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How to Build an Owl House

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by monsterguide
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Owl Houses are usually called “Nesting Boxes”. There are different types of boxes for different owls. For this, we are going to teach you how to build a nesting box for Screech Owls.

Required Materials:

  • Unpainted wood, one foot by ten feet, one inch thick

  • 24 two inch coated sheetrock screws
  • One number six one and a half inch wood screw and washer
  • Two brass hinges and screws, small sized
  • Small nails
  • Carpenter’s glue
  • Calking compound

Required Tools

  • Tape measure or ruler

  • Pencil
  • Power saw
  • Power hand drill and attachments
  • Hand saw
  • Three inch hole saw
  • Knife or chisel
  • Hammer

Instructions

  1. On your wood, measure a space thirty-two inches by seven and three fourths inches for the back. Measure and mark eight and a half inches by seven and three fourths inches for the bottom piece. Measure sixteen and three fourths inches by seven and three fourths inches for the front. Cut each of these pieces out.

  2. Cut a wooden piece ten inches by thirty five and a half inches. On this piece, measure seventeen inches on one side of the board and eighteen and a half on the other side and then cut between these two lines.

  3. The top piece should be cut to twelve inches by eleven and one fourth inches, and you should also cut a one inch by eleven and one fourth inch strip.

  4. Now drill two holes for ventilation in each side piece, one inch from the top on each side. Into the bottom, drill five holes that are one half inch in diameter for drainage.

  5. Drill a three inch hole into the front piece, four inches from the top and in the middle of the piece. Next, use your knife to make scratches on the inside of the front piece. These scratches should be from the bottom of the box up to the entrance to the box (this helps young owls climb out).

  6. On the back piece, measure seven inches from the bottom of the piece. This is where the bottom of the box and the box sides will go. Screw the side pieces onto the edges of the back piece, using three screws on each side. The bottom should be screwed on to the back piece about one half inch above the bottom of the side pieces.

  7. Attach the front piece. It should be lined up so that its front surface is flush with the side pieces. Each side of the front piece should be attached with three screws (this will be easier if you pre-drill the holes).

  8. Take the piece for the top and cut so that it is flush against the back piece. Attach the top with the two hinges. The top should overhang the side pieces by an inch and the front by two inches. Attach the front of the top to the front piece with the brass screw and washer.

  9. Take the inch wide strip and nail and glue it to the back of the box, above the hinges. This strip should keep rainwater out of the box, but still permit you enough room to lift the lid. Caulk around where the piece meets the back piece.

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