Perch/porch for gourds

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Martinmelody
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2026 3:50 pm
Location: Mississippi

I have gourds without a perch/porch. Can I add a perch/porch now or wait till next spring? 3 gourds have martins...3 gourds don't.
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Kegger
Posts: 381
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:58 am
Location: Awesome Florida
Martin Colony History: 2020: 2 pair of SY with 4 eggs ,fledge 7
2021: 5 pair 25 eggs fledge 18, 4 egg 2nd brood attempt
2022: 13 pair 61 eggs fledge 56 added 11 cavs. now 22 total
2023 15 pair 75 eggs fledge 51 only 3 of 11 eggs hatched cavity 10
2024 11 pair 50 eggs fledge
26. 1 renest cav1, cav10 8 eggs 8 fledged 2 couples ASY and Sy

Since you have some empty ones you could I have extra, and when I do a nest change I simply swap gourds so the change is quicker. I clean the used gourds later. All my gourds have the same opening so that doesn’t matter. Hopefully you bought porches or are able to cut the porch to fit the gourds well No gaps where a toe could catch. The young ones will probably go in your porched gourds along with some adults to check them out. Porches should be about 1/8 inch below your door opening to help keep out the Starlings I would not change the occupied ones. Good luck! 8)
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Martinmelody
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2026 3:50 pm
Location: Mississippi

Great idea on swapping gourds! Thanks!
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