cridket purchase site

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pfranka
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:35 pm
Location: HSB, TX

Need help finding a reliable cricket purchase site.
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klcretired
Posts: 2174
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
Location: Grand Prairie,Tx

Try Reptilefood you can order 1,000 crickets, when you get them freeze them makes them alot easier to handle, take them out of your freezer and soak in warm water...toss to martins or hand feed to babies
http://www.reptilefood.com/
if you have pet stores in your local town like Pet Smart & Petco they carry crickets
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]
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pfranka
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:35 pm
Location: HSB, TX

Thanks!
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Very pleased with www.premiumcrickets.com they have superworms too.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

I've used flukerfarms.com. Quality crickets. They allow a shipping choice for two days which is half the price of overnight. Works for me since I am just gonna freeze them immediately anyways. Quality crickets. Who would have thought I'd ever say that?

Online is much cheaper even with shipping than PetCo. Like less than 3 cents a cricket vs. 14 cents. When I first bought locally I saw a dropped cricket on my dining room floor and thought...14 cents. LOL. But local is there in a pinch for sure!

Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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DakotaLady
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Bismarck, ND

Do you think one could collect those black crickets that are all over my gardens and in our garage? I thought I could catch them and freeze them whenever I see them. Has anyone done this and will the martins eat this big black crickets?
~Tangula~

2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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johnnycoon
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:06 pm
Location: kansas/pottowatomie

i use Armstrongs Crickets.
23 sparrows less and counting in kansas
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johnnycoon
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:06 pm
Location: kansas/pottowatomie

Im sure the martins will eat big black crickets. Its just getting a lot of them to fill their tummies.If they can gulf down huge dragon flies, Im sure they can eat those big crickets and would love them!Even catch spiders if you are brave enough. i have come across some big spiders while looking for crickets or any other bug to feed the birds.I overturn rocks and logs and find all sorts of critters.
23 sparrows less and counting in kansas
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DakotaLady
Posts: 654
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Bismarck, ND

aaahhh no on the spiders. ha ha. I will be wearing gloves to capture the crickets and am not sure I will even go down this route. Thanks for the info.
~Tangula~

2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2145
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

I have heard that some black crickets carry a work parasite in their intestine. Would this be passed on to the martin? Are the legit companies that sell crickets safe as they say with clean condition when raising the crickets? Just food for thought.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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Ed Pace
Posts: 680
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:31 pm
Location: NY/Jamestown

I have been catching wild black crickets for several years to rehab baby martins.I made a oblong net 18 " wide at the bottom and often catch as many as 10 to 15 in one swipe. They add up fast if you get them right after a hay feild has been cut. If I have a lot of birds to feed, then i feed them fresh other wise freeze them. Adults and young seem to eat them just as well as the house crickets. I have not ever seen any worms in the wild crickets but have found a few in the boughten ones. I have not resurched if the parasite is dangerous to the martins, maybe some one knows about that?
Ed
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