Bat House Forum

[Markcuda]

Here is a link to a Lone Star bat house.
http://www.lonestarwoodcraft.com/triplechamber.html
Would these two houses be a good choice for mounting back to back?
I know they are a little pricey.

[kent borcherding]

The bat houses you are considering look to be well constructed , the 14 inch width is some concern > prefer houses at least 2 ft. wide.

If you would like some bat house plans that would be successful in your area , send me a pm , and I will send some successful designs and plans. definitely no charge. I have boxes of bat lit. , if you would have a use for any of the lit.

Interstate 80 is approx.- 40th parallel north , I factored that in designs- styles when building bat houses. seemed to work well. ie - color , slant of roof - really helps with internal temps , paint scheme to use , black roof , brown bat house , shingles on roof , vents many factors to consider to control the internal temps of bat houses. Very important with houses big browns use.

You should be able to contact a woodworker or carpenter in your area to construct some bat houses . If I were closer to Clinton would give the materials , I am about 5 hrs. away. I am unable to travel that distance now.

Preferred woods I have been using black locust , white oak , and douglas fir. Makes for heavy bat houses that will last for many years , and helps control internal temps during day and night

[Markcuda]

Kent, I don't want to build my own bat house.
I will help the economy out as much as I can
I have done tons of Googling BCI bat houses, I have not seen any wider than 16 inches on a 3 chamber house.
There is a bat house maker in Oregon Wisconsin that makes a nice 4 chamber house, but the price is 200 bucks.
I think that is the only one wider than 16 inches.
The Lone Star looks like a very well built house, probably one of the best.
But, the price reflects that.
The two houses that I decide on, will be on a 2 inch galvanized pipe,(inside diameter) over kill, I know

[kent borcherding]

the bat houses should be successful mounted back to back on the 2 inch pipe . with free shipping you are getting great bat houses for the money.

one of the reasons you do not see wider widths bat houses that are shipped , cost of shipping wider bat houses.

also reason a lot of bat house builders use cedar , redwood , and cypress. keeps shipping weight lower.

over the years I did a lot of field testing of bat houses for BCI to be certified , bat houses from builders from many states.

the bat house in the picture is a good well built bat house .

[Markcuda]

Lets see if the mounting bracket shows up.

Kent, would I even want/need to paint the cedar wood?

[William Bagwell]

Lets see if the mounting bracket shows up.

I can understand your reluctance to build a wooden bat house if you lack equipment etc... But I have seen what you can do with metal over in the Purple Martin forum. Where is your do-it-yourselfer spirit?

[Markcuda]

William, It's not that I can't do it, it is just that I don't need to do it
I'm working again, after a year out of work, now it is time to help out other
companies by buying their stuff, because I am able to again

[Terry Lobdell]

I always like to see Kent's input on here........I have followed his advice for years and what he says about bat houses is the absolute truth!