For animal and nature lovers, making a cute animal feel safe and cozy in its environment is an awesome DIY idea. Wood duck boxes are, essentially, what they sound like they are: a safe, man-made haven where ducks, hens, birds, and other small creatures can hide out and protect themselves from predators.
Sometimes, it is even possible to see these nesting boxes in places where it is intended to increase the local wood duck or bird population. In any case, if you want to do your part in securing the environment for these lovely creatures, the good news is that wood duck boxes are incredibly simple to make, and you can even get as creative as you want to with the project.
It can even be something that you do with your family as a fun DIY project. Here is a list of several options to choose from to get your creative juices flowing.
12+ Free Wood Duck Box House Plans
1. Using Plywood Materials
Using four sheets of plywood, this first instructions manual suggests that you will be able to build 15 boxes, which is phenomenal especially if you plan on donating them to animal care societies, which is what many people actually end up doing. This plan also aims to minimize wasteful cuts to make it even better for the environment. Due to farming and development, the habitat of these lovely animals was nearly ruined, driving them to near extinction, which is where the idea for these cozy and cute boxes came from.
VIEW PLANS2. DIY Nesting Box Spot
The harvesting of timber and the destruction of wetlands to make way for construction and development has caused the colorful duck species to be hunted for food and their feathers. This caused them to face a sharp decline, which only started to improve when hunting and protection laws were enacted. This is why people started to build lovely boxes so that the birds would be encouraged to find new places to stay. They like to seek out these hollow places for nesting until the eggs hatch. Creating a comfortable spot made of high-quality materials is the greatest way to do your part.
VIEW PLANS3. Cute Weekend Project
If you decide to do this project all on your own, and if you live in an area that these birds most commonly call home, your creation can actually end up serving them for entire generations, which is a great way for you to be able to do your part in helping conservation efforts. The most important part of getting this project right is to find the best pieces of wood possible. Often, people will use cedar or pine to get the job done. The higher the quality, the longer the structure will last, enabling it to serve nature for longer periods of time. Keep in mind that the wood shavings will need to be replaced every year.
VIEW PLANS4. Lots of Types
Although people most frequently build these out of wood, something interesting to keep in mind is that you can also use a wide variety of different materials. Some of these may include sheet metal, fiberboard, plastic, cardboard, and other recycled options. The only downside is that these might not blend in as well, which means that the wood ducks won’t accept them as quickly for nests. Regardless, it might be worth considering using other materials for your project, especially if you are able to recycle something or gather these materials for free.
VIEW PLANS5. Building Template
You will get an in-depth tutorial with this next template, which will leave you with little to no room for doubt about how the project is meant to be completed. It is crucial to ensure that you build a small entrance hole for the birds to get in and out of. In addition to that, you should be sure to build some way to open and close the box so that you can clean out the shavings every year. Also, where you place it, in the end, has a lot to do with its success; make sure you put the box 10 feet high when it’s above land, and 4 feet high when it’s above water.
VIEW PLANS6. Box for Nesting
With this, it’s important that your construction is large enough to suit a family of around 10 to 14 eggs. The most common materials that people use to build this include cedar, redwood, pine, and plywood, which are all considered to be durable against the elements of nature. In addition to that, they blend in with the trees more naturally, which means that the birds are much more likely to choose your structure as their temporary home.
VIEW PLANS7. Birdhouse Option
You can also use this next option as a typical birdhouse, which increases its versatility and the different types of animals that you will help to find their homes. In addition, this manual provides some helpful tips to keep in mind during construction. First, you should place it at a slight angle to prevent water from getting inside too much. Four inches of wood shavings at the bottom is typical to provide a soft spot. Plastic is also not considered to be a good material because it can actually overheat.
VIEW PLANS8. Beautiful Duck House
Here is another plan that will greatly benefit these furry creatures. The cedar wood that the author of this manual chose to use is among the best options in terms of materials due to the fact that it will match its surroundings more effectively. Also, cedar is a much more durable material, providing the longevity necessary to make this project more successful. There is also side access provided in this instruction guide, which will make it easier to clean and observe throughout the season. Keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to observe the structure in the early evenings due to the fact that this is when the animals are more likely to leave in order to forage. This is prime time for predators to plot their attack.
VIEW PLANS9. Step-By-Step Instructions
If you live near a lake, pond, or marsh, you’re likely going to come across these birds at some point. Keep in mind that the main nesting season is between February and March, and then the next two to three months or so is the time period in which the ducklings incubate and hatch. Another great thing about this project is that, while it is specifically intended for wood ducks, these aren’t the only birds that will likely seek shelter in your creation. Other users could include woodpeckers, owls, and kestrels. The others will largely depend on where you live. Making sure that the dimensions are exact and the cuts are even will help to make this even more of a success when the season comes.
VIEW PLANS10. Construction Outline
In order to ensure that this plan succeeds, it is crucial to understand the different types of tools and materials that are necessary for construction. You can choose between several types of boards, including cedar, yellow pine, or cypress. Avoid using treated lumber for this. They should be around one-inch thick. There should also be a weather-resistant latch that will open for you to clean and maintain the bx. In addition, you will need wood screws, a predator guard, and perhaps even a wooden post for placement. It is also important to create small holes in the bottom for drainage when it rains.
VIEW PLANS11. Fun How-To Guide
This Wikihow guide goes into immense detail about everything you need to know in order to make your woodworking plans a success. Luckily, you will not have to spend too much time, and this is certainly something that can be accomplished by an amateur within a matter of hours. All that you will need is a 12-foot longboard that is weather-resistant, which you will use to make a number of cuts. Cut these boards to size while making sure to assemble them as you wish prior to drilling. An entrance hole, drainage holes, and some way to open and close it for maintenance are also critical parts of the construction.
VIEW PLANS12. Cozy and Comfortable
It is even possible to make this cozy and comfortable house with members of your family for a fun DIY project. This will help to teach children about the importance of caring for the world around you. The little waterfowls will surely appreciate the effort, and you will have done your part in making sure that their populations continue to increase. For this project, you will need to use a hand saw or chop saw, drill, jig saw, screwdriver, and sandpaper, so it might be a good idea to practice or find someone who can use those materials before continuing on.
How To Build A Homemade Wood Duck Box
The wood duck is a species of duck found in North America. Their mating areas are swampy areas, ponds, marshes, and shallow lakes. Their female species build their nests in tree hollows near wetlands. When they notice a potential nesting area, they first check for the size, shape, and security from predators. Wood duck boxes help them to nest without fear of predators. By building a wood duck box, you help preserve the lives of these ducks.
These are what you will need to build one:
- Safety glasses
- Cedar board
- Jigsaw
- Measuring tape
- Hand saw or table saw
- Wood screws
- Cedar shavings
- Drill
- Screws and screwdriver
Choosing Your Board
When choosing a board, go for a 1 X 10 X 12 cedar board which is rough on one side because the rough part makes the inside of the box. Cedar lumber is most suitable because it is resistant to insects and weather. Pine or plywood lumber can also be used.
The following are steps to build your wood duck box
Step 1
Measure and come up with six parts from your board. Mark your board by drawing lines using a ruler and a pencil, to act as a guide. Cut your board using a jigsaw or handsaw and when cutting, label your pieces to make it easier when assembling the parts. You can label using numbers 1 to 6 and “front, back, side, roof, floor and door”. You can use these measurements: for all the pieces, a width of 9.25” and their length: 31” for the back, 23.5 for the side and front, 7,75” for the floor, 14” for the roof and 23.5” for the door
Step 2
Connect the back piece to the side piece using four screws bolted from the back piece
Step 3
Make 5 holes on the floor piece using a drill, and join it to the side and back pieces
Step 4
Draw a circle on the front board and cut it out using a jigsaw. This will be the entry hole
Step 5
Fix the front board using six screws
Step 6
To connect the door, put two screws at the top of the front and back pieces of wood. By doing this, you leave room for the door to open. To shut the door, pin a nail without hammering too much since you will need access to the inside of the box
Step 7
Fix the roof at the top using four screws and three through the back piece
Once you are done, place the box four to six feet above land or water, a height that gives you access for cleaning and monitoring of the box.
There you have your wood duck box, every year in late winter after the nesting season, remove old nesting substance from the box and put fresh wood shavings.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
