I posted a couple of days ago about my 10 year old Trio house being in questionable shape and I was thinking about replacing it with gourds if I couldn't figure out how to fix it.
Today my 2013 Martin Market Place catalog arrived, conveniently! I'm hoping for input on what to get. I want to take down my house and get rid of it, but hoping I can get the telescoping pole to run more smoothly so I can continue to use it. Does anyone have experience with the "Create a Rack Gourd Arms"? If I could attach two of those to my telescoping pole, that would get me six houses, and I usually get 3 or 4 pairs so that would be enough.
Any recommendations for which kind of gourd is best for West Texas, where it gets VERY hot, over 100 degrees, several days in the summer? I always worried about the babies in the metal trio house. On the other hand I could put blue ice in empty compartments to cool their house, but I don't know what my options will be with gourds.
Any ideas for low maintenance quality gourd housing ideas would be appreciated. I want to get this ordered because I know they will start showing up in a month and I'm late getting this ready.
Changing to gourds from Trio house
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
whew..Lucy
Everyone has a favorite. I'd go with excluders, but will need some heat modification. I like that they are large and so maybe babies can spread out more in high heat and as gourds are taller, maybe get more convection air flowing going. but will need to put large PVC vents in top. there are many posts here on PVC vents. the porches are heavy duty and should last many years, and there is a good choice of entrance types. They are heavy -- too heavy to hang below houses sometimes and more than 12 may require a winch for people of easy raising, otherwise a rope and pulley.
Many people bet on the larger S&K gourds because they are already vented and double walled. Not sure how well the tunnels and porches hold up in the Texas sun. These gourds have very loyal users...and some will chime in.
The Troyer gourds are good too..might need more venting with a PVC elbow. I have read occasional reports of starlings entering the SREH, but some areas have fewer starlings and some people control with traps. Troyer has a new heavy duty access cap that's good. I think SGs are usig it too. Traditional caps get brittle and break after several yeas in the sun, but can be replaced.
It's a little confusing, but that's a mini consumer review -- at my own risk -- and admittedly is my opinion.
good luck to you..post photos when all up so we can admire.
John M
Everyone has a favorite. I'd go with excluders, but will need some heat modification. I like that they are large and so maybe babies can spread out more in high heat and as gourds are taller, maybe get more convection air flowing going. but will need to put large PVC vents in top. there are many posts here on PVC vents. the porches are heavy duty and should last many years, and there is a good choice of entrance types. They are heavy -- too heavy to hang below houses sometimes and more than 12 may require a winch for people of easy raising, otherwise a rope and pulley.
Many people bet on the larger S&K gourds because they are already vented and double walled. Not sure how well the tunnels and porches hold up in the Texas sun. These gourds have very loyal users...and some will chime in.
The Troyer gourds are good too..might need more venting with a PVC elbow. I have read occasional reports of starlings entering the SREH, but some areas have fewer starlings and some people control with traps. Troyer has a new heavy duty access cap that's good. I think SGs are usig it too. Traditional caps get brittle and break after several yeas in the sun, but can be replaced.
It's a little confusing, but that's a mini consumer review -- at my own risk -- and admittedly is my opinion.
good luck to you..post photos when all up so we can admire.
John M
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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
If you are not handy with tools, a well ventilated gourd would be the S&K 11inch gourd called BO11. They have excellent venting thru the neck. If you would order them, be sure to order a vent cap for each gourd, as you would need to knock out the top of the gourd for ventilation, and then you need the cap to keep out the rainwater.
Its often hard to modify one pole or gourd rack to fit some other kind of equipment except what that company makes. My suggestion is to purchase a small starter gourd rack with 6 or 8 gourds, and use a rope to raise and lower the rack, and purchase the square pole that fits the rack.
Its often hard to modify one pole or gourd rack to fit some other kind of equipment except what that company makes. My suggestion is to purchase a small starter gourd rack with 6 or 8 gourds, and use a rope to raise and lower the rack, and purchase the square pole that fits the rack.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Hi lucyth
My Martins Love the HZ Troyers, They are a deep Gourd with lots of room.
If you try them be sure to use 90 degree Elbo's on the rear of the Gourd For Venelation , I love them because they are deep and the predators can't get at the martins, eggs or Babies w/ their Tallons. It is very very hot here where i live in Grand Prairie Texas but i have never had any Problems with the gourds being so hot that i had jumpers in this Gourd, I have several HZ Troyers on my Gourd Rack in fact half of my gourds hanging are HZ Troyers. Hope this helps and if you need anything please email me at [email protected] and i will help you as much as i can.
My Martins Love the HZ Troyers, They are a deep Gourd with lots of room.
If you try them be sure to use 90 degree Elbo's on the rear of the Gourd For Venelation , I love them because they are deep and the predators can't get at the martins, eggs or Babies w/ their Tallons. It is very very hot here where i live in Grand Prairie Texas but i have never had any Problems with the gourds being so hot that i had jumpers in this Gourd, I have several HZ Troyers on my Gourd Rack in fact half of my gourds hanging are HZ Troyers. Hope this helps and if you need anything please email me at [email protected] and i will help you as much as i can.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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jr 2
- Posts: 749
- Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
- Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)
i am hanging 2 bo11p gourds with the vent caps under my 4 trio houses;i would not hang more than 2 under a house tho as they are heavy with the liner;any trio can be fixed ;;all the parts are avaiable at their website or it can be used as a sparrow trap; jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair