Wood duck hens are the kind of birds that nest in natural tree cavities. But some of the recent studies have revealed that only 20% of such nests are hatched successfully. Raccoon predation is one of the main reasons for failed nests and dead hens. Even if we keep nest boxes that seem to be natural nest boxes on trees, it is not easy to keep predators away from climbing on these trees. Instead of that if we can mount these boxes on a pole while protected by an effective predator guard it will be much a simpler way to exclude these predators. Hens have a positive approach to the wood duck boxes and they readily accept these set-ups which provide a better chance for success. Studies have also revealed that hens prefer low-mounted boxes.
These boxes can be placed along woodland streams and also in flooded bottomlands, sloughs, lakes and beaver ponds etc. Marshes that lie closer to the swamps are good locations for boxes. You must ensure that the box's entrance hole faces the water without fail. It is too important to deter predators from your wood duck box. Two common and biggest predators of wood duck eggs are chicken snakes and raccoons. If your boxes are mounted on trees you can easily wrap a metal sleeve around the tree which will prevent raccoons or snakes from climbing the trees. When the nesting period is over, each year you have to remove old eggshells and any unhatched eggs from the nest.
Wood ducks normally lay an average of 12 eggs, which will take 28-30 days to hatch. If the nesting is not successful in first or second time, these female ducks will continue to lay eggs in hopes of a successful litter. There are many common predators like the fisher, a mink-like animal,despite their name, fishers rarely eat fish. They are agile animals and can climb trees like a red squirrel. Opossum is another threat to wood duck nesting boxes which has to be taken care of,because these are the kind of animals which will learn to take advantage of an easy meal.
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