Originally Posted By: timbercruiser
Martin gourds have been around for a long time as nesting places for the martins. I know of no other use for them hanging. It is kinda hard to find good gourds, you don't need the real big ones, and you need some with a good thick hard shell so they will last a lot of years, or plastic.
Up till about 20 years ago I had a lot of birds, then one day I killed two chicken snakes that had climbed into the nest and had eat a bunch of chicks and eggs. I had 5 - 16 hole aluminum houses and probably 20 or so gourds, bunch of birds. After I killed those snakes I have not had another martin. I even took the houses down and clorox and washed them out, thinking there might have been some kind of scent or something. The houses are still up, but no birds.


There is some kind of something still there. I don't know what it is, but I know people here who have had snake problems or owl problems and lost their Martins. They NEVER get them back. I don't what they know/see/smell that we don't, but there's something there.

I have electric predator guards on all my gourd racks. A 15 joule 200 mile electric fence charger powers it. A snake won't cross it.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14