I caged everything up 4-5 years ago and don't recall any problem. They zip right on thru the 2x4 inch wire like it's not there. The babies will will have some problem but will figure it out eventually.

Dave

I used a 2 inch knock 0ut punch and punched the wall twice making a 3 1/2 inch by 2 inch tall hole, basically egg shape. I would not cut two inch holes because I've seen birds stuck with wing entrapment. Cut at least three inch wide or larger holes. Since I did this 4-5 years ago to my trio castle, ...

Spiderman, the barred owls here do not carry the martins away and swallow them whole. They pluck and eat, not swallow whole, the martin on the ground below the colony, leaving a pile of feathers. I've watched them do it many times.

Dave

Very good point John.

Dave

I leave a feeding station out all season. It has pine needles, oyster shell, and meal worms. They can and well use it all summer especially when babies arrive. They mainly feed flying insects but use the station for extra food. Not all birds will use pine needles but some do. Iuse pine needles in al...

I have six poles spaced 30 feet from each other. The birds don't care and it's easy to mow around them with my lawnmower or tractor.

Dave

I use the aluminum crescent plates from PMCA for my openings on several of my houses and don't believe I've had any problems with starlings. I use them on my North Stars. I place them on top of the porches. The plate has 1/2 inch space between the bottom and the crescent bottom, plenty of space to c...

I use a 10x21x21/4 inch black plastic seed growing tray. I built a wooden frame the tray fits into. The tray is secured in the wood frame with a couple of homemade stops on each end that cover the top of the tray so it doesn't blow away. Yes, even at 21/4 inches tall I will lose stuff like meal worm...

I have a feeder station next to my houses and gourds. I supply it with dried meal worms, oyster shell, chicken egg shell, and pine straw. I usually rehydrate the meal worms so that they don't blow away. I never had to toss food in the air to attract them. They just came because they are inquisitive....

T-Bird, They do not extend to the entrances. They are made with 1/4 inch thick wood, are aprox. 5 3/4 w x 6 1/4 l. They are a wood floor and a wood front that is 1 1/4 inches tall measured from inside the tray. The sides and backs are wrapped with 3 inch tall aluminum flashing. I had a nail protrudi...

I made my nest trays for my Trendsetter 26 and place them on top of the mesh screens. I think the trays will stay drier being on the screens and not on the floors. I've done this since day one, about 8 years.

Dave

50 years since the last Superbowl. We are due. Go Chiefs!

Dave

I have trio houses and the paint I found that was close to the trio color was rustoleum hunter green spray paint.

Dave

Gun, I'm just east of Kansas City Mo. and have built two, three level North Star houses. The birds really like them. The plans as you know are pretty easy to understand. The one thing I don't like about them is that 1/2 inch plywood isused to build the house. Because of the plywood and paint not sti...

Bigger the better. I bought the 3 inch pole and winch. If you can afford it buy it. I think it would survive most storms but I play it safe and lower all my houses 3 0r 4 feet before storms. I've had poles bent and don't want togo thru that again. I have 2 trio m12k houses on it. Martins seem to lik...

Steve, I put the bed and breakfast up in the spring when the martins start showing up, around the middle of march. I have eggshell, oyster shell, meal worms, and pine straw all in a 10x21 inch black seed tray with slots in the bottom for drainage. I microwave the chicken egg shells for around a minu...

I've been fighting owls for 6-7 years. They are trying to wipe me out. I hate owls. If you attract any, you are playing with fire. They will in time find the martins and kill them. It's very stressful.

Dave

I have some of this and was wondering if it is as durable as red cedar. I want to replace the rotting porches on my North Star that are plywood with this aromatic cedar. Anybody know?

Dave

Steve, I have motion detector lights on my poles. They did nothing to the barred owls but gave them more light to hunt.

Dave

I use 3/16 inch cable on my T-14 house which is over a hundred pounds. No problem at all.

Dave