How to Build a Duck Nesting House

Building a duck nesting house is not only a fun project, it can actually provide a much-needed refuge in a world that is increasingly encroaching on many natural habitats.While there are several different varieties of ducks (each with slightly different nesting requirements), we will today be focusing our attention on building a nesting box for the common wood duck.These ducks prefer nesting in a small space and often build their nests in old woodpecker holes, or in trees that have been struck by lightning and partially hollowed.Be sure to hinge the top of your nesting box so that, each winter, you can clean the box and prepare it for the next season's hatchlings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 9' long piece of pine, 1" X 12"
• 14" X 15" x 1" piece of pine
• Screws
• Saw
• Drill
• Jigsaw
• Two small hinges
• Wood shavings
• Metal screen

1. Cut your 9' pine into the following pieces:1 piece 47" X 12" (this will become the two sides of the nesting house)1 piece 24" X 10" (the back) 1 piece 23" X 10" (the front)1 piece 10" X 10" (the bottom)1 piece 14" X 15" (the top)

2. Drill half a dozen 1/4" holes into the 10" X 10" bottom piece for drainage and air circulation.Measure 24" from one end of your 47" board and place a mark on the left side of the board.Measure 23" from the same end of the 47" board and make a mark on the right side of the board.Connect the two marks, then cut the board in two along this diagonal line. The two resulting boards are your sides, and will allow you to make a slightly sloped roof for your nesting box.

3. Drill a 1/4" hole in the 23" X 10" board (the front of your nesting box), centered approximately 4" from the top of the board. Now draw an ellipse approximately 4" long and 3" high with this hole as its center. Use your jigsaw to cut out the ellipse.

4. Staple or tack a strip of hardware cloth or screen to the inside of the front of the box, leading from the floor to the ellipse. This will allow the newly hatched ducklings to climb out of the nest.

5. Screw the sides, back and front to the bottom, and add screws as needed to stabilize and strengthen the box.Use your two hinges to attach the top of the box.Place 5" of wood shavings into the bottom of the box. (Do NOT use sawdust, as this can smother newly hatched ducklings.)Boxes should be mounted on posts in 4' to 5' of water, with anti-predator collars on the posts.

Tips & Warnings

• A coating of polyurethane may to added to the outside of the box for waterproofing.
• Boxes should be placed in winter and serviced in the winter as well, with new wood shavings added after the box has been cleaned.