Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Did Maintenance on Wood Duck Boxes Last Weekend

Completed the wood duck box maintenance last Friday/Saturday. Replaced 3 boxes with new ones and changed out the sawdust and shavings in the others. All but one had signs of hatches, one box was a dump box with 17 eggs in it yet. With the dirt work I've done the past couple years it opens up several areas for more boxes. I don't know if I'll get to putting up poles and additional boxes this winter but I'm planning to add at least 5 more boxes. Only complaint is the quality of the "free" boxes a local duck club gave me, I will keep building my own in the future. I should also get the box camera system I got during a Pond Boss Conference auction several years ago but that hasn't gotten done yet. Thanks.

Bryan

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I think the chip vs the dust is the key issue. Chips don't tend to clump when the hen goes in and out of the box with her wet belly, vs saw dust which can and will over time. I've read about the concern for the cedar aroma being off putting for the hen, but all my boxes get used heavily and I've used cedar chips plenty over the years. **two cents laid on table**

Stressless, I did have my tree mounted deck huts protected by wrapping the tree below the hut with aluminum. My struggle was getting the duck houses to be used, secondary worry predators getting in them. I moved them to water mounts to see if ducks might feel safer. Probably just too many good old trees with natural holes in them in the area and the ducks feel more protected in the wooded areas compared to the open in my yard.

I'd be happy to use cedar chips, I just heard or read online that cedar was not preferred (or even not recommended?) I don't recall why but I agree, far easy for me to come by cedar chips/shavings as bagged bedding.

Most of my boxes have been placed in 4’ - 5’ of water. I’ve always used bedding shavings, picked it up at Family Farm & Home this year. We have noted several wood ducks nesting in trees here as well, last year we had a pair pileated woodpeckers nest it an open tree cavity too. Thanks.

Bryan