How to Build an Exterior Barn Owl Nestbox

Building an owl box can attract owls to your property and cut down on your rodent population.

Owls are large, majestic and somewhat stern birds. Barn owls specifically inhabit structures like barns, preying on the mice and rats that live in the hay. Because barn owls are an endangered species, many people have taken to building nesting boxes to give these birds a safe place to raise their young.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Table saw
• Jigsaw
• Hammer
• Nails
• 1-inch x 10-inch lumber (30 feet total)
• 20-inch by 20-inch plywood (one sheet)
• Wood chips
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Cut the wood for your owl box. Build a good-sized owl box of 14 inches by 14 inches by 28 inches so that barn owls have plenty of space. This also opens up the possibility of other owls using the box. Cut two piece of wood at 7 inches by 14 inches. These are the bottom of your nesting box. Cut four side pieces at 7 inches in width by 34 inches in height. Cut two front pieces at 7 3/4 inches by 30 inches, and two back pieces at 7 3/4 inches by 34 inches. You should end with two pieces of wood for each wall and the floor.

2. Build your floor by laying the two 7-inch-by-14-inch pieces side by side. Use the hammer and nails to secure these pieces to each other. Build the first side by laying two of the 7-inch-by-34-inch boards side by side and securing them. Measure 30 inches from the bottom of one side of these boards and make a mark on the edge. This is the front of that side. Draw a diagonal line from the opposite top corner down to the 30-inch mark and cut along this line to make a sloped top. Repeat this process with the two 7-inch-by-34-inch boards that will make up the other side. You should now have two sloped sides.

3. Nail the sides to the floor of your owl box. Make sure that the high ends of the sides are at the back of the box. Make sure that the bottom of the sides overlap with the bottom of the floor boards to form a secure construction.

4. Construct the back of the box out of the two boards that are 7 3/4 inches by 34 inches. Lay the boards together and nail them together as you have with the sides. Place the back on your box, overlapping both the floor and the sides, and nail it together. The top of your back should be flush with the tops of the sides.

5. Put together the remaining boards (7 inches by 30 inches) for the front of the box and nail them together. Draw a circle with an 8-inch diameter in the middle of this board and cut it out with a jigsaw. Fasten the front to your box, and construct a rough owlet ladder for the baby owls. Fasten this inside the front, with the top ending at the opening you cut.

6. Nail your sheet of plywood onto the top of the box as your roof. Put a layer of shavings down in the bottom of the box for the owls to use in their nesting.

Tips & Warnings

• Barn owls prey on all rodents, and can keep down the population of mice, rats, rabbits and squirrels in the area.

• Owls that experience too much human activity will desert the nesting box.

• Owls may also catch and kill small pets like puppies and kittens.

References

• Barn Owl Nest Box Company
• OwlCam.com: Building a Nest Box