How has this held up in high winds and storms? I'm gifting it to my dad tomorrow for Father's day. Now I'm anxious that it will fly like a kite off the top of that pole. Another video said predators like hawks and owls can get to the Martin's. Has anyone had such catastrophic results? Are you still happy with this purchase?
Year three for me on it. Leave it up all year, take down once each spring to clean it out. Currently have 4 Martin couples in it. My problem is keeping sparrows out. The red has faded some but otherwise has held up really good to wind and weather.
I purchased the S&K 16 Purple Martin Barn and the Tri-Tel 12 ft Pole. I then called S&K and ordered Plastic Ground Sleeve and an additional section of pole. I found the pole instructions terrible. I called S&K to get help and was told to drill a 1/4 inch hole 3 inches from the bottom of the additional section. That was needed but that did not solve the problem I had when I added section C to the first section which was the additional section. IE the additional section that was in the ground. I solved this problem by adding ten or more plastic grocery bags into the additional section. I also added six or more bags to section C. The 1/4 inch hole I drilled 3 inches from the bottom of the addition section was utilized when I had the house all the way up. What the bags do is position section C and B so that they are in a position so you can grasp them. I'm glad I used the plastic sleeve so that I can remove the pole. S&K needs to make videos on the assembly and installation of their products.
Hey, first, thanks for leaving the feedback. Not sure I'm fully following along as I did not order any extension. I did have 'fit' issues where I used the round steel pipe to support the bottom of the pole, the bird house just spun in the wind. I ended up making 3 wedges to go down the sides of the triangle pole into the round pipe. I would not think that only having 3" of overlap between sections would be enough (??) Each of the top two sections of my 3 section pole had a pre-drilled hole where a pin was inserted to keep the section from dropping further into the one before it. I have taken the house down a few times so far to clean it out, did not have to struggle too much. But, it sounds like you have found solutions to your challenges. I hope the martins find and like your house. I had 'visitors' only the first year, and this year I had 4 couples call it home.
@@TryNewThings My poles have pre-drilled holes for pins. I couldn't find a good video on the installation of the Tri-Tel 12 ft Pole. I like your video showing the way the barn is installed on the pole. I have the same barn. I assume you use a pipe in the ground to allow for inserting a different pole design. The plastic sleeve I installed in the ground only allows for the installation of the Tr-Tel pole. But I can remove the pole from the plastic sleeve which is flush with the ground.
Danny, thanks for the feedback. I will say this, I have not had a bird call either end (red) home yet. However there is something else I thought would not ever happen, I always assumed that sparrows and purple martins would not live in the same house, so tried to keep clearing out the sparrow nests, I can tell you as of this past weekend, two pairs of sparrows on one side (white) and one pair of purple martins (other white side) are fairly happily cohabitating. Might be something to the Red theory after all though.... or maybe everyone just wants a room with a front porch. Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciate you taking the time.
We did indeed… and some sparrows unfortunately. Used the 0.177 pellet gun to help the Martins win. Reminds me it is time to take it down and clean it out before the next season.
Thank you. Could not have installed it correctly without you
David, thanks for taking the time to leave some great feedback!
How has this held up in high winds and storms? I'm gifting it to my dad tomorrow for Father's day. Now I'm anxious that it will fly like a kite off the top of that pole. Another video said predators like hawks and owls can get to the Martin's. Has anyone had such catastrophic results? Are you still happy with this purchase?
Year three for me on it. Leave it up all year, take down once each spring to clean it out. Currently have 4 Martin couples in it. My problem is keeping sparrows out. The red has faded some but otherwise has held up really good to wind and weather.
I feel better 😊 Thank you for the update!
I purchased the S&K 16 Purple Martin Barn and the Tri-Tel 12 ft Pole. I then called S&K and ordered Plastic Ground Sleeve and an additional section of pole. I found the pole instructions terrible. I called S&K to get help and was told to drill a 1/4 inch hole 3 inches from the bottom of the additional section. That was needed but that did not solve the problem I had when I added section C to the first section which was the additional section. IE the additional section that was in the ground. I solved this problem by adding ten or more plastic grocery bags into the additional section. I also added six or more bags to section C. The 1/4 inch hole I drilled 3 inches from the bottom of the addition section was utilized when I had the house all the way up. What the bags do is position section C and B so that they are in a position so you can grasp them. I'm glad I used the plastic sleeve so that I can remove the pole. S&K needs to make videos on the assembly and installation of their products.
Hey, first, thanks for leaving the feedback. Not sure I'm fully following along as I did not order any extension. I did have 'fit' issues where I used the round steel pipe to support the bottom of the pole, the bird house just spun in the wind. I ended up making 3 wedges to go down the sides of the triangle pole into the round pipe. I would not think that only having 3" of overlap between sections would be enough (??) Each of the top two sections of my 3 section pole had a pre-drilled hole where a pin was inserted to keep the section from dropping further into the one before it. I have taken the house down a few times so far to clean it out, did not have to struggle too much. But, it sounds like you have found solutions to your challenges. I hope the martins find and like your house. I had 'visitors' only the first year, and this year I had 4 couples call it home.
@@TryNewThings My poles have pre-drilled holes for pins. I couldn't find a good video on the installation of the Tri-Tel 12 ft Pole. I like your video showing the way the barn is installed on the pole. I have the same barn. I assume you use a pipe in the ground to allow for inserting a different pole design. The plastic sleeve I installed in the ground only allows for the installation of the Tr-Tel pole. But I can remove the pole from the plastic sleeve which is flush with the ground.
I see one of those compressed air pellet guns in your future! European starlings make fun targets...
I have multiple calibers to choose from ;)
I heard birds avoid red! I put up a red birdhouse and even the sparrows and starling would not come near it! 😮
Danny, thanks for the feedback. I will say this, I have not had a bird call either end (red) home yet. However there is something else I thought would not ever happen, I always assumed that sparrows and purple martins would not live in the same house, so tried to keep clearing out the sparrow nests, I can tell you as of this past weekend, two pairs of sparrows on one side (white) and one pair of purple martins (other white side) are fairly happily cohabitating. Might be something to the Red theory after all though.... or maybe everyone just wants a room with a front porch. Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciate you taking the time.
If able let them know purple martin matriarch of the adjustment before and after
did you ever attract any purple martins?
We did indeed… and some sparrows unfortunately. Used the 0.177 pellet gun to help the Martins win. Reminds me it is time to take it down and clean it out before the next season.
We were going to ask the same thing. Currently working on getting ours up.
Do not buy this house. My wife got me one and it is the cheapest thing I’ve ever seen. Absolutely awful!
The one in our backyard is about 15 years old and doing fine.