First timer here with a couple of questions. Here is a rundown of my setup. 12 s & k gourds by my deck and 6 more gourds at the edge of my property.
1st pair of martins arrive may 5th. They have built complete nest in 2 gourds. Did 1st nest check may 16th to find four eggs. Been doing nest check everyday since then and still the same 4 eggs. Is there anything i need to do, or let nature take its course.
Before today, 3 pair had been at my gourds. About 1 or 2, all hell broke loose. 8 more martins came in and they were fighting to the point i had to lower the pole and help some out of a gourd (4 were in there and were stuck trying to get out). They were all jockeying for the top row of gourds, why is that? Also, is it normal when they lock up and end on the ground?
hello from northwest arkansas
Chris79...I/We are no experts! Although this is our 5th year as "landlords" we learn something almost daily from this forum. You might consider providing more detail in your "profile". S&K has many different gourds. Example: we use BO 11+ with cooling caps, tunnels, no rockers, porches and now with crescent entrances. Plus.. what type of pole/housing unit your are using.
Any Forum member that has much more expericne than me, please correct!
We only nest check every 5 days. From what we have learned from the "Forum" the female will lay only 1 egg a day. She will not start incubating until all of her eggs are layed...(this year we have some with only 3 and many others with 6 eggs). If you know the day of the first egg, and then the total number of eggs you can use the Purple Martinwatch link (shown on the Forum in the first few entries as: Sticky:PMCA research projects.) On the spread sheet you just enter the date of the first egg, the total number of eggs...(that is why you only need to nest check every 5 days) and it will provide you with the earliest hatch/fledge date. Example: If your first egg was layed on your first nest check of 05/13 and you had 4 eggs your projected hatch date is 05/31 with a fledge date of 06/26. However, if your eggs were layed several days earlier (prior to your first nest check) your dates will be earlier.
As far as the "fighting" look at past post by Steve Kronke...could be "male dominance" but if I have an understanding of his post it may be "rape" of the female birds if they are on the ground.
Edit Or: SY birds coming in!
Keep us updated! T. Winger
Any Forum member that has much more expericne than me, please correct!
We only nest check every 5 days. From what we have learned from the "Forum" the female will lay only 1 egg a day. She will not start incubating until all of her eggs are layed...(this year we have some with only 3 and many others with 6 eggs). If you know the day of the first egg, and then the total number of eggs you can use the Purple Martinwatch link (shown on the Forum in the first few entries as: Sticky:PMCA research projects.) On the spread sheet you just enter the date of the first egg, the total number of eggs...(that is why you only need to nest check every 5 days) and it will provide you with the earliest hatch/fledge date. Example: If your first egg was layed on your first nest check of 05/13 and you had 4 eggs your projected hatch date is 05/31 with a fledge date of 06/26. However, if your eggs were layed several days earlier (prior to your first nest check) your dates will be earlier.
As far as the "fighting" look at past post by Steve Kronke...could be "male dominance" but if I have an understanding of his post it may be "rape" of the female birds if they are on the ground.
Edit Or: SY birds coming in!
Keep us updated! T. Winger
Last edited by Winger on Wed May 21, 2014 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
Sounds like you had some subadult martins show up at your colony. They can cause havoc to the already established martins. That's one of the reasons your seeing the fighting. ASY Martin is defending his gourd from the younger martins. As Winger said, I would cut back on your nest checks to once every 5/6 days, unless you see some unusual going on..good luck on you new colony.. 
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!