Need information on converting 6x6 to 6x12 on aluminum house

[birdy girl]

Can anyone share information on how to convert a health (aluminum) purple martin house that has 6x6 compartments into 6x12 compartments.

Thanks
Terri

[Guest]

Cant you just cut out the dividing wall between the two compartments and block one of the holes?

[Carlton]

When I modified my Trio Grandma house I purchased a drill bit that cut 2 inch round holes and cut through the dividing panel inbetween two units. Make sure you purchase a drill bit that is made for metal and not just for wood. I plugged the second exterior entrance hole with the plug that is provided by the Trio unit for keeping out house sparrows and starlings in the winter. BE CAREFUL when you drill the hole though and MAKE SURE that you wear gloves and have eye protection. That thin AL is VERY SHARP and it may come flying loose as the bit cuts through it. Carefully file the sharp edges of the drilled hole to it will not injure the martins going between the rooms. I also ordered a SREH panel to replace the panel that came with my Trio Grandma (roundish in shape) as we do have a real starling problem around here. It is not a hard job to do at all. Kind of fun but again, BE CAREFUL with that sharp aluminum. Your house may be different in design but it seems like it would be very similar.

[CUL Lou~Mich]

Terri. I've never seen (to the best of my knowledge) a Heath aluminum house. However, here's how I do it with my Trio. On each floor, there are two rods. One near the ceiling that you hang the middle wall on, the other near the floor which locks the middle wall in. I take the bottom rod out. Tip the middle wall up, lift it a tad, then slide it out. I take ALL of the middle walls out. I then go to the front and back. I take out every other door. IE Three doors on top, I take out the middle one. I leave the door in on both ends. Bottom floor is just exactly the opposite. Then on the back side, I do the opposite on each floor. The ones with the holes cut in for entrances that I have removed, I then put into the center. The middle ones go on the outside. Make sure you have from front to back. Left upper, Door, Door, Solid wall. Middle. Solid wall, Door, Door. Right upper. Door, Door, Solid wal. The bottom is opposite, so Left lower, solid wall, door, door. Middle Door, door, solid wall. Right lower, door, door, solid wall. Now you should have three holes on the front, three opposites on the back. Hopefully your Heath is put together the same way. If not, I'm sorry but I can't help. CUL Lou

[Carlton]

http://www.naturehouseinc.com/pdf/Converting-MSS-8.pdf

[Joe Zorn]

terri99,

Considering it's a Heath, when you are done, you can then hang a shingle outside the house that says: "Welcome Starlings! The Sparrows love it here!"

Leave 'um 6x6 and keep them plugged until the season starts, in my opinion.

[Guest]

Aren't all Heath aluminum houses hexagonal in shape? The compartments are triangular, not 6"x6" square. Heath does not make the MSS-8.

Tony

[birdy girl]

I have already converted one of my heath houses. I just cut out the divider between two cavities on the top three floors. As for the bottom floor, I just cut a 2 1/4 hole on the wall between two cavities. Yes the Heath martin house that I have is hexagon shaped.

If any one here on the forum has the heath house (aluminum ) hexagon shaped, do you have much luck attracting martins with them?

I have added a perch under one of my heath houses that will hold a couple of gourds each.

Another question. Which type of gourds are best for attracting martins?

Terri

[Joe Zorn]

Tony, No Heath has ohter styles, as well. To see it, you can go online and do a google search for Ace Hardware Purple Martins. They sell the ones with the 6 x 6 rooms as well.

[Guest]

Joe,

Please note that I was referring to the Heath *aluminum* type of house, as did Terri. I'm aware of the cedar Heath house with 6"x6" compartments.

Tony

[Joe Zorn]

Well, Tony, I took my own advice and went looking for a Heath that was not wooden but of the same design in aluminum. Could not find it anywhere. But my local Ace hardware store has one on a pole outside in the garden section, complete with a full cadre of sparrows, and even a PM or two. They sell Heath on the shelves inside, still in the boxes, and I assumed this was what they were selling. The display model could have been another brand, as it was quite old and even needing repair in some cases. Did Heath EVER manufacture this style house? I will have to stop by there in the next day or so to see what they actually have on the shelves.

Perhaps someone reading this will identify what it is. Two floors, does NOT have the curved roof style or the barn style sides. Plain peaked aluminum roof with a sort of a rail on top of the peak. Porch rails on both levels, both sides. White house, maybe green or blue top. Very light weight.

Joe

[Guest]

Joe,

The house may be a Trio M-12K. There is a picture and descripion of one at the top of this web page : http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/p ... ouses.html

If that isn't it, maybe it is one of the other ones shown on the page.

Tony

[Joe Zorn]

If that isnt the one, then it's an evil twin! Looks just like I remember it.

I see the octagonal shaped houses advertised here too. These are not Heath houses, as well?

Thanks for straigntening me out.

Joe