starting gourd rack

[D'Nese]

Need some advice on the rack and gourds I plan on buying. I am thinking of getting the Big Bo Gourd and 6 gourd rack that fits on tri-tel-pole. Please give me pro's and cons to this set up. Thanks

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Not sure what you are planning to get, but the 6 gourd rack is nice on the tri-tel pole and is a good starter pole.

About the house, I would not attach a house to that pole if you plan to have 6 gourds under it, that may be too much weight for the pole, but you could always check with the mfg before you purchase it to see if its compatible.

[John Miller]

Suggest a starter rack with a rope and pully system; ideally a two-inch square pole. The PMCA sells starter poles, or you can do a google search too. Just search for two-inch square gourd rack, purple martin. The pole is a vital component and most telescopic poles are limited in strength and can eventually bend in a storm, plus can seriouisly pinch your fingers when you lower.

John Miller

[Guest]

DNese I bought that very set up last year. Tri tel pole and six big Bo gourds. I have been very pleased. You can't go wrong with that. But I agree with previous post. I would not put a house and the gourds on that pole together. Mike. [/i]

[flyin-lowe]

I personally would save a little money and get a little sturdier system. I started out with a Tri Tel pole and the smallest house that S&K makes. It was bent after the first season. Luckily for me the store I bought it from replaced it for me. The next year I switched to a T14 but I used the brand new Tri Tel pole and put the perching station on it. The perch basically weighs nothing and also does not catch any air like gourds and a house will. After one year of being up the pole is starting to bend a little just from the wind on the pole, with only the perches on it. I know lots of people have started colonies with the tri tel poles however it is only a matter of time before the pole will bend to the point that you can't raise and lower it. I live in Indiana and we usually have some decent wind and storms but it is not as windy as some other parts of the country.

[Grady]

I have two of those systems - each with 6 gourds and a plastic house. I have never had a problem but they are not convenient at all. The plastic pins that keep the poles from sliding are very fragile; lifting the pole up and down is a pain and if it slips through your hand can result in broken eggs and injured chicks. I built a new system last year with a pulley and T-14 and gourds. Its much better. I still use both of my tri-tel systems that I bought as combos but probably wouldn't do it again.

[GeneP]

I've had a couple of tri-tel poles, no real complaints. I did overload mine which made it difficult to do nest checks. Eventually I upgraded to a multigourd rack with a winch. Right now it holds 12 gourds but I can expand to another 12 whenever I'm ready. I would be dollars ahead if I had gone this route to begin with.

[Carlton]

I SO AGREE with John Miller's comments. He is right on target.

Good luck this season!

[Jeremy Shuler]

I had one of these last season and the arms on the rack started bending under the weight of the gourds with nesting materials. and my pole eventually bent under the always changing weather of Missouri