Martin feeding

White River Valley Martin · Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:50 am

This makes 2.5 days that my 11 martins have did without food, I have tried feeding them and they wont even look at the food flying by, they have no interest in it. It i snowing here today and the temp is suppose to be 45 and sunny tomorrow, maybe they will find something on their own

DAVE · Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:16 pm

I put the food on the inside porch
Dave

birdbrat · Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:17 pm

After 2 and 1/2 days they should be hungry enough to go after what you toss. Are you flipping the crickets in front of them. I know its tough but keep trying. What worked for me was to flip them in an arch (as if the bug was flying), maybe about 10 feet in front of them. Once they catch on you can flip them straight up. All it takes is one to catch on and then they will all do it. After they catch a few crickets try scrambled eggs (no oil added). If they are sitting out and watching you they are probably close to catching on! And if all else fails you can put some in their compartment and hope they eat them. Good Luck, and know that we all have felt your frustration! Brenda

chickadee · Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:00 pm

ok flipping never worked for me. not yet. because I never flipped enough for long enough. I have heard people say they flipped 200 crickets or more till one caught on. I cut their legs off so the martins see them moving and put them in a dish inside the gourd. and some inside the entrance and porch. this has been the only thing to work for me. but just keep trying every way you can. good luck.

tonyg · Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:39 am

Usually after day 3 or 4 they will start chasing your offerings if they haven't been feeding..I fed mine today, three straight days of iffy temps...

elyas · Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:06 am

I have never succeeded in the flipping. We put dead crickets on the inside porch of the gourd and the martins will eat them. Guess it's what your martins are used to. As long as they have the opportunity to eat in adverse conditions is all that matters.

White River Valley Martin · Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:31 am

After trying to flip crickets to them this morning, with no success. I put about 200 crickets in a pan I have mounted on my gourd rack and the martins acted like they were afraid of them. I dont believe my martins have ate since sunday, and it was limited feeding conditions then. They were doing alot of chattering this morning for some reason, its 19 degrees out and suppose to get up to 45 and sunny today, so maybe they will be able to find food.

chickadee · Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:58 pm

try to put them on the porch and right inside the entrance hole. it will block the entrance a little and when they move them to get in they will try them. mine eat them off the porch even when not cold weather. I think they recognize food on the porch because when feeding young dragonfly's and bugs get dropped on the porches and inside the cavity and eaten latter. it is worth a try. I had to do it that way first before they would come to a tray.

cchild03 · Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:19 pm

I've never been successful at flipping, either, so don't feel bad about that. I agree with everyone here that it wouldn't hurt to put some on the porches and inside the compartments. Many will eat that way. Good luck!

Ladybug · Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:25 pm

GOOD LUCK. Weather should be warmer in your area. Sun has
warmed up here rather nicely today, but the wind is still cold.
Wishing you and your Martins the best of LUCK.

PMCA MEMBER
Joanne.