i wanna build some woodie boxes and mallard boxes prolly 5 each. anyone know when the lastest time would be to have them built or how long they have to be up?
Generally, we put our wood duck boxes out in Febuary as long as there's good ice. Reason for this is that it's easier to drill a hole in the ice to sink the pole through than to try to do it out of a canoe or boat later in the year. What do you mean by "How long they have to be up"?
i think " how long do they need to be up" was the wrong question. i was thinking do the birds need to see them for a few seasons or will they take to it right away and i think i know the answer which is could be both if they like the spot. im gonna try to do mallards and woodie boxes
I think you answered your own question pretty accurately. Sometimes the woodies will nest right up in new boxes, but most times I think it takes a year or two for them to figure it out.
Stick the boxes up anytime now, and be sure to put up a predator guard if you don't mount them to metal conduit pipe driven into the water bottom.
One other tip. If you bring your own pipe to mount them on, make sure you bring enough pipe to sink into the muck. I started with ten footers last year and switched to bolting one and a half ten footers together (for 15 feet total). If the muck is deep you'll need to sink that extra length to support the weight of the box.
this thread has really got my attention. especially after i seen the awesome mount at the sportmans show this weekend of the woodies. i see a ton of woodies at one of my spots and would love to give them another safe place. but, i would be a greenhorn at this. how difficult is it to get started? do you guys make your own boxes? thanks
when were you at the show? You should have introduced yourself. The Wildfowlers have a few nice woodie mounts for sure.
The wildfowlers construct boxes which we sell for $15, or you can do it yourself. I've hung both and each seem to work well. If you can you want to try and clean them out in the winter, and kick out any "undesirables". Do a google search and you can find plans on how to put them together.
I know both DU and Delta have plans readily available. If you can't find them there let me know and I'll get some for you. As far as getting started, if you've got a drill, a jigsaw, and a circular or table saw available, you 've got the tools you need. That's for building the boxes. If you put them up in the winter like I do, you'll need access to an ice fishing auger a sledge hammer, and a small step stool or ladder.
When you find the spot you want to put the box, drill a hole in the ice, and pound in the pole. then you just bolt on the box.
Remember, in this area try to have the box hole facing south or southeast.
Instead of pounding the pole, I usually mount them to a tree at the water's edge, and then put a predator guard around the tree beneath the box. By using 2 pieces of sheet metal that overlap but aren't connected you can make a guard that won't choke the tree as it grows. :thumbsup:
I've had major problems in the past with other birds especially Starlings nesting in them. I've had Whistlers nest in them as well, which I don't mind. But I hate the Starlings. So watch out for that. I shot 3 different pairs of Starlings in one spring that were trying to nest in the same box. I think woodies don't like the smell of them so I thoroughly clened the box out, and had o wait until the next season. As a matter of fact, out of 6 boxes I only had 3 with nesting wood ducks. and 1 Whistler family.
Do whistlers like to nest in trees or boxes? Never knew that. I put some woodduck boxes up near my house. Squirrels love them too. I tell you what make sure theres nothing in them before you stick your face in...i almost had a heart attack when i stuck my face in one and a chickadee flew into my face
here is a design for a mallard cylinder that looks like it would be fairly easy to duplicate. It is always fun to clean out a box and find egg shells in it. Not so fun when there is a bees nest in it.
All kinds of good info here. There is a post I put up on this thread that has a link to a website with all kinds of bird/animal boxes...the rest of the thread is based around Woodie boxes. Good luck. :thumbsup:
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