- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Purple martin house- I need instructions
Posted on 1/21/25 at 5:45 pm
Posted on 1/21/25 at 5:45 pm
Put a bird house up last year in January. I closed it off, and waited until some point in the spring and opened it up. Apparently I did it too early and several blue birds nested in it.
Martins came later and would land on it but then blue birds would come out pissed off and they left.
So exactly what is the process? It’s open right now but obviously no birds in it.
South louisiana-
Martins came later and would land on it but then blue birds would come out pissed off and they left.
So exactly what is the process? It’s open right now but obviously no birds in it.
South louisiana-
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:18 pm to LSU Neil
I don’t close mine or clean it. Been doing that way since I was a kid. Main thing for Martins is height of bird house and free area. They don’t like too close bldg or trees. They like free area to be able to swoop in to the house from up high. I’m on the east side of Baton Rouge and my Martins don’t show up til Mid February. Occasionally a scout will show up sooner in late January
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:20 pm to LSU Neil
Also make sure you have a bird house that specifically designed for Martins with the smaller holes, so Starlings can’t get in!
This post was edited on 1/21/25 at 6:26 pm
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:22 pm to LINOESC
I prefer mine to have a tighter hole as well. Jus sayin
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:25 pm to lsushelly
LOL …. Winner winner chicken dinner. I knew that wasn’t going to take long lmao
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:44 pm to LINOESC
It’s a Martin house free and clear of anything near it
We will see what happens this year
We will see what happens this year
Posted on 1/21/25 at 6:49 pm to LSU Neil
You may only get one or two pair for the first year or two. How high off the ground is your house ? Needs to
8-10’ minimum
8-10’ minimum
Posted on 1/21/25 at 7:16 pm to LSU Neil
The exact same thing happened to me. After that I built several blue bird houses to give them a place to nest in preparation for the next year. They didn’t want them. They wanted the Martin houses. So I pulled out a pellet gun and started a full on war with the bluebirds. Once I took them out, the Martins finally took over.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 8:04 am to LSU Neil
If (or when) the sparrows move in, you need to clean their nests out. That’s why the houses are put on poles that you can raise and lower. Make room for the purple martins. They start showing up mid to late spring and stay in So LA as late as July.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 11:58 am to LINOESC
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/22/25 at 12:01 pm
Posted on 1/22/25 at 11:59 am to LINOESC
12 feet from the bottom of the house to the ground. I guess I felt like they wouldn’t nest in it bc I had let the blue birds get a couple of holes. But those are pretty nice to have around also so I let them stay
Posted on 1/22/25 at 12:49 pm to LSU Neil
I don’t have issues with the bluebirds, sparrows on the other hand are bad. Check out purplemartinmigration.org it has lots of good data
Posted on 1/23/25 at 10:16 am to LSU Neil
I’ve got three houses and they don’t have round holes but the crescent shaped ones to keep starlings out. You need to clean them out every year
As I’ve found dead birds in the nest after they have left. Mine are all over 12 ft high. If you are getting blue birds get some of those houses and protect those with snake guards.
As I’ve found dead birds in the nest after they have left. Mine are all over 12 ft high. If you are getting blue birds get some of those houses and protect those with snake guards.
Back to top
