Amazon.com Review

Designed for use with S&K's telescopic poles, this durable, lightweight barn provides shelter, space, and privacy for nesting purple martins. Easy to assemble, the barn includes divided compartments for up to 16 families, with enclosed keyhole-style entrances measuring 2-1/4 inches in height and width. Protected from rain by overhangs, 12 of the compartments are 6 by 6 inches with 3-by-6-inch railed porches and white front panels to increase entrance visibility. The other four compartments measure 6 by 9 inches and have a direct entrance in the side of the barn. Though this house does not include the porch dividers recommended by some experts, it does have slots in which you could fashion an adaptation. While no martin-nesting structure is maintenance free, S&K cuts down on the work with slightly tilted floors for drainage and hinged front panels for end-of-the-season cleanup. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Made of UV grade polypropylene copolymer plastic
• Houses up to 16 purple martin families
• Snaps together in minutes with no tools required
• Slightly sloped floors for drainage
• Measures 18 x 19 x 20 inches and weighs 8 pounds

Reviews (1)

Plastic, Easy Maintainence
This house is easy to assemble, held together with plastic push pins that are very similar to the ones that hold parts of your car together. The house "sturdies up" by the time you get the roof on. The sides with the entrances hinge open for easy cleaning. Being made of heavy plastic, you can blast it out with a garden hose and let the wind dry it. You must use the special pole to mount it (sold separately).

If you are looking for an easy maintainance house to attract bug eating Martins to your yard, this one will do. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Designed for use with S&K's telescopic poles, this durable, lightweight birdhouse provides shelter, space, and privacy for nesting purple martins. Easy to assemble, the house includes divided compartments for up to 12 families, with enclosed keyhole-style entrances measuring 2-1/4 inches in height and width. Protected from rain by overhangs, the compartments are 6 by 6 inches with 3-by-6-inch railed porches and white front panels to increase entrance visibility. Though the house does not include the porch dividers recommended by some experts, it does have slots in which you could fashion an adaptation. While no martin-nesting structure is maintenance free, S&K cuts down on the work with slightly tilted floors for drainage and hinged front panels for end-of-the-season cleanup. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Made of UV grade polypropylene copolymer plastic
• Houses up to 12 purple martin families
• Snaps together in minutes with no tools required
• Slightly sloped floors for drainage
• Measures 18 x 19 x 20 inches and weighs 8 pounds

Reviews (7)

Missing pieces & info
I purchased this product new last week on e'bay and am still waiting to get it up. Some of the dividers were missing. I called S & K and they will ship them. Then I realzed I would need an S & K triangle pole or adapter to install the house in my yard or the warranty would be voided. I went on line to S & K to order the adapter since I already had a pole. The material this is made from seems very flimsy but the directions say it becomes very sturdy when put together. I am still waiting to find that part out.

You do get what you paid for--so 5 stars being what it is
To the reviewer who ruined the birdhouse in building it--you're a boob. The "seperate [sic]" directions were obviously for adding on to an existing birdhouse. Oh, you and the other reviewer who forgot her 'reciept'--learn how to spell--'i' before 'e' remember. Or, better yet, there is a thing called spellcheck; use it.

Having followed the directions, and seen the results, I am in some agreement with the "Possibility?" reviewer. The materials are not as high-quality as many of the purple martin houses I have seen on line. But, for 20 bucks at Wal-Mart, it's not so bad. First, I want to see if this very particular species of swallow will nest in my neighborhood. If so, they will return. If not, I'm only out the 20 bucks, and the cost of the pole [curiously more expensive than the house, and yet still useful as a bird feeder pole or flagpole.] Beats dropping $600 on the ideal [90 to 100% occupancy] house and pole w/ winch combo I really want. Besides, the purple martins should be coming to Ohio within the next few weeks. My house will be waiting. Good luck to all you others.

A Possibility?
I own this product, but I have not used it yet. Actually I have never finished putting it together. Why?

First I want to stress, saying, "DO YOUR HOMEWORK!". I have learned since wanting, and then quickly purchasing a Martin house for my backyard, that there is more to than just putting something up. I did not read that there is a time to put up Martin houses. Nor did I learn about the different types of Martin houses there are. And I had no idea of all that needs to be considered when one does put up, and then to maintain a Martin house.

I gave two stars. One is that if you do not have the money for a proper Martin house, then this house might do. One star was also for the possibility of correcting some problems this house in my opinion has.

The corrugated plastic material totally deflated me when I saw it. I will probably still give this product a try in January, but with some changes. The room size is way too small. So I will make only 6 rooms which are 12 inches deep, and not the 12 rooms of 6 inches deep. Because Owls make midnight snacks of the Martins reaching in for a claw full of whatever they can grab. Also I have read that Martins don't like their neighbor Martins, so on the porch area, besides needing to have Owls guards, there should be porch dividers. I believe these two extra items can be purchased for this particular house.

Even though the instructions look easy enough to put together, I was taken back that I would have to cut out the type of hole I wanted to use. Again read to find out which size you want to use. I would have liked it better if the holes were able to just snap out.

I think this item may fall in with the saying, "You get what you pay for." This item may fit our pocketbook, but think of the birds first on this type of a purchase.

(Note: Learn why you should NEVER allow House Sparrows
to ever breed in your Martin Houses.)

Hunk "O"Junk
This is the worst Martin House I have ever had the misfortune to buy, If I hadn't lost my reciept it would have went straight back to the store.

Beautiful item but with confusing instructions
This item came with very unclear instructions. A seperate sheet of instructions was included mentioning to cut the side pannels which was contradictory with a two story house which I had bought. I followed this instructions and ruined the two beige side panels. When setting this item be careful! ... Read more