S & K MARTIN HOUSE

[Martinmelody]

I enlarged the compartments on this house so that I have 4- 6× 12 compartments. My question is about the entrances. Should all four entrances be on the same side or would it be better to have 2 entrances on front and 2 entrances on back? Any suggestions?

[h2y]

Doesn't really matter. Curious why you aren't making it 6 - 6x12" rooms, utilizing the middle bays as well, resulting in 3 entrances on both sides, or 4 &2? See attached.

[Martinmelody]

I love all the space you have by opening it up!
On my house....the tripole runs up the middle compartments. See photo.BUT.... After studying your pics...I THINK I see how you did it. Great idea! I am new to this.

[h2y]

I, too, use the tri-tel poles...it works with them. Furthermore, I double stack 2 houses (1 roof) for 4 floors (12 - 6x12" rooms total). S&K's instructions are a little vague on double stacking but if you do it, run the pole thru to include the floor of the 4th floor for strength & hang it all just 9-10' off the ground by nesting the poles. Any wind shy of a hurricane won't be a problem.

[SSMartin]

Impressive setup

[Martinmelody]

Oh wow! That is great! Thanks for sharing your pictures.

[killerv]

That's a slick idea of double stacking, buddy just gave me his red barn house, wonder if I could add it to top or bottom of my green roof one, maybe next years project. I'm assuming you just tuck the top sides of the bottom house that aren't used into the bottom of the top house or did you cut them. I imagine this would be much easier if you start with two new ones from scratch.

[h2y]

That's a slick idea of double stacking, buddy just gave me his red barn house, wonder if I could add it to top or bottom of my green roof one, maybe next years project. I'm assuming you just tuck the top sides of the bottom house that aren't used into the bottom of the top house or did you cut them. I imagine this would be much easier if you start with two new ones from scratch.

Yes, the red barn & the green top houses are compatible for double stacking by cutting the sides of the bottom unit. I've only done it by using a new house for the bottom but it should be doable. I just retroed 11 old (some 20+ years old & still in remarkable condition despite some pellet holes) single houses to double stacked. All you have to do to your existing house (using as the top) is cut the 3 bottom pins off each side. Set this unit aside til later. Then, with the new/other house, first cut the sides at, or above, the marks on the inside (S&K's instructions are pretty clear where to cut) before assembling. This cut is not critical (I cut at the attic entrance holes on 1 house & it worked fine, as long as it's well above the newly drilled 5/16" holes). So, the overlap is 1/2"+. Then, assemble the 2 floors/walls of the new house, now set the old house on top & seat the tabs (after cleaning the old house's slots with a screwdriver), install the sides with the push pins. CAUTION: you must run the tri-tel pole up inside the floor of the 4th floor otherwise it will be unstable. TIPS: bevel grind the top end of the pole to ease running up through the house. Also, remove/disable the third section's spring pins. They just make it difficult to release them & lower/raise the house at the same time. Instead, afix a pole adapter (or some kind of stop) to the skinny section to minimize how much it protrudes so the weight of the house, etc sits on top of the second section. In warm climates, don't use the attic rooms: too hot, the chicks will jump out. See bdaigle004's post "Will scouts come back if their house is lowered" for a little more info.

I've tried gourds & aluminum houses but, thankfully, my PMs prefer these relatively cheap houses (so do I, 336 - 6x12 suites of aluminum houses would cost a fortune; 56 single houses + 28 poles are expensive enough). Supply dictated by demand, grown for 25 years.