Well,
Until this year, I have not had any success supplementally feeding "my" PM's---they never cared, knew what it was, or simply weren't desperate enough.
But this year it is different. It is COLD here in OKC (supposed to snow tonight), and they are gobbling up the frozen crickets I put in their cavities...Still don't have them "trained" to take the crickets on the wing, but it is sure fun to be able to help through this weather!
(Previously SoarFan)
OK Dean...
Supplemental Feeding working this year...
Dean, that's great news. Have they taken to your new house? I have been trying meal worms for the last couple of days. Tomorrow I going to try the crickets, Figure we have to get them to Friday when temp. will be warm enough for them to get out and about, Luckily we had a break in the weather Monday on my side of town and they got some feeding in Monday afternoon.
I tried to flip some meal worms today, got them close enough for them to look at them, but they never budge off their perches. I also put some in the cavities and on the porches, but didn't see no taker. I got about 20 so far. They were out flying when I got off work today, but I dought there were any bugs on the fly.
I tried to flip some meal worms today, got them close enough for them to look at them, but they never budge off their perches. I also put some in the cavities and on the porches, but didn't see no taker. I got about 20 so far. They were out flying when I got off work today, but I dought there were any bugs on the fly.
Oklahoma friends, its looking bad here, too. I saw my first returnee last night. I put a dozen crickets in her cavity after she left. I'm pretty for sure that she didn't come in for the night; they may be communal roosting at sites with more birds. I just got home from work and its snowing heavily. I'm hoping Panhandle birds can make it until Friday. Here are our highs since last Friday, and temperatures above 48 have been shortlived, and winds, rain and snow have been a factor:
3/17 51
3/18 43
3/19 50
3/20 51
3/21 46
Today 31
Tomorrow's high is forcast anywhere from 38 - 49. Friday's high is forcast for mid-50s, and the forecast looks good from that point. Best wishes over there!
3/17 51
3/18 43
3/19 50
3/20 51
3/21 46
Today 31
Tomorrow's high is forcast anywhere from 38 - 49. Friday's high is forcast for mid-50s, and the forecast looks good from that point. Best wishes over there!
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roblrich
Even through the last three days of cold here in Kentucky, I guess my martins are doing pretty well as I observed them when they returned today, and they actually were picking up the crickets I put in their gourds and were spitting them out to the ground.OK Dean wrote: and they are gobbling up the frozen crickets I put in their cavities......
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Guest
My martins occasionally do the same....flipping dead crickets out the gourd....housekeeping I guess. However, the last time I placed crickets in the gourd about 80% were eaten and about 20% were tossed out. Perhaps they were not the right vintage! 
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Guest
Well,
RC, Yes--they are already taking to the new house...have about 14 staying in the (2) houses.
Supplemental feeding: They are now "trained"! Yesterday after getting home from work I went & re-stocked the crickets and threw a few up in the air--since they all seemed to be eagerly watching me. Sure enough--they began snapping them out of the air. What fun! "Cricket flicking"--my new favorite sport. I did notice they let some drop. I wonder if the fact they are frozen is kind of a turn off for them--or maybe the taste...who knows. I saw one drop one after catching it, and the one below him caught it and ate it...
RC, Yes--they are already taking to the new house...have about 14 staying in the (2) houses.
Supplemental feeding: They are now "trained"! Yesterday after getting home from work I went & re-stocked the crickets and threw a few up in the air--since they all seemed to be eagerly watching me. Sure enough--they began snapping them out of the air. What fun! "Cricket flicking"--my new favorite sport. I did notice they let some drop. I wonder if the fact they are frozen is kind of a turn off for them--or maybe the taste...who knows. I saw one drop one after catching it, and the one below him caught it and ate it...
Last edited by Guest on Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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CUL Lou~Mich
OK Dean. I thought one was supposed to let them thaw out. I've read of folks using the Microwave, or warm water to thaw them out. It seems like if they were still frozen, that would lower the PMs body temps, which is counter productive. CUL Lou
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Guest
Oooooo,
I didn't know that......I will have to thaw them out this evening when I try again---so what is the best way to do it? Water? Microwave? Swirl around in mouth for a bit
?
I didn't know that......I will have to thaw them out this evening when I try again---so what is the best way to do it? Water? Microwave? Swirl around in mouth for a bit
?Dean,
Swirling them in your mouth sounds like a winner. That way they would be partially digested which would help the martins expend less energy eating them. I just put a few in my ear the night before.
Swirling them in your mouth sounds like a winner. That way they would be partially digested which would help the martins expend less energy eating them. I just put a few in my ear the night before.
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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Guest
Dean,
The PMCA's Emergency Feeding DVD says to warm them up at room temperature for a while. (I'm guessing 30 - 60 minutes might do just fine). You could also put them in a ziplock bag and place them in warm/hot water to speed things up, but I know my wife wouldn't want to have the "aroma" of micrwaved bugs in my house!
The PMCA's Emergency Feeding DVD says to warm them up at room temperature for a while. (I'm guessing 30 - 60 minutes might do just fine). You could also put them in a ziplock bag and place them in warm/hot water to speed things up, but I know my wife wouldn't want to have the "aroma" of micrwaved bugs in my house!
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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What works well for us is to put the amount of [frozen] crickets we want to use in a tall styrofoam cup, then fill the cup with hot tap water. Let that sit about a minute, then drain. Feel a few crickets to see if they are still cold - if so, refill with tap water and wait another minute. I think it only takes us two soaks of under a minute each to have slightly warm crickets ready for the martins.
Feeding chilled food is counterproductive - use room temp crickets, eggs, etc, or slightly warmer than room temp, but not hot.
Keep up the good work, Dean You might try some scrambled egg, too, if you have not already. See the post at top of page, titled resources for the season, for a few pdfs about feeding. An adult martin might need as many as 40 crickets a day if that's all it's getting to eat. One egg will feed two martins for one day.
Louise
Feeding chilled food is counterproductive - use room temp crickets, eggs, etc, or slightly warmer than room temp, but not hot.
Keep up the good work, Dean
You might try some scrambled egg, too, if you have not already. See the post at top of page, titled resources for the season, for a few pdfs about feeding. An adult martin might need as many as 40 crickets a day if that's all it's getting to eat. One egg will feed two martins for one day.Louise
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Guest
Thankyou for help on this Louise--I will certainly do that as soon as I get home...Now I am worried about them--that they got too cold last night. I am glad it will be warming up starting tomorrow....