I'm sure this has been addressed before in the Forum, but I might not have paid atttention last year as I didn't have gourds then. I put up three Big Bo Gourds a week ago Sunday near my S&K house. I spray painted the insides of the gourds with dark paint and added some more drainage holes in the bottoms. My question is traction. I've had a lot of activity in the last several days with two pairs going in and out of two of the gourds. I put pine straw in the bottom, and hear them moving around in there and making a lot of noise when both male and female are in a gourd. Should I put some kind of material on the bottom of the gourd under the pine straw to keep it from moving around so much? If so, how is it attached to the bottom of the gourd and how do I keep it from stopping drainage. Or, do I just leave it like it is and add more pine straw?
Bud
Traction in Gourds
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Bud, I am trying several ideas, maybe you like one of these
1) take an exacto knife or some other sharp knife, and cut streaks around the inside of the gourd, I mash pretty hard, and that makes the interior feel rough
2)drill about 40 each holes about 1/8inch into the bottom of the gourd, and make the holes about 1 inch apart
3)take some pvc cleaner, pour some on a rag, wipe the inside real good, wipe it clean while its wet, and put ppca in it (you probably are unable to do this step since you painted it)
4)take 2 piece of plywood about 3-1/2inches, tie it together or hinge it and put it into the bottom of the gourd, then fasten it at the drain holes...
5)add nesting material up to the entrance hole, pack it in real good, and that should help a whole lot..
There may be other ways, but maybe you like one of these ideas
1) take an exacto knife or some other sharp knife, and cut streaks around the inside of the gourd, I mash pretty hard, and that makes the interior feel rough
2)drill about 40 each holes about 1/8inch into the bottom of the gourd, and make the holes about 1 inch apart
3)take some pvc cleaner, pour some on a rag, wipe the inside real good, wipe it clean while its wet, and put ppca in it (you probably are unable to do this step since you painted it)
4)take 2 piece of plywood about 3-1/2inches, tie it together or hinge it and put it into the bottom of the gourd, then fasten it at the drain holes...
5)add nesting material up to the entrance hole, pack it in real good, and that should help a whole lot..
There may be other ways, but maybe you like one of these ideas
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Yes, RC, it has been tried, so thats another option. I don't know how igood it is..
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Joe Zorn
My old mother-in-law used to say them birds were "Twitterpatin'" Kinda like the squeeky bed syndrome. But a little traction would help there too, huh?
I have tried the non skid paint, and like it a lot.
Joe
I have tried the non skid paint, and like it a lot.
Joe
This is my first year with gourds so I am not sure how well it will work but I took a dremmel tool with a ridge making head on it and cut concentric circles along the bottom and halfway up. It feels pretty rough inside. I also went between the drainholes. I had tried silicone caulk but it peeled right off, I am wondering if the Krylon paint would do the same.
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Nanette, sometimes caulk and stuff like that doesn't stick to plastic gourds because the plastic gourds are sold with a very thin coat of oil on them...If you take pvc cleaner, put it on a rag, wipe the gourd with the pvc rag, and then use a clean paper towel to wipe it while its still wet, the paint will stick quite a bit better...the pvc cleaner cuts the oil and allows you to wipe it off cleanly, and the pvc cleaner also scars the plastic a bit..Because of these reasons, when glueing together pvc pipe, you should use the cleaner first.
No matter what you apply, it probably will come off sooner or later, as most stuff will not permanently stick to the plastic gourds.
No matter what you apply, it probably will come off sooner or later, as most stuff will not permanently stick to the plastic gourds.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps