Some are platter feeding

[Martintown33]

I woke up this morning and saw 3 martins sitting on the platter , in the rain.. I ran outside and checked and the platter was empty. They ate all the crickets , but the wet mealworms were still there.. I reloaded it with crickets.. finally!
Rob

[Phil01]

Outstanding news Rob!! Life just got a lot easier for you and your martins!! Love hearing all the success stories! Great job sir!!
Phil

[Thomabear]

Great news Rob! I found they took a while to start taking the meal worms since I was initially feeding crickets. Now they are eating both about the same. I would definitely keep the mealworms going.

[C.C.Martins]

Rob,
No kidding!!!! Success!!!! Too many heart breaks due to this cold, this is wonderful! Ran out in the rain id bet!
Well, now they know! And they won't forget either!

[brent]

Awe that’s great!!! I’m getting the B&B and will be ready for them next year. Great news. Inspires me!!! Brent

[Martintown33]

Thanks guys. I think the transition to the platter was the next step for them. They took a while to eat crickets in front rooms of house compartments , but by second day they were cleaning them out everyday. Then they moved to porches. Cleaned those out. Next logical step was to go to the platter when the ate everything else. I think the mocks and BBs helped to show the way also. I found No losses today. Very grateful..
and yep, definitely ran out in the rain Tom. I wasn’t going to miss this..
Rob

[Thomas Maddox]

I'm thinking about get a platform feeder also. Not sure if I'm ready to drop $200 on the Troyer one or not, though they look really nice. Are you going to remove the perch rods to prevent the poop in the tray? Wonder if there is an optimal height?

[Thomabear]

I’m going to extend the sliding part using 2”x1/8” wall
Aluminum square tubing (about 1’ plus in length) to relocate the perch rods below the trays with enough room for the birds to comfortably land on them. Once completed the perch rods will slide up and down the pole with the trays. It may turn out to look goofy but should help to keep the trays clean. It can be easily reversed if it doesn’t pan out as expected. Yes, at $200 plus dollars the mfg is definitely proud of this feeder.

[Martintown33]

Thomas, I just rigged up my own platter feeder, rather than spending the $200. I cut a hole in a 2 foot piece of cedar fence picket. I slid an old tri tel telescoping pole through the hole and attached it using L brackets. Then I screwed 2 , plastic, 12 inch diameter , outdoor plant saucers to the fence board. Works fine. Cost me nothing, since I had all this lying around.
Here’s a pic of the rig. It ain’t pretty but It works. The martins also take pine needles loaded on it, to add to their nests.
Rob

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(1.49 MiB) Not downloaded yet

[C.C.Martins]

Rob, sometimes the best solutions are the simplest...martins don't need bells and whistles. I like it! Lots cannot afford commercial, like the alternative sir!

[Thomabear]

Great job Rob! Your feeder setup will make feeding a whole lot easier. It came out real nice, and to top it off the price was right. Can’t beat that. I hope we won’t need to feed again this year but you will definitely like it for supplying pine straw and egg shells. Just when we think we have everything covered here comes more improvements. Lol, it just never ends.

[Thomas Maddox]

I like it Rob! Did you drill holes in the bottom of the saucers for drainage?

[Martintown33]

Yes Thomas. I did drill holes for drainage. For pine needles , I use a bungee cord, to hold a bundle of needles to the platter, so the wind doesn’t blow them off. The females love them..
Tbear and Tom. Ha! Yep, can’t beat the price.. not a Taj Mahal build but it gets the job done. Those houses are 27 years old. The martins love them and I can’t bring myself to switch them out. I strengthened the roofs with a silicone coating that roofers use on low slope roofs. Replaced all the pins with nuts and bolts. Added flush porches years ago, and of course all the elbow vents. Modified the doors so they open individually front and back, not as a whole panel. The #8 bolts sticking out the sides of the houses are for mounting the west side facing , sun panels, which aren’t on , at this point. The martins always fill up the houses first before they start using the gourds, so it’s hard for me to get myself to change them. We know, they like what they like!
Rob

[Unk Bond]

Hello guys
And enjoying your ingenuity

Be nice to se some of your hand work
Got any pictures [ Later Unk

[Phil01]

Feeder looks great Rob! So creative! All that matters is that it works and the martins love it my friend.
I think your housing looks awesome as well! If I had martins nesting in housing as long as you have I wouldn’t replace it either. It’s what they know and love. Great job keeping it functional all these years!
Phil

[Unk Bond]

Hello
Sure would like to see a picture
How you guys are feeding from a platter
And how high off the ground is your platter

Does sparrows eat crickets
Or what you might put on your platter to feed your martins
Thanks
Later

[Thomabear]

Hello
Sure would like to see a picture
How you guys are feeding from a platter
And how high off the ground is your platter

Does sparrows eat crickets
Or what you might put on your platter to feed your martins
Thanks
Later

Unk Bond, this is the B&B feeder that I just modified to place the perches under the trays. Did this to keep them from crapping in the pans. Didn’t cost me anything to upgrade it since I had the aluminum square tube and rods. To be honest, while the B&B feeders are nice, they are costly for what you get. If you prefer you can easily make your own like Rob did if you have the materials. The martins don’t know the difference between height or design when hungry. With the 1” Galvanized ground stake the perches are 9’ up and the pans a little over 10’.

[Unk Bond]

Hello and a big thanks
Crickets and other feed you might feed on the plater
Where's a good website to buy from Thanks [ Later

[Unk Bond]

Hello and may I say that looks nice
Just saw on the web A nice outfit
4 Square trays feeder

Attached and pulled up by a rope pulley
He had feed in one or two trays
Pine needle straw in a tray

Really liked the looks of it
And would like to have one
If you find the name and where to buy.

Please let me know I am a DIY guy to
But being 89 now The cost wouldn't bother mea bit
Can't take it with me Smile [ Later Unk

[Unk Bond]

Hello and a Add on
Just found it [ Boy that was quick ha ha
Will order tomorrow [ later