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Q:
Anyone putting up some wood duck boxes this spring? I got out there this weekend and cleaned mine out and freshened up the wood chips.
Question by matouse3. Uploaded on March 08, 2010
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Answers (10)
i am wanting to build my wood duck boxes and put them up as an FFA project for my school.
You can get some good designs online- be sure to choose one that has a mesh or wire "ladder" on the inside for the ducklings to use to climb out. A lot of purchased boxes don't have this option since it costs more and takes more time to install.
I checked mine last week. I am starting to believe Canada Geese are driving the ducks out of my marsh. None of my boxes have been used. Geese are standing around on the ice already fighting for nesting spots. It must be hell to be a duck in the world of Canada Geese!
I've been working on a project at work with some real experts at setup and placement of the boxes. Here are couple things that I learned about placement:
-should be south facing if possible
-should be on a tree that is large to have a cavity big enough for a nest (-10" plus diameter)
-Can be up to 60ft up, optimal is 20ft. (this is much higher than I expected, but their results speak for themselves)
-Should not be right on the water edge, this is a "hot zone" for predators. Should be place 20 meters up to a mile back from the water edge.
I've never done this but am interested in things of this nature. How big a body of water is needed for this? Wonder if they would come to my little farm pond?
Depends on the cover. They really like wooded floodings and brushy stream edges. How open is your pond?
As far as water size is concerned, it doesn't have to be very large at all.
It's about 1/4 acre pond, open on three sides with a brushy road bank on the other, and a hayfield below it. Nearest real cover is 15-25 yards away. Sounds like we might be too open. Thanks for the info.
I agree that water size can be pretty small
we do the duck houses. One of the other hunters went to a local boy scout chapter and talked them into making a dozen or so as a project, worked out great. Need new ones now
I have two more to put out this weekend and have 3 to clean out it was pretty awesome last year to watch them get used and the little ducklings to grow and develop so this weekend might be a little busy with cleaning them out and putting up new ones
instaling a dozen or so on a lease.Thanks for the wire mesh tip!
Post an Answer
You can get some good designs online- be sure to choose one that has a mesh or wire "ladder" on the inside for the ducklings to use to climb out. A lot of purchased boxes don't have this option since it costs more and takes more time to install.
i am wanting to build my wood duck boxes and put them up as an FFA project for my school.
Depends on the cover. They really like wooded floodings and brushy stream edges. How open is your pond?
As far as water size is concerned, it doesn't have to be very large at all.
It's about 1/4 acre pond, open on three sides with a brushy road bank on the other, and a hayfield below it. Nearest real cover is 15-25 yards away. Sounds like we might be too open. Thanks for the info.
I agree that water size can be pretty small
we do the duck houses. One of the other hunters went to a local boy scout chapter and talked them into making a dozen or so as a project, worked out great. Need new ones now
I have two more to put out this weekend and have 3 to clean out it was pretty awesome last year to watch them get used and the little ducklings to grow and develop so this weekend might be a little busy with cleaning them out and putting up new ones
I checked mine last week. I am starting to believe Canada Geese are driving the ducks out of my marsh. None of my boxes have been used. Geese are standing around on the ice already fighting for nesting spots. It must be hell to be a duck in the world of Canada Geese!
I've been working on a project at work with some real experts at setup and placement of the boxes. Here are couple things that I learned about placement:
-should be south facing if possible
-should be on a tree that is large to have a cavity big enough for a nest (-10" plus diameter)
-Can be up to 60ft up, optimal is 20ft. (this is much higher than I expected, but their results speak for themselves)
-Should not be right on the water edge, this is a "hot zone" for predators. Should be place 20 meters up to a mile back from the water edge.
I've never done this but am interested in things of this nature. How big a body of water is needed for this? Wonder if they would come to my little farm pond?
instaling a dozen or so on a lease.Thanks for the wire mesh tip!
Post an Answer