Wood Duck Boxes

[Roadkillwarrior]

-We have alot of wood ducks come in durring spring on our two ponds and was wondering if anyone out there has any luck with wood ducks nesting in duck boxes. What are the dimensions of the box and hole for them to get in. Also, where do you locate them on your pond.

-The ponds that the wood ducks visit on our property seem to only be visited durring spring and early fall, but other wise you dont see them durring November-March. The only time you can hunt the woodies is durring early duck season,which starts in october here in Indiana. I was wondering if anyone out there has the same thing happen and knew why they only visit our ponds at certain periods. -thanks

[drgildy]

If you want to make some and they do work get some 1 x 12 lumber. You will need to make a box at least 20 in. deep. Cut a 4 in hole about 4 in down from the top. Make the top removable so that you can clean them out in the next winter or after they have raised a brood. You will need to put about 3 or 4 in of sawdust or well rotted wood in it for nesting material. Mount them in a tree 10 or 15 feet off the ground and watch them in the spring if you can. The biggest problem is with starlings building a nest over the woody eggs and spoiling the woodies nest. Once you have a pair nest they will keep coming back year after year andthe young females migrate back to the same area where they were hatched so you will see more in a few years.

[SwampTHING]

You only see woodies certain times of the year because they are early migrators. Typically in my area, i do not see them after the second week ofthe season start,, oct 7-10 or somewhere in there.

I have about 20 woodduck boxes out, and 30 or so hen houses for mallards.. None of them are in trees,, all are placed on 2" fence pipe with predator gaurds on them. If possible you want the hole facing to the south. Do not use sawdust it can suffocate both the eggs and ducklings. change the woodchips yearly(get it at the petstore). We get about 75% use of both the boxes and mallard tubes,, with about 80% success on each structure used. Its a very easy thing to do, too improve the aeas you hunt.

Here is a good set of directions for the boxes.
http://www.ducks.org/media/Conservation/Conservation_Documents/_documents/duck_box_plans.pdf

Here is one for hen tubes.
http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/ddp/henhouses.php