How to Build a Duck House
Content
How to build a wood duck house
fl Don (The Duckman) Helmeke, duck box designer, says woodie houses built and erected as late as late April have a chance to attract a pair. The best time to erect houses is late March to early April, however. fl Next to design, placement of the wood duck box is critical to attract a nesting pair. The terrain between the box and water should be easily accessible to a hen and her brood and free of obstacles such as highways, curbs and mesh fences. fl Hen wood ducks aren't fussy about how high nesting boxes are placed. The nest box may be hung as low as eye-level and may face toward or away from water. Proximity to water is important and will help survival of the ducklings after hatching; however, hen woodies have been known to nest hundreds of yards away from the nearest water. fl Old houses should be opened and inspected in March. Add more wood shavings (not sawdust) if necessary. fl Other critters may move into the neighborhood. Everything from squirrels to woodpeckers, even snakes, are known to occupy wood duck boxes. 5
Nail hinge
1
4 Clean-out door. Plane to 7-7/8" at back edge of door only! This allows for a 1/16" gap at each side of door.
2
Nail hinge. Use a square to align rear hinge nail with front
3
Staple 4" x 12" exit ladder to back of front panel, made from 1/4" wire mesh
Use a wood rasp to round out a finger hole
6
4" of cedar shavings for nest base material
Button latch
Floor recessed 1/2"
LUMBER & PATTERN: ENTRANCE HOLE PATTERN
13"
Actual size
fl 3" x 4" wood duck
and hooded merganser entrance hole.
11-1/4"
Front
1
ROOF
(3-1/2" x 4-1/2" for goldeneyes).
Offset roof 1" back from back panel
IMPORTANT: Rough side up when cutting front and back panels.
(2-1/2" circle for buffhead).
15° cut
53"
29" END VIEW
FRONT
3/4" hole. Hang box with lag bolt and washer
18" Nail hinge placement
1"
3/4" strip of wood above nail hinge
3
1/4" bolt or nail hole
BACK
9-1/4"
2
Bottom
24"
© Copyright 1991, Don Helmeke
57-3/4" 25-3/4" END VIEW 45° cut 24-1/4"
24-1/4"
CLEAN-OUT DOOR
4
5
SIDE 25-3/4"
7-3/4"
6
FLOOR
Rip side to 8"
6"
Flip over to complete oval
fl Use "grade 3" cedar, rough on one side. fl Sides, front, back and floor: 1" x 10" (actual 3/4" x 9-1/4"). fl Roof: 1" x 12" (actual 3/4" x 11-1/4"). fl Rough surface goes on the outside on completed house.
fl Don (The Duckman) Helmeke, duck box designer, says woodie houses built and erected as late as late April have a chance to attract a pair. The best time to erect houses is late March to early April, however. fl Next to design, placement of the wood duck box is critical to attract a nesting pair. The terrain between the box and water should be easily accessible to a hen and her brood and free of obstacles such as highways, curbs and mesh fences. fl Hen wood ducks aren't fussy about how high nesting boxes are placed. The nest box may be hung as low as eye-level and may face toward or away from water. Proximity to water is important and will help survival of the ducklings after hatching; however, hen woodies have been known to nest hundreds of yards away from the nearest water. fl Old houses should be opened and inspected in March. Add more wood shavings (not sawdust) if necessary. fl Other critters may move into the neighborhood. Everything from squirrels to woodpeckers, even snakes, are known to occupy wood duck boxes. 5
Nail hinge
1
4 Clean-out door. Plane to 7-7/8" at back edge of door only! This allows for a 1/16" gap at each side of door.
2
Nail hinge. Use a square to align rear hinge nail with front
3
Staple 4" x 12" exit ladder to back of front panel, made from 1/4" wire mesh
Use a wood rasp to round out a finger hole
6
4" of cedar shavings for nest base material
Button latch
Floor recessed 1/2"
LUMBER & PATTERN: ENTRANCE HOLE PATTERN
13"
Actual size
fl 3" x 4" wood duck
and hooded merganser entrance hole.
11-1/4"
Front
1
ROOF
(3-1/2" x 4-1/2" for goldeneyes).
Offset roof 1" back from back panel
IMPORTANT: Rough side up when cutting front and back panels.
(2-1/2" circle for buffhead).
15° cut
53"
29" END VIEW
FRONT
3/4" hole. Hang box with lag bolt and washer
18" Nail hinge placement
1"
3/4" strip of wood above nail hinge
3
1/4" bolt or nail hole
BACK
9-1/4"
2
Bottom
24"
© Copyright 1991, Don Helmeke
57-3/4" 25-3/4" END VIEW 45° cut 24-1/4"
24-1/4"
CLEAN-OUT DOOR
4
5
SIDE 25-3/4"
7-3/4"
6
FLOOR
Rip side to 8"
6"
Flip over to complete oval
fl Use "grade 3" cedar, rough on one side. fl Sides, front, back and floor: 1" x 10" (actual 3/4" x 9-1/4"). fl Roof: 1" x 12" (actual 3/4" x 11-1/4"). fl Rough surface goes on the outside on completed house.
