Building a Wood Duck Nesting Box

[@RickySmith-zi5cz]

Amen

[@stevenkofoed1698]

Good to see a project video from you! This is a great opportunity to help wood ducks where ever they nest. Thanks

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

If I could live off photographing and supporting wildlife, I would sell all of my tools tomorrow and head out🤙

[@stevenkofoed1698]

@@TheSmartWoodshop Just imagine if you made a challenge to all wood workers to make just one and donate it to their local Dept of natural resources. They would be elated.

[@williamsmith9026]

I was just asked to make one of these. I apparently already saw this and already👍. I know i know... I have to get my pts/shop/jobsite videos to you to sift through.... Im outside finishing building two paint job.. if it rains this week I will get on the computer or I may even be free this evening..

[@troyreiter5484]

Great to see you back in the shop Ron. I look forward to seeing your videos and what you have to offer. Keep them coming.

[@bruceharvey8810]

Nice build. I have built several wood duck nesting boxes and have always included a tunnel to the opening to keep the predators out. Simply a square or rectangular box about four inches long and open on both ends. Hope your ducks like their new homes.

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

I will look around online for an example of your tunnel idea and see if I can add it to the ones I built. 😎

[@whitewolf8758]

Awesome job! We have built several of these for our lake property in northern Minnesota and have had great success and a larger wood duck number too. Every year we clean our boxes out roughly the first week in july knowing they are gone from the nest and they keep coming back. We place the close to the lake usually about eight feet of the ground at the entry hole. Good luck and thanks for the awesome video.

[@TheFrogfeeder]

I’m building my wood duck boxes out of slabs from my sawmill, so they will look like logs, there are wood ducks at my neighbors pond that I want to make boxes for, and I’m actively looking for a couple -air’s to purchase for my own farm pond…

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

Last year wood duck pairs nested in the boxes I build. I am waiting to hear if they return. It is exciting.😎

[@TheFrogfeeder]

@@TheSmartWoodshop it is very exciting, I love ducks! Hey i see different videos different guys using different size lumber, 1x10,1x12, think I seen 1x8… does it matter? I can make my slabs any size, but what size is best? It seems like hole size and placement and overall height is most important?

[@remodelassets6523]

We have a pair of wood ducks every spring here in Western Ma. I’m going to build two boxes to see the increase. Build it and they will come. Thanks Ron for the video. Wood ducks: Wood Duck populations increased between 1966 and 2015 according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. This is good news considering their dramatic declines in the late 19th century. Wood Ducks can be found throughout the year in the U.S., with some individuals breeding in Canada, and some wintering in Mexico. Wood Duck rates an 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, and is not on the 2016 State of North America's Birds' Watch List.

[@Marcel41021]

If you plan on attaching it to a tree then the attaching lag holes should be elongated to allow for tree growth over the years. You should also place three flat washers between the nest box and the tree at both attaching points to create an air space to keep the box from rotting.

[@BowmanMill]

Existing tree trunks do not grow up but only round. If you drive two spikes into a tree a foot apart , the spikes will still be a foot apart in ten years!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Lovely looking Wood duck nesting box Ron! Thanks for sharing the video with us.👍😎JP

[@andymok7945]

Thanks for sharing Ron. I am fortunate enough to live close to a park where 4 to 5 Wood ducks nest. How nice to possibly have them nest on your property. They are a beautiful duck and love watching them.

[@casycasy5199]

nice show if you got the ducks to use them

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

I will if they do😎

[@FredrickLackey]

Another great video. Thanks, Ron! Can't wait to see a follow-up with them occupied.

[@scottgould294]

If the ducks are picky about the entry hole, they might notice the chamfer vs the round over. Hopefully they are reading the same set of plans as you are.

[@dkleung8056]

Cool to see your workflow building something I might personally build!

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

Me too! I have built so many houses, cabinets, mantels, etc.. that they bore me. I love photographing birds so this is right up my alley😎🤙

[@davemotti8070]

Hope you’ll follow up on the ducks

[@MrRogsmart]

Yeah, what Troy said.

[@trevorhoehn1176]

Ron, glad to see you back in the shop, will you do a video on FastCap's FLAT Best Fence? I see they released a flat version and I'm interested in how it is with the PTS2

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

I have Fastcaps new flat fence sitting in the corner of my shop. I do plan on working with them, but the schedule is backed up right now and I plan on building myself another PTSII and using the new best fence. I will definitely make videos. The flat fence is a product design I have been pushing Paul toward for years and he finally caved. 😎🤙

[@larrydbrazil]

Hi Ron, I also have a property which wood ducks visit and will use the information that you have provided to build a couple of boxes as well. I have been trying to find a way to contact you . Last year on 3/1, I bought Paulk ARC plans, but I have lost them. Is it possible to download them again? Thanks, Larry Brazil

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

Larry, go to the paulk homes web site and contact us there. We can get the plans for you no problem.

[@kenshepherd6831]

Why not back cut the door sides a little? Less persuasion needed when you open it to clean out. Cedar can be brittle.

[@HGNorrie]

Hi Ron, I’m curious about how well the duck box worked out? I’m wanting to attract ducks to my pond here in Scotland.

[@underthetrees4780]

Do you have wood ducks in Scotland? They're the only ducks I know that use a box. The mallards I know you have regularly use a duck tube, which is different than a box but apparently pretty effective.

[@trussbox2270]

I am head of a wood packaging manufacturing carpentry company and I wish to do an internship at home, I still want to learn and learn ....

[@Leo55372]

Looks good! I believe if the entrance hole is too big it’ll allow raccoon to enter. That’s what my dad always said.... I was able to video the woodies leaving the house a couple years ago on my property. Super cool. Search leo55372 on KZbin and check it out!!

[@andrewtrick1946]

To be honest, I feel like we're looking for a bit of click bate here, Ron. Not to sound like a Debby downer. I really like your work but you're getting away from what made your followers devoted. This coming from someone who just finished building my very own SMART trailer.

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

The title is "Building a Wood Duck Nesting Box." I don't think you understand the definition of "click bait." This video and title are as far from "click bait" as any video ever published on YT.

[@andrewtrick1946]

@@TheSmartWoodshop You are absolutely correct. I misspoke with the click bait comment. I guess I'm just a bit disappointed in topics you're focusing on. I've been following you for a number of years now and have learned a ton from you. Enough that I have started my own business.(not based souly on your videos but you get the point) Much of your stuff has been very educational and your tool reviews have been very helpful. However, many of your videos as of late have seemed completely commercialized and meant only to get thumbs up. I guess in the effort to gain more followers and earn a profit I completely understand and appreciate the effort. But for someone who has been following you since crown molding how to videos I'm not buying it. Hope to see some of your actual talent in the future as opposed to bird houses.