Wood Duck House
for Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Screech Owls & Kestrels
Make a 10″ by 10″ floor (inside dimensions) and a 24″ floor to ceiling height (inside front). Cut a 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor (to top of hole). Drill or cut and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.

If full width wood stock is not available, use two 1″x 6″, or 1″x 8″ boards. They usually vary from 5 1/4″ to 5 1/2″ wide and 7 1/4″ to 7 1/2″ wide. Cut them to width and secure well. Reinforce with chamfer strips (inside) or batten strips (inside or outside) fastened perpendicular to vertical panels.
Plywood consists of glued, thin laminated panels. They are strong but prone to deterioration from moisture even when surfaces and edges are sealed with paint.
Extend the back wall panel beyond both top and bottom. Drill pilot holes in these long panels for mounting. Drill an extra mounting hole inside the box just under the roof. Stagger these holes so that all are not in line along a single wood grain. Holes in line with grain can weaken and cause wood to split.
Some attach wire mesh on the inside front panel to help ducklings climb out of the box. If you do this, bend the needle sharp ends over and fold behind. A better alternative may be to use plastic poultry or snow fencing, or similar material.
Do not mount duck boxes in trees. Not on, under or too close to trees where squirrels can leap on to boxes. Predation from snakes, raccoons and a number of other mammals and birds is horrible thing. Proper placement and predator guards are essential.
Place 3″ to 4″ of wood chips (not saw dust) in the boxes. Remove everything from the box and clean well after the brood rearing season is past.
Installations out of reach and further should be installed and maintained by professionals with the right equipment and experience: carpenters, electricians, line workers, etc.
Various owls, woodpeckers and squirrels may also use this nest box.
Birds that Nest in this Birdhouse
Wood Duck House
for Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Screech Owls & Kestrels

Make a 10″ by 10″ floor (inside dimensions) and a 24″ floor to ceiling height (inside front). Cut a 4″ wide by 3″ high entrance hole located 21″ above the floor (to top of hole). Drill or cut and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof.
If full width wood stock is not available, use two 1″x 6″, or 1″x 8″ boards. They usually vary from 5 1/4″ to 5 1/2″ wide and 7 1/4″ to 7 1/2″ wide. Cut them to width and secure well. Reinforce with chamfer strips (inside) or batten strips (inside or outside) fastened perpendicular to vertical panels.
Plywood consists of glued, thin laminated panels. They are strong but prone to deterioration from moisture even when surfaces and edges are sealed with paint.
Extend the back wall panel beyond both top and bottom. Drill pilot holes in these long panels for mounting. Drill an extra mounting hole inside the box just under the roof. Stagger these holes so that all are not in line along a single wood grain. Holes in line with grain can weaken and cause wood to split.
Some attach wire mesh on the inside front panel to help ducklings climb out of the box. If you do this, bend the needle sharp ends over and fold behind. A better alternative may be to use plastic poultry or snow fencing, or similar material.
Do not mount duck boxes in trees. Not on, under or too close to trees where squirrels can leap on to boxes. Predation from snakes, raccoons and a number of other mammals and birds is horrible thing. Proper placement and predator guards are essential.
Place 3″ to 4″ of wood chips (not saw dust) in the boxes. Remove everything from the box and clean well after the brood rearing season is past.
Above all, please do not attract duck families and leave them vulnerable to predators. Significant reduction in predation has been achieved through proper location, installation and use of cone predator guards.
Installations out of reach and further should be installed and maintained by professionals with the right equipment and experience: carpenters, electricians, line workers, etc.
Various owls, woodpeckers and squirrels also may use this nest box.
Birds that Nest in this Birdhouse
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