Wood Duck Nest Boxes

HawkinsHollow · Feb 17, 2020

Here is a close up of one of our nest boxes (the other I would haver to be floating to get a better pic) No action yet, but it is still early.

ovrszd · Feb 17, 2020

Maybe I missed it, can you post detail specs to build one?

the old grind · Feb 17, 2020

Richard, the tall/duck version of this is one I've been thanked for linking. (among the several hundred online not on pinterest)

The side door makes off-season service easy.

State Parks Getaways - Texas Parks and Wildlife E-newsletter

ovrszd · Feb 17, 2020

the old grind said:
Richard, the tall/duck version of this is one I've been thanked for linking. (among the several hundred online not on pinterest)

The side door makes off-season service easy.

State Parks Getaways - Texas Parks and Wildlife E-newsletter

Thanks for the link. I don't know if I have Wood Ducks around? I'll fab up a box and put it on the shoreline of one of my ponds and find out!!! Thanks again!!!

HawkinsHollow · Feb 17, 2020

ovrszd said:
Maybe I missed it, can you post detail specs to build one?

This is what I used.
Info:
How to Build a Wood Duck Nest Box | Audubon

Detailed Plans:
https://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/wood-duck-nest-box.pdf

japody · Feb 17, 2020

What keeps out unwanted visitors?

HawkinsHollow · Feb 18, 2020

japody said:
What keeps out unwanted visitors?

I have a 4 inch metal flue pipe hanging around the pipe. I did not have 4" pvc so I subbed metal. This hangs so it swings in hopes that coons cannot climb up. There is hardware cloth stuffed in top of pipe to keep snakes and mice out. I also have some grease smeared on bottom 1' of pipe to keep ants out and maybe for a bit more raccoon deterrent. I need to get some of those strips so muddaubers and wasps won't make nests.

heavy hammer · Feb 21, 2020

Nice looking boxes let us know if you get any nests. Nothing better than spending some time outside with the kids. I'm sure your son will love to see the ducklings on the pond.

Mauser12 · Feb 23, 2020

HawkinsHollow said:
Me and my right hand man installed 2 wood duck nest boxes yesterday down by the pond. It was fun! He is very excited to monitor them to see if we get any hatchlings. He wants me to put my cellular game camera on one to monitor them from home. View attachment 641016 View attachment 641017 View attachment 641018

How do you keep the racoons from tearing them apart. I put the boxes on a stream on my property but they are generally torn apart within a couple of years.

Ford850 · Feb 24, 2020

Mauser12 said:
How do you keep the racoons from tearing them apart. I put the boxes on a stream on my property but they are generally torn apart within a couple of years.

He put a 4" flue pipe over the post. I use aluminum downspouts on the posts, and on bluebird box posts too. I cut them so they fit to within an inch of the bottom on the box, and I leave them loose to they wobble if something tries to climb. I've never had a coon get to a box with the downspout on there.