We have decided to upgrade our colony for next year ( ) ( I laugh because I have a grand total of 3 birds!). So as a winter project, I ordered plans from the PMCA shop for building a 'Cedar Suite' house. We want a very strong pole, but my husband has questions about how to install the winch system. I searched the archives and did a search on the forum, but could not find anything on the subject.
Is there anyone out there that can tell/show us how it works or direct us to a site with directions/diagrams?
Also, any feed back for the 'Cedar Suite' house?
Thanks in advance!!
You need to decide what kind of pole you are going to use. I used a 3.5 inch round pole which is VERY sturdy, for my T14. I used U bolts to mount a metal box I built to my pole and then I mounted the winch to the pole. It is know that drilling holes in a pole will weaken in, the issue is nobody really knows how much. Some people say it doesn't affect it that much some say they will never drill a hole in a pole. I didn't drill mine. Here is a pic of how I did mine on the round pole.
If you use a wooden pole, it can be bolted on. Instead of using the U-bolt (the half rounded bolt), you can drill some holes thru the wooden pole, and add washers and bolt the winch to the pole. A better method is to put the bolts on the outside, and use a steel plate on the back side of the pole, and put the bolts thru the steel plate.
Keep in mind that a wooden house is quite heavy so you need a strong heavy duty pole. Another idea is that you may wish not to put it as tall as the normal 16ft pole, some people put them only 12ft tall. Both of these ideas are good for heavy houses.
In case you change your mind and decide to use gourds, then you can use lighter poles. Martins like gourds much better than houses in general. They may not like them as much initially, but they prefer them after a few years.
Thanks, all, for the info. I figure if I am going to do this, I should do it right!
So far, even with just 1 pair and a bachelor, it has brought us a lot of happiness. (got 2 more HOSPS today!) We spend almost all day, every day, watching.
TerryG - how do I get to Chucks Purple Martin page? I struggle along as best I can with my computer.............
"Martins like gourds much better than houses in general. They may not like them as much initially, but they prefer them after a few years."
My two cents: I see no difference in house or gourd preferences among martins. A lot of course depends on the house, and on the gourd.
I like gourds, but I love Trendsetter houses because I like seeing martins sitting out of the cold rain in early spring on the deep porches. But under these conditions on a gourd rack, the martins probably go inside. But both Trendsetters and gourd racks I manage in various public sites get pretty much full occupancy.
John, if both fill up, then there is no way to tell which they prefer. When I try a house, its about 1/2 full for many years, but the gourds mostly fill up. I think that sparrows and starlings chase away a lot of martins from the houses, since the S&S prefer a house. I usually get rid of the S&S in a few days, but by that time, the martins went to a gourd.
Here's PMCA link on an offset pole. http://purplemartin.org/update/14(1)T14pole.pdf I personally used a 4x4 winch pole instead and kept the winch on the front rather than the rear. Not sure why my sreh look so uneven in the pic. They're aftermarket plastic tunnels. I built the house myself and put it up last weekend. Fun project, been a while since I did any woodworking.
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Cav Man - Hope your new house fills up the year. I like the off set but also hope you have plans for a predator guard. Looks like a good place for black snakes to roam.
Thanks, I do have the parts for the snake guard just haven't had time to add it yet. And your quite correct we have lots of big black snakes here. We have a heck of a time with them getting in our chicken coop and eating eggs. I like them for keeping the mice down but eggs are much easier to catch than mice unfortunately. Last year we transplanted 5 black snakes, only one was lass than 5 foot long. The house is down and plugged now because the bluebirds claimed it first. It will be back up tomorrow morning.
) ( I laugh because I have a grand total of 3 birds!). So as a winter project, I ordered plans from the PMCA shop for building a 'Cedar Suite' house. We want a very strong pole, but my husband has questions about how to install the winch system. I searched the archives and did a search on the forum, but could not find anything on the subject. 
I struggle along as best I can with my computer............. 