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Wood Duck Boxes
Posted on 3/10/15 at 9:48 am
Posted on 3/10/15 at 9:48 am
I jumped a pair of wood ducks out of our pond and it got me motivated to build them a nesting box. I know I'm probably late for this year, but I'll get it hung up and waiting on them next year.
Here are the plans I used...
Here's my rendition...
Finished product with a message from me and a flower sticker from my daughter. She had a blast building the "bird house".
And for your viewing pleasure...
Here are the plans I used...
Here's my rendition...
Finished product with a message from me and a flower sticker from my daughter. She had a blast building the "bird house".
And for your viewing pleasure...
9
Posted on 3/10/15 at 9:57 am to Clyde Tipton
Be careful where you mount it, those things are snake havens.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 9:59 am to KingRanch
Yeah that's my next issue. Should I hang it on a tree? On a single pole in the middle of the water?
I need to add some metal flashing around the base of the pole to keep critters off of it.
I need to add some metal flashing around the base of the pole to keep critters off of it.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:01 am to Clyde Tipton
Pole in the water, coned flashing underneath the box.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:02 am to Clyde Tipton
Nice box Clyde I am looking to do the same thing.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:03 am to KingRanch
Also might need to put some screen for the ducklings to climb up or use a chisel to rough up the inside right below the hole. my two cents.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:03 am to Polar Pop
Dang. I almost called you yesterday evening. I had some buddies over for beers and their "construction management" expertise. 
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:04 am to Clyde Tipton
Its all good, we will talk it over on Sunday afternoon. Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:05 am to TIGER2
quote:
Also might need to put some screen for the ducklings to climb up
I'll take that into consideration...
quote:
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:12 am to Clyde Tipton
Is there a latch or hinge for you to clean it out in the offseason?
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:18 am to fillmoregandt
The top is hinged on the back.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 10:37 am to Clyde Tipton
It doesn't matter whether it is on a pole near the bank or over the water. Putting it in a tree is not advisable unless you can protect from predators above the box. It needs some kind of screen on the inside of the box under the hole for the chicks to climb out and it needs some fill. It really needs good predator baffles underneath. I used the metal sheet cut plans in this publication and they worked well. Wood Duck I used rivets to assemble the cones.
This post was edited on 3/10/15 at 10:40 am
Posted on 3/10/15 at 11:31 am to TBoy
An old timer in Lafayette area who I've putchased a few boxes from has been making them for years. He recommends to mount them on 4"x4" square posts. Claims the snakes will not climb a square post that thick. And all of mine are on land just near water, but not below many trees or anything that predators could have easy access to.
Also, if you notice in the plans, there is a pretty decent overhang above the entry hole. The guy says this prevents raccoons from standing on the top and being able to reach into the hole and down into the bottom of the box where the hen or her eggs would be. Definitely put the chicken wire on the inside lining the panel below the hole for the chicks to latch onto and make their way out.
Also, if you notice in the plans, there is a pretty decent overhang above the entry hole. The guy says this prevents raccoons from standing on the top and being able to reach into the hole and down into the bottom of the box where the hen or her eggs would be. Definitely put the chicken wire on the inside lining the panel below the hole for the chicks to latch onto and make their way out.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 11:33 am to KingRanch
quote:
Pole in the water, coned flashing underneath the box.
This
Posted on 3/10/15 at 12:01 pm to Clyde Tipton
Needs to be close enough to the water for the chicks to jump into on Jump Day.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 1:44 pm to Clyde Tipton
LDWF info on Wood Duck nest boxes and recommendations
It looks like they recommend mounting the boxes over water and not affixed to a tree to minimize racooon, rat snake and fire ant predation.
It looks like they recommend mounting the boxes over water and not affixed to a tree to minimize racooon, rat snake and fire ant predation.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 2:01 pm to webstew
Probably not too late for you to get it out this season.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 3:13 pm to Art Vandelay
quote:
Probably not too late for you to get it out this season.
Not at all!
Wood duck hens can lay as many as 3 clutches per year if conditions are right. Keep an eye on the use of the box and when you see that the hen and chicks are gone, clean out the nesting material and put fresh one in. Before long, it will likely be back in use.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 4:37 pm to bodean45
Get some Hay or other nest material for the bottom and a cone for the pole and you are in business.
Posted on 3/10/15 at 4:40 pm to GCHunter
Question, do other local ducks use these boxes to nest? I've seen some cool nesting designs used up in the prairie but they are pretty much just tubes of chicken wire with hay in the middle sitting poles.
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