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Homemade Nest Boxes For Cavity-Nesting Ducks

Terry A. Messmer
NDSU Extension Service

Michael A. Johnson
N.D. Game and Fish Department

Forrest B. Lee
Great Plains Wildlife Services

NDSU Extension Service
North Dakota State Univeristy, Fargo, ND 58105

When natural cavities are scarce or absent, these ducks may not reproduce successfully. Fortunately, they readily accept and nest in a variety of homemade nest boxes. Actually, homemade nest boxes have the potential of providing safer nesting sites than do natural cavities because they can be made predator-proof.

This circular contains information and plans for construction, predator proofing, placement and maintenance of one metal and two wooden types of nest boxes for cavity-nesting ducks. The advantages or disadvantages of each type are discussed. In addition, there are a number of commercially available nest boxes on the market. A list of addresses is provided for those who wish to purchase nest boxes.

Messmer, Terry A., Micheal A. Johnson, and Forrest B. Lee.  1989.
     Homemade Nest Boxes for Cavity-nesting Ducks.  NDSU Extension
     Service, Fargo, ND. 22pp.

Messmer, Terry A., Micheal A. Johnson, and Forrest B. Lee.  1989.
     Homemade Nest Boxes for Cavity-nesting Ducks.  NDSU Extension
     Service, Fargo, ND. Jamestown, ND: 
     Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/nestbox/index.htm
     (Version 15AUG97).

Table of Contents

• Life Histories
  • Wood Duck
  • Hooded Merganser
  • Common Goldeneye
  • Bufflehead

• Homemade Nest Boxes
  • Single Compartment Wood Nest Box
  • Double Compartment Wood Nest Box
  • The Metal Box

• Nest Box Enhancement Considerations
• Attachment
• Attachment Using A Mounting Board
• Attachment Using A Pipe Mount Floor-flange Assembly
• Predator Guards
• Nest Material
• Maintenance
• Other Nest Boxes
• Summary
• References and Additional Reading

Figures

• Figure 1 - The single compartment wood nest box is easy to build. If properly placed and maintained, these boxes can provide secure nest sites for the cavity-nesters in your area for many years.
• Figure 2 - Sufficient lumber for one single compartment nest box is contained in a 1-inch x 12-inch x 12-foot board.
• Figure 3 - It is essential to provide easy access to nest boxes for maintenance purpooses. Four design variations commonly used are the top cleat, top hinge, side pivot, and side hinges.
• Figure 4 - A 3- to 4-inch x 14-inch strip of 1/4 inch hardware cloth mesh attached to the inside of the box under the entrance hole serves as a ladder to assist newly hatched ducklings in leaving the box.
• Figure 5 - Double compartment wood nest boxes offer an additional opportunity to attract two nesting hens to a single location, thus doubling wood duck production potentials.
• Figure 6 - Each section of the double compartment wood nest box must have a 1/4-inch hardware cloth mesh ladder fastened below the entrance. In addition, 3 to 5 inches of nest material must be provided in each compartment.
• Figure 7 - The double compartment wood nest box is similar to the single compartment wood nest box. If properly placed and maintained, it can double the wood duck potentials of an area at less cost.
• Figure 8 - The above cut away shows the wing nut and side hinge variations.
• Figure 9 - Metal nest boxes have been distributed throughout North Dakota by the Game and Fish Department. These boxes afford cavity nesters relatively secure nest sites. The security of the nest box is enhanced by locating the entrance hole well below the metal cone top.
• Figure 10 - Construction of the metal nest box cylinder, cone and entrance hole.
• Figure 11 - Assembling and mounting the metal nest box.
• Figure 12 - The above templates can be used to insure your entrance holes are of the proper dimensions.
• Figure 13 - Support piles and pipes driven in to the marsh bottom should provide several feet of free space between the bottom of the nest box and the surface of the water.
• Figure 14 - Front view of single compartment wood nest box showing holes for mounting.
• Figure 15 - The pipe flange assembly offers an easy method of attaching nest boxes to supports. This method allows the boxes to be removed for maintenance.
• Figure 16 - The cone-shaped sheet-metal predator guard offers protection for ground predators such as raccoons to cavity nesters using nest structure.
• Figure 17 - Sheet metal "wrap-around" predator guards can be used to protect nest boxes placed in trees with diameters of greater that 6 inches.
• Figure 18 - Cavity nesters do not carry nest material to nest boxes. Therefore, 3 to 5 inches of suitable nest material must be provided for them.
• Figure 19 - Sometimes even the best plans for mounting nest boxes in trees can go awry.
• Figure 20 - A wood duck hen incubates her eggs in a double compartment wood nest box provided for her along the James River south of Jamestown, N.D.

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