heated houses

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wildcatervin
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
Location: milford,de

Has anyone tried to make a heated house for days like we are having here in the northeast.And if you did would they us it?
Guest

In a metal house you can place a 60 watt light bulb in a lower unused compartment and it will heat the whole house. The martins will not be bothered.
Guest

A few years back Bob Buskas in Alberta heated one of his Northstar houses with a 60w lightbulb placed in one of the lower compartments. If I remember correctly ,in his test, he indicated that the outside temperature was around the freezing point while the temperature in the compartments above the bulb 65-70F.
wildcatervin
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
Location: milford,de

Sorry I didnt mention that I only have gourds at my site.Was thinking of building 1.Thanks for the reply.
Guest

Pocket warmers, the long lasting ones (12-24hrs), should work great in a gourd.
CraigMo.
Posts: 1480
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
Martin Colony History: Active since 2003

I just might have to try this light bulb set up if the weather keeps getting extended. I am kind of scared about the pine needles catching on fire in the surrounding compartments though
wildcatervin
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:14 pm
Location: milford,de

Great idea on those pocket warmers,but I might go broke as of now I have 18 birds and all but 2 want to live in diferent places.Guess I could take all 80 gourds down and leave up only 2.Tonight will be in the mid 20s and possibly snow.
Guest

Craig, If you take some simple precautions a 60w lightbulb will be safe to use. Try to position it in such a way that the bulb is not in contact with another surface ( make a holder from a stiff wire), consider placing it on an aluminum dish .

I like the pocket warmer idea - read about it somewhere else: it is suggested to place the hand warmers in occupied gourds while at the same time blocking vacant ones. Good luck.
Guest

In one of our houses we use night light bulbs that we cover with aluminum hand made fittings.

Darlene Donath
Arlington Heights, IL
CraigMo.
Posts: 1480
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
Martin Colony History: Active since 2003

Like I said if they keep changing the weather I might have to. I could use a disposable pie pan as the plate and I bet my owl guard could help hold the handle to the light in place. I am going to keep an eye out on the weather. Thanks for the tips
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