanette]

Hi CW,
Don't get too upset. Nature House actually puts out a sturdy house and they sell virtually all the replacement parts you can imagine. The only drawback is that the compartment size should be modified. I have a Trio Grandpa which I purchased at least 10 years ago and I still use it today. I had martins in it before I knew to modify it and now that I have, it has 100% occupancy. Because Nature House houses have been around a long time and are plentiful, I would imagine martins are familiar with them which may make attracting them easier. I later purchased a Trio Castle and modified it too. I have added porch dividers and crescent doors both of which are available through the PMCA. If you want to add gourds, it is recommended that the floors be reinforced. The PMCA has plans on how to do it. Yes there are houses out there which don't need alot of modifications but most of them are also quite a bit more expensive.

[Nanette]

OOps, I meant to say that I have a Trio Wade and a Castle!

[1 Ron Vasser]

If you live in Covington, GA you have starlings.

[Guest]

I'm just curious. How many hours per week do you spend on this hobby? I work from my home. I do computer aided drafting for a land surveyor but I find myself side tracked and constantly wanting to come to this site. (not to mention how often I look out the window) I am going to get fired. LOL.

I am a firm believer of learning what you can. My family teases me and says I researched dogs for two years before committing to buying one. (which is not true, I put it off because our daughter was too young)

I must admit, it is a little overwhelming but I think it might be I feel the pressure of time. I so desperately want birds for him. I want to do everything I can to get them this first year. Just discussing everything I've learned thus far with my father has been a total joy. Of course he thinks I'm a little crazy, because his philosophy was "build it and they will come". He is 79. He had purple martins as a child but they were farmers. He had wide open fields. He did not have PM birdhouses at his last homeplace of which he lived 52 years before moving in with me.

And don't tell anyone, I'm a fickle female. I'm now thinking I should modify the house this season. I have time before the birds get here, I think.

If I paint the gourds now without treating them with the sulfur stuff, can I treat them later. Oh! Do I need a perch?

Sorry for writing you a book

Reading, learning, hoping, and praying,
Cheryl

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I would not use sulfur, that burns the skin of baby martins. If you get martins and have mites, sevin dust works better and won't harm the birds...

[Guest]

I'm sorry - I didn't mean sulfur - it was late - I meant preservative - copper sulfate.

[John Miller]

CW

Re: treatment with copper sulfate. Yes, you can do this in subsequent years. I've read that some folks do it every few years. The gourd should last several years untreated.

When you ask about perches. On a gourd, you don't need a perch. Many of us like to see martins hanging on the hole in the traditional way. They have strong tails that support them.

Re: remodling now. I suggested in my earlier post holding off until you see if your site can attract martins. Remodling these Trios sometimes is not as easy as it looks. I've just completed two older ones. Some of the aluminum tabs broke when I removed interior panels to drill side entry holes and I had to do a lot of reinforcing with screws. Just know it may take several hours to do a house. A newer house should go more smoothly.

Every situation is different. Your main goal now is to attract a breeding pair of martins this first year. Remodling these houses provides better protection from rain and owls. Martins prefer deeper, darker compartments, but so do starlings and so you nearly always have to add SREH -- and that gets frustrating to get martins to use at an unestablished site.

If you don't remodle the house, you could cut a crescent SREH directly into a natural gourd. You'll need to measure it precisely. Your pair may likely choose the gourd -- so essentially you are using the house as a gourd hanger -- and nestlings would be well protected from starlings.

Good luck to you -- keep learning.

John Miller

[Nanette]

Hi CW,
Modifying the house is a pain in the butt but I found an easier way than taking apart the whole unit. Forgive me if I don't know the proper names to the tools! I used a flexible extension drill bit holder thing with a 2 inch hole cutting bit. I got a small block of wood, held it behind the wall I was planning on cutting and used a nail to indent a a small dimple in the center where I was planning to drill the hole. The little dent help to stabilize the hole cutting bit. It made it so that the bit didn't "travel" as much. The block of wood also puts back pressure on the wall so that pressure of pushing the drill doesn't push out the wall. It also ensures that the hole is cut completely around. You are at such a weird angle that one end of the bit starts to cut before the other. While I held the block of wood in place, my husband drilled the hole. I did both my Wade and Castle this way and it only took a few hours. We didn't even have to take the houses off the poles. It is necessary, of course, to use some fine sand paper and sand the holes so that they aren't sharp when you run your finger on them. The other thing that I suggest is to purchase the Dawn Song tape from the PMCA and play it. I have found that it isn't necessary to start it at dawn. I waited until around 6:30/7:00am and played it somewhat loudly until around 8:30/9:00am. I am sure it wouldn't hurt starting it earlier, I just found that I didn't need to. The tape is a powerful tool. Good luck!!

[Sigundo]

I agree with the rest above, if you can enlarge the rooms, do so. If you can't for some reason.. put it up anyway.. I enlarged my S&K 20 to 9 big rooms (yes the numbers dont add up, but trust me, I have 9). Half of my martins built in the front section anyway and as far as I know didn't even USE the back half (unless the young birds went back there to practice flapping or something), but the nest was built in the space of the original compartment and we had a nice crop of new martins. With the probable loss of martin homes along the Gulf Coast, I think they'll make do with smaller compartments if they have too and be happy for it.

[Nanette]

Hi Sigundo,
I have heard of that happening. As a matter of fact, the Nature House people claim that is their reason for not enlarging their house compartments. Personally, all my birds nest in the back room and I feel safer with them there.