How To Set Up An Owl Box
Barn Owls are notorious rodent hunters, making them the perfect companion if you live on a farm or out in the countryside.
I sure-burn way to encourage them to make your home their own is to provide them with a Befouled Owl nesting box. Luckily, they're pretty piece of cake to brand from scratch.
Hither's a step-past-stride guide on how you lot can brand a barn owl box:
ane. Cut a Sail of Outside Plywood Into Nine Pieces
To begin with, yous need to ensure yous have weatherproof plywood, which volition agree up to being left in the rain and direct sunlight.
This is known every bit exterior plywood or marine-grade plywood.
You'll need a ¾ 10 48 10 96 inch (1.91 10 121.92 x 243.84 cm) piece of plywood or siding, which y'all'll cut into nine pieces as follows:
| Divide Pieces | In Inches | In Centimeters |
| Upper Right Side | xi 10 12 ⅜ inch | 27.94 ten 31.43 cm |
| Make clean-Out Door (lesser right) | five 10 12 ⅜ inch | 12.7 ten 31.43 cm |
| Left Side | sixteen 10 12 ⅜ inch | 40.64 x 31.43 cm |
| Front | 22 ¾ 10 16 inch | 55.88 ten xl.64 cm |
| Back | 22 ¾ 10 xvi inch | 55.88 x 40.64 cm |
| Meridian | 7 ½ x 12 ⅜ inch | 17.78 10 31.43 cm |
| Top Door | 16 ¾ x 12 ⅜ inch | 40.64 10 31.43 cm |
| Bottom | 10 ⅞ x 22 ¾ inch | 25.4 x 55.88 cm |
| Divider | five ½ 10 15 ¼ inch | 12.7 x 38.1 cm |
2. Cut a Small Entrance Hole in the Front Piece of Plywood
You lot demand to cutting a hole big enough for the owl to get inside merely small enough to keep away predators.
Aim for almost 5 inches wide (12.7 cm), two inches (five.08 cm) from the top of the box.
Cutting this hole in an ellipse shape will keep predators from being able to easily achieve inside.
3. Cutting Grip Grooves Under the Archway Hole
Cut grooves into the plywood beneath the opening gives the owls something to grip onto when they're entering and exiting the box.
Withal, be careful not to cutting also securely into the wood, as you run the risk of puncturing a hole all the fashion to the other side.
This will slowly weaken over time and somewhen separate.
Create these grooves with either a abrupt chisel or a router with a straight chip.
4. Drill Drainage Holes Into the Lesser Piece of Plywood
At that place should be about eight to twelve drainage holes in the bottom piece of plywood, each near ½ inch (1.27 cm) broad. These forestall moisture from accumulating in the box.
This tin can be done with a drill before any of the parts are assembled.
5. Drill Air Holes Into the Acme Piece of Plywood
To let for air apportionment, drill holes into the top piece of plywood or in the side pieces of plywood nigh the top.
These should exist about the corners of the box to allow for optimal airflow.
These holes should be very similar to the drainage holes drilled into the bottom piece of plywood, and, once again, you should do this before assembling the box.
6. Drill Holes Into the Plywood To Set up for Screws
Drill holes everywhere that you'll need to bring together two pieces together when assembling.
Remember that you can't actually overdo this, so add every bit many every bit yous think y'all'll demand to ensure the construction is strong.
For a visual representation of where to place these holes, come across the Befouled Owl box building guide from Charles Yard. Wade, Lee Pauser, and David Altknecht.
7. Assemble the Box, Joining Sides With Screws
Apply ii-inch (5.08 cm) deck screws to bring together the sides of the box together. Ensure that yous go out a one-inch (2.54 cm) ventilation gap betwixt pieces across from the master opening.
When forming the top and side, which accept door pieces, spiral a metal hinge into place, attaching the peak to the top door and the side to the clean-out door.
8. Coat the Joints With Wood Gum or Plastic Resin
For extra immovability, coat the joints of the wooden box with wood glue made for exterior surfaces or a marine-form plastic resin.
This volition ensure that the box does not dissever apart over fourth dimension.
Some owl box builders cull to use only wood glue or resin and non screws, but most use both for a combination of mechanical and adhesive forcefulness.
9. Prepare the Box for Fourth dimension Spent in Directly Sunlight
If your box will exist placed in direct sunlight or situated in an environs where temperatures exceed 85°F (29.four°C), y'all demand to care for the box to make it heat resistant.
To do this, add a coat of white pigment to the outside. You can too paint an extra sheet of plywood white and situated it on top of the box as a dominicus shield.
If you choose to apply a split up sun shield, make sure y'all go out a ii-inch (5.08 cm) insulating gap between the shield and the box.
10. Place the Box Away From Roads and People
Barn Owl boxes should exist kept away from roads and other sources of human activity.
The best location is somewhere where there's plenty of food; many farmers choose to place Befouled Owl boxes in areas infested with rodents.
If you're placing multiple boxes, brand sure that you allow 640 acres of space (258.99 ha) for each box.
The tree should be inside 100 yards (91.44 one thousand) of a large tree, like an oak or a sycamore. This will protect the owl and the box.
eleven. Mount the Nesting Box on a Flat Surface
To mount your nesting box, button threaded bolts through the box and into the mounting surface, whether a wooden pole, platform or tree.
Make sure that no bolts are protruding into the box, as this can injure the owls.
Wherever you mount your nesting box, ensure that y'all tin open up both the tiptop door and the clean-out door at the bottom without as well much friction and without causing damage.
Sources
- Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society: Build A Befouled Owl Box
- Santa Lucia Conservancy: 2022 Barn Owl Nest Box Plans and Instructions
- Modern Farmer: How to Build a Barn Owl Nest
Source: https://birdgap.com/make-barn-owl-box/
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