How to Build Wood Duck Houses

Wood ducks are known as cavity nesters, meaning the female wood duck will lay its eggs in a nest made in the cavity of a tree. Although cavities in trees naturally occur, you can create a nest box and place it in an appropriate environment to provide additional opportunities for these birds to reproduce. Several other species of waterfowl as well as kestrels, screech owls and small tree swallows will also nest in a wood duck house.

Things You'll Need

  • 1-inch by 10-inch rough cut cedar plank, 12-foot
  • Power saw
  • Saber saw
  • 1/2 pound 2-inch galvanized deck screws
  • Screw driver
  • Mounting pole
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a rough-cut 1-inch by 10-inch cedar plank into six pieces. You will need a 31-inch piece for the back of the duck house, two 23 1/2-inch sides, one 23 1/2-inch front piece, a 14-inch piece for the roof and a 7 3/4-inch piece for the floor.

    • 2

      Cut an opening on the front piece, centered and eight inches from the top. Start by tracing an oval opening 4 1/2 inches wide and 3 1/2 inches high. Cut the opening with a saber or jig saw. Make horizontal cuts about 1/4-inch deep on the inside of the front piece. This roughness helps ducklings climb out of the house. Drill four or five 1/2-inch drain holes in the floor piece of the wood duck house.

    • 3

      Fasten the floor, one side and the roof to the back piece using 2-inch galvanized deck screws. Place two or three screws through the back into each piece. Attach the other side with a single 2-inch deck screw near the top. Add a second shorter deck screw near the bottom to allow the side to be pivoted away for cleaning. Place the front on the sides and under the roof and fasten in place with the 2-inch galvanized deck screws.

    • 4

      Use 2-inch galvanized deck screws to mount the duck house on a mounting pole. The best placement for the wood duck house is on a pole in or near standing water and dead trees. Placing the house in standing water isolates it from predators such as skunks and raccoons.