hanging gourds

D'Nese · Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:37 pm

I would like to have suggestions from all of you guys as to what is the best method of hanging the gourds under our T14. In previous years they hung on an aluminum rod that protruded out on the alternate corners of the T14. Last year I had an GHO visit us a few times and I know he was able to knock at the gourds and spook the martins out. The evidence was bend rods and it was my first year that my gourds were not to capacity. The GHO would sit on the BB house about 30 ft from the martin house and wait till it was late enough. Well now most of the rods are damaged by either the owl or the wind so I would like to mount them alittle more under the house for better protection. My hope is that if we "tuck" the gourds alittle more under the house they won't be so accessible? Thoughts? I am attaching what my house with gourd look like from last year.

dhjohnson · Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:53 pm

D`Nese,
Wow, a really beautiful house there. I admire them even though I don`t use one. I have read here on the forum about a lot of sucess with wire cages. Have you thought about installing a modified wire cage below the house that would allow you to do nest checks but provide enough distance to send the owl looking elsewhere. If the potential meal is inaccessible, they might move on. We have owls in our area too and I am afraid that this year I might attract enough martins to snag their interest. I am sure someone will provide you with better advice or perhaps an easier solution.
Best of luck for the 2014 martin season,
Debbie

Emil Pampell-Tx · Fri Dec 20, 2013 6:30 am

My suggestion also would be to make a wire cage that extends about 4 inches past the porches of the gourds. It may even be best to cover the house also. That would be the only dependable way to stop the owl. Since the owl had success, it will continue to check your housing for the next couple years to see if it can again catch martins.

I would suggest that you use the 2in x 4in wire, and be sure to cover the top of the cage.

I know its a rather tedious job to do that, but it has worked in every case where it was tried.

If you do not make the cage, then I would take down the gourds. That house is very nice looking...good luck, and I hope that something can be done to stop that owl.

Louise Chambers · Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:05 am

Owls will land on the ground and then fly up to gourds or house - up inside cages with open bottoms. So I think tucking the gourds more closely under the house will help, I'd also consider how to block an owl from below. It's a tough situation but hopefully you'll find a solution that works. At least there's time to work on it, too.

~Ray~Gingerich · Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:53 am

I wonder if you could move your gourds up and tucked tightly into the inside corners. You could still use a strip of fence wire looped over each gourd

Louise Chambers · Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:05 am

Ray, I think that's a very good idea! Move them up, snugged into corners, and place wire fence guard around each one. That ought to work well.

D'Nese · Tue Dec 24, 2013 7:05 am

Thank you all for you compliments and suggestions. This is a "Chuck" house plan, my husband did a few mods but we have 2 now. Absolutely love them and so easy to do nest checks and clean at the end of the year.

I tried a "cage" last year but it was just to hard to do nest checks so this year I want to try the gourd move. I was thinking the same thing with tucking them under the house alittle and also purchasing the owl guards for the front. I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas.