Don't like new house

[Luv Ya Purple]

I have a Coates Watersedge and a telescoping pole and I'm not liking them too much. I've been reading that martins aren't attracted much to the house unless you hang gourds on it and rain leaks into the nest. I wish now I would have went with either a round gourd rack or a Trendsetter house.

I'm wondering should I keep what I have and modify it or buy a round gourd rack or buy a trendsetter? I just want to do whatever will attract martins the fastest.

[John Miller]

Well...getting late this season.

Coates houses are okay...and should be able to attract martins initially as well as a small Trendsetter, which is a much more well built and designed. But martins will be intially attracted to your Coates as well.

A couple of gourds would add variety, and we think that may help sometimes. It may just make a slightly larger display to martins flying overhead and bring them down for a look. In my experience, martins will tend to choose the house first over two gourds below, but I like to hang a few gourds below for good measure. other folks find martins choose the gourds first. Some folks say go with a good gourd rack -- that martins like them better. A gourd rack is easy to manage and spaces nesting compartments out well -- as does the Trendsetter -- but in my opinion it's never been documented that martins consistently prefer one type of housing over another. Good open spot is first priority.

You can make improvements with your Coates this winter and make it better. Add wing entrapment guards if it has crescent openings. Overlay the sub floor in the nest room with a snug square of cork or roof shingle to keep nests try. The house floor may need to be reinforced to hang two gourds below. You can search threads for other ideas. I think these houses are attractive.

good luck to you,
John Miller

[Guest]

I use some of the roosting arms to hang gourds on. When you get you colony established it won't matter much which housing you provide, they will keep coming and use available space. But for me, the gourds are always tot first occupied at my sight and the old Heath house is last.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I have one, it never filled up very good compared to the other units, this year I hung 2 of the smaller B0-9 gourds underneath and it's about half full already.
I would keep it and hang a few gourds, 2 on the outside corners should do the trick.

[parkerdes]

What area in Texas are you???
I tried for 6 years & put up every possible kind of housing...I even grew natural gourds & put them up & it still took a long time to start my site! There is a lot of housing in my area & most are metal houses but the first ASY pair that started my site chose a Troyer horizontal tunnel gourd & the 2nd pair chose my metal MSS12 house my first year.
This year...the most popular house is the MSS12 after I modified it with 6 tunnels & 2 double rooms. It has 7 pairs out of 8 rooms & the 8th room is claimed by an SY male that is still trying to attract a female! The modified castle is the least occupied.
I agree with the other posters...variety is helpful! I put up a new gourd rack but so far only 1 pair is using it...the rack I had last year is called a Starter 8 & it is full!

[daveh]

Tim Mangan and Scott D. had improved their Coates Watersedge a lot. They had lots ofpictures. Maybe they will chime in here.

dave

[Luv Ya Purple]

I'm west of Houston. I have seen a lot of martins in the area and some visitors to an old heath house near the new house. I didn't get the new house up until the last week of April so it was kind of late I guess. I'm thinking about adding two gourds to the house and holding off on buying something new since Im getting some positive feedback on the house. Thanks.

[DebA]

I would suggest giving that house all of next season before judging it if put up late April. As you acknowledge that is a little late. Here in Kansas I had my first bird on March 15th. I'm not sure about subbies in your area maybe they would have had a chance but I suspect in Houston subbies had already been there. I'm glad you reached out for suggestions and will be giving it a little more chance.

Deb

[Sam Harris]

I don't think the martins care if it is a $100 Coats or a $600 Trendsetter.They are attracted to the site. I do think they like variety and mutable housing.
I couldn't get a single pair till I added a second house. I have 3 now with gourds under 2 of them.

[jr 2]

when the male[ sy and asy] martins arrive by themselves they seem too be spending the night in my new bo11 gourds under the trio but when they find a female she seems too be picking the house and so far the 4 gourds are not occupied; i think it may have something too do with where you live and what type of house they were raised in?????? i think i would put up the same type of housing that everybody ese in your area has after what i have learned??????jr2

[Sam Harris]

That is a good point. I think here in Oklahoma, there is a lot of metal houses like Trios. I dont see very many wood or plastic houses. Maybe martins are used to finding those green and white houses. Or maybe they were raised in them.