How far apart do you put wood duck boxes?

How far apart do you put wood duck boxes?

Proper wood duck box placement is important so that hens find and utilize the structure during nesting season. You can erect multiple boxes in close proximity, but be sure to keep them around 50 feet apart. This will simply decrease the chances of hens coming into conflict over nesting locations.

Why can too many wood duck nesting boxes be an issue for wood duck conservation?

It’s that time of year when questions come in regarding wood duck boxes. If you plan to make the commitment to put up wood duck nest boxes be sure to realize it is a commitment. Wood duck boxes left unattended or improperly placed will become unused by wood ducks or worse, can become death traps to hens and ducklings.

How do you attract wood ducks to nest?

3 Ways to Attract More Ducks to Your Pond

1. Increase water clarity. Clear water encourages aquatic plants, aquatic snails and several aquatic insects, which are primary foods of migratory ducks.
2. Reduce disturbance. Human activity near a pond can scare away ducks, causing them to relocate elsewhere.
3. Add duck food plants.

What will nest in a wood duck box?

Wooded swamps, marshes, streams, beaver ponds, and small lakes are ideal. Place the nest box where entry flyway is clear, in or near fresh water, but away from trees. If placed on land, face the entry hole toward water. Nesting materials: Add four inches of wood chips.

What time of year do wood ducks lay eggs?

Fresh eggs have been found as early as April 1 and as late as May 30. The average number of eggs in eight nests was 12, with 10 and 14 as extremes. One egg is laid each day until the set is complete.

How do you keep snakes out of wood duck boxes?

To prevent varmints and snakes from defeating the predator guard by dropping down from above, make sure to remove low hanging limbs nearby the top of the box. Wood ducks like to fly directly into the box on the wing, so keep a clear flight path for them.

How do you keep starlings out of wood duck boxes?

Traps, specifically designed to fit inside a wood duck house, have been found to be effective. George Wellenkotter lives in a serious Wisconsin starling belt. He developed an in-box trap for his own use which utilizes a spring mechanism to close a trapdoor, effectively capturing the starling inside the box.

How high do you hang a wood duck house?

Boxes should be placed above typical high-water levels and at a height that will allow you to access the box for monitoring and maintenance (4 to 6 feet above land or water). In terms of distance inland, try to keep your box close to the water.

Do mallards and wood ducks get along?

The Wood Duck stuck out from the larger Mallards, but seemed comfortable within the flock. The Mallards, likewise, seemed to have no problem with the Wood Duck. Wood Ducks and Mallards sometime cross breed and have hybrid Mallard X Wood Duck offspring.

What can I plant for wood ducks?

Gently sloping banks encourage emergent aquatic plants to grow. Trees and shrubs at the upper end and sides of the pond and emergent, marshy vegetation should be allowed to grow. Besides providing food, aquatic vegetation supplies cover and protection for ducklings.

Where should a wood duck house be placed?

Helpful Tips

1. Mount the box so that it leans forward slightly to shed rain.
2. Boxes can be installed on posts or poles in the water, at least 3 feet above the high water mark, facing south or west.
3. If installing on land, choose a site within 100 feet from the water with no branches around the entrance hole.