Trio question

[Ed Pace]

I have read recently somewhere that you should sub floor a Trio house. I just finished up grading a trio-12 for a site for some other people.I put 1inch styrofoam in the nesting side and dished it out,My question is, should I put something in the entrance side? Maybe 1/8 in cork or something?

[Matt F.]

Hi Ed.
You've got the main, critical thing taken care of - having something to keep the nest and babies up and off of the floor.
As far as adding something to the "foyer" or entrance chamber, that seems to vary from one Trio person to the next.
There was one forum member that mentioned, if the male Martin was forced to sleep in the entrance compartment, wouldn't it be nice if he didn't have to sleep on the cold, bare, aluminum floor.
I equated that to a human male having to sleep on the couch!

[Ed Pace]

Thanks Matt , I think ill add a thin layer of cork in the morning and put it up. Being a male I don`t think I would like sleeping on that metal floor either.

[John Miller]

I agree with Matt -- on most things about Trios -- and I think some flooring in the front is a good idea. Babies sometimes get pushed out from the back to the front and if it's rainy, they can get wet and if they are younger would quickly get hypothermia and die. You can use the Trio subfloors in front too, but with crescents these must be right side up (it's tricky to know which is right side) or they may block the opening. With cork, make sure it's fitted snug, or it can get flipped up and block the opening. I use cork sometimes as an overlay to my Trio aluminum subfoors in back to keep the nests more dry and insulated. You also can use a small piece of roofing shingle, gravel side up. John

[Matt F.]

You can use the Trio subfloors in front too, but with crescents these must be right side up (it's tricky to know which is right side) or they may block the opening.

Great point John.
Most Trio folks know, but for those that don't, the flanges on the sides go down. The flange at the front (where the slot is cut to accommodate the door clip) goes up.
Photo credit Nature House Inc.

[Guest]

I have shown this on previous posts. My personal favorite material for Trio subfloors is plastic light louver material. It makes an excellent subfloor for martin housing. Light weight, good drainage, outstanding traction, easy to work with and modify to desired size. Picture of plastic louver material in a Trio M12K. I place my pre-nest material on top of the subfloors.

[Ed Pace]

Thanks for your answers,I had to put them up early this morning. I went with the cork and dabbed it down with a little caulk. Jim I like the light louver material and will try it next time. Thank`s again. Ed

[Larry D]

Jim, What are the wooden blocks in the photo for?

[Matt F.]

Jim, What are the wooden blocks in the photo for?

Hi Larry.
I hope you don't mind me answering on Jim's behalf.
The wood is to provide a barrier, to assist in keeping the nests from possibly sliding forward, and to help in keeping small babies from wandering, rolling, or being pushed out of the nest.
Depending on the height of the barriers, they may even assist in predator protection.
Some people have compared these barriers, to the mud dams the Martins naturally build sometimes.
If you look at the commercially available nest trays at the PMCA store, you see the same type of barriers on them also.

[Matt F.]

Jim,
Great job on your Trio enhancements!
That is an awesome setup!