Nest Boxes

[REHJWA]

With all the rain we've had I have 3 pair of Wood Ducks hanging out in the flooded timber.
When do they start nesting on the west side?
Is it to late to put up Wood Duck nesting boxes for this years hatch?
And does anyone have a set of plans they like better than the other.
There are a several when I Googled it.
Thanks.

[ICEMAN]

Tagging.

I do not know much about this topic but would love to follow it.  Good luck Rehjwa!

[Heredoggydoggy]

I don't know much about Wood Duck houses either, except that it isn't good to face the entrance into the prevailing wind, no matter what kind of bird you want to attract.    Spring is the time that most birds set up housekeeping, but if the weather is agreeable, I've seen Quail raise 3 broods in summer.

[sakoshooter]

It's not too late to put up Wood Duck houses for this year and it's never too late to put them up period. Here's a link to building them and placement etc.
http://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-biology/wood-duck-boxes

[REHJWA]

Here is what I came up with.
I used the plans on WDFW as a rough guide.   

The boxes are 11" x 11" and 24" tall.

I used ten cedar fence boards: 5 1/2" wide 5/8" thick and 6' long.
Ripped two into 1/3rds to make 1.5" batten.
Predrilled 1 1/4" screws for the board and batten.
Front and sides are 11"x24"
Front has 1/4" wire mesh for ducklings to climb out and hole is an oval 4 1/5"w x 3 1/2"h
Back is 11"x 31"
Floor is 11"x 9 3/4"
Roof is 16 1/5" x 14
Predrilled 1 5/8" deck screws on all joints

Lessons learned...
Predrill everything. 5/8" will split.
Measure everything and assemble the board and batten then cut it as one board.
The batten on Back faces inside the box if you want to mount them to trees.

We had 10 wood ducks in the yard this morning hopefully they will take up homesteading.

[boneaddict]

   Nice project.

[Skyvalhunter]

Very nice, one thing I have never seen with these type of bird boxes is a bird actually using them.

[boneaddict]

Honestly, most get hung in wrong places or get taken over by aggressive species like starlings.

[jackmaster]

i am glad sako spoke up, he made three of them and came to my place and put them out in some differant spots out in the lake and swamp, and they have been used the last two years 

[Heredoggydoggy]

I had a bunch of cedar fence board cutoffs from a fence I built and made a bunch of bird houses.  I used a brad nailer to put them together except for the bottom.  I used screws there, so I could remove the bottom to clean out the old nests each year. 

[hdshot]

Nice to see this topic!  In this forum in another subject I tried to explain hunting is a passion, not killing.  I was beat up by other members and even accused of being on drugs for this type of subject of what hunters are about.  I didn't take it personally but learned lots of members here are wolves in sheep clothing towards the hunting community causing me to take a break from the rest outside of the seasons.

Keep up the good work!

[hdshot]

How come you pulled the last post. It was a good one, well hope another member didn't bully you to pull it by calling you a drug addict.

[TheHunt]

hdshot,

This place is not for the weak.  If you cannot take some heat you should only post polictically correct information.   

[REHJWA]

No pressure, thanks for the post. Take care and see you in the woods or on the water.

[hdshot]

hdshot,

This place is not for the weak.  If you cannot take some heat you should only post polictically correct information.   

I'm not the weak accusing other hunters addicted to drugs who look at this sport 24/7/365.

[Oldguy]

Just helped a crew of B C duck hunters put out hen tubes and wood duck boxes. Their wood duck boxes have a 4" round opening in the side near the bottom to make it easy to clean. Place a small square of plywood over it with short wood screws to cover when in use. (opposite corners seem to be all needed) I've helped put out others that have a part of the side panel that rotates at the middle to get cleaning access. It has a swivel lock that keeps it closed. It is a surprise when you open it and mice bail out down your arm. Found a small owl peering out at me from a box being cleaned; left him undisturbed.

[REHJWA]

Well the next boxes did not get used this year.
But I think it is because a pair of mallards has been running the show.
A hen showed up this week with a dozen fuzzy ducklings in tow...

[Noiro]

I understand hdshot. This is the type of post that keeps me coming back to learn something useful.

Nice to see this topic!  In this forum in another subject I tried to explain hunting is a passion, not killing.  I was beat up by other members and even accused of being on drugs for this type of subject of what hunters are about.  I didn't take it personally but learned lots of members here are wolves in sheep clothing towards the hunting community causing me to take a break from the rest outside of the seasons.

Keep up the good work!

[Hermit]

I have a couple up on my lake. Wood ducks will nest in them if you put a couple inches of chips/sawdust in them and clean them out each year. Mine have a lower trap door to facilitate this. They don't seem to want to lay eggs in a dirty home.