New House

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[email protected]
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:59 pm
Location: Nebraska

I built a Martin house of some old plans and the design doesn’t allow me to clean it at all. I have built a T4 and I would like to replace the old one. Do I have to put the old one back up alongside the new one?
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 2957
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
HOSP: 66. Starlings: 30
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 40 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
PMCA member

You should put up the new house near the old one, that will allow them to gravitate to it, fear would be if old house was replaced with new, they won't recognise it and abandon. How close is up to you, id put it in the best most open spot. Applaud your choice in the t14, good house!
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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[email protected]
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:59 pm
Location: Nebraska

I lost some birds in the old house and really don’t want them to use it anymore. What are the odds of a disaster if I don’t put it up or put it up with the holes blocked.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3607
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I would take the house down and put the new hosing up in it's place, or close. The martins will adapt to a different style house.
2024 HOSP count-35
2023 60+ pair, HOSP count-8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP count-14
2021 62 nest fledged aprox. 230, HOSP count-9
2020 42 nest, Fledged 164, HOSP count-8
2019- 31 Pair over 100 fledged
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair nested, 12 eggs total, fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles away, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 2957
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
HOSP: 66. Starlings: 30
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 40 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
PMCA member

[email protected] wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 06, 2024 6:15 pm
 I lost some birds in the old house and really don’t want them to use it anymore. What are the odds of a disaster if I don’t put it up or put it up with the holes blocked.
Won't be a disaster, some may leave perhaps the oldest birds. If that old house you have is in the best spot, do as flyin-low suggests. If you have room, plugging the holes is a good idea, put the new house near it. Friend of mine changed their house, oldest birds abandoned. But it worked out for him, subbies moved right in.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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[email protected]
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:59 pm
Location: Nebraska

We live on a farm and have tons of room. Right now I have birds moving through…50 to 75 per day. New bunches stay and feed and then leave. Kinda fun.
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Martintown33
Posts: 1059
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

I would put new house near old house.. plug up a good amount oh holes in the old house, to encourage them to use the new one.. but I wouldn’t just put up the new one by itself , the first year.. martins are creatures of habit, and sometimes don’t readily accept new housing.. second season, you should be ok to remove old house..
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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