I have been busy preparing natural gourds for my colony's expansion. This morning I received a box of gourds in the mail that were very disappointing, as they are too thin for me to use. But I have a good source for gourds and will deal with them exclusively now.
After acquiring some thick gourds, I drill them with two types of hole saws (3 7/8" & 4 1/4") for the entrance port and access port, I drill drainage holes, and also a vent hole. They are then soaked in copper sulfate (root killer) for 30 minutes to kill any fungus that will cause the gourds to rot. After drying, I caulk in the Troyer entrance and the access port. I then paint with primer and a semi-gloss white paint, with two coats. I then screw in the vent elbow. The gourd is then ready for my colony and I expect these gourds to last longer than I will live. They may need painting and new caulk down the line, but the gourds will last.
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