Wood Duck boxes and Guards!

Predator GuardThe Prairie Pothole Chapter has worked with Chappell Central for the past several years to build and distribute high quality wood duck box predator guards. Immensely popular, the Chapter has been shipping them throughout the United States. Typically though, once a guard order is placed the question of where to purchase quality cedar wood duck nest boxes is asked. Responding to this interest the Prairie Pothole Chapter ordered extra cedar wood duck nesting boxes for the Habitat Day and we now have them available for purchase with the predator guards. Each cedar nesting box comes as a complete kit with hardware and instruction. Once assembled it is ready to be mounted on a pole protected by a predator guard.

The predator guards are available in 4 models designed to mount on a variety of posts. Styles A, B, and C have different diameter openings to accommodate various posts while the MWI style has four tabs that can be folded and screwed to a post.

Predator Guard Style A,B, C

  • Style A - 4 inch diameter opening for 2 inch round pipe.
  • Style B - 4 1/2 inch diameter opening for 3X5 landscape timbers or U style highway posts.
  • Style C - 5 inch diameter opening for 4X4 timbers.

Each A, B, or C style cone guard requires a set of brackets that attach to the pole/post of choice and then the guard is bolted to the top of the brackets. Remember to use a piece of hardware cloth or small size wire mesh wired to the brackets to close off the opening to prevent snakes, mice, and vermin from climbing between the pole and guard. When ordering Style A,B, or C guards brackets are included.

MWI Pretator Guard

  • MWI Style Guard with four tabs for 4X4 or 3X5 posts

The MWI guard has four tabs cut in the center. As you wrap the cone guard around the post each tab is folded and screwed into the 4X4 or 3X5 timber. On landscape timbers with round edges use a hammer to conform the tabs to the timber. This style of cone guard can also be used on a metal U shaped pole but requires a set of metal brackets which can be ordered separately.

Details on how to order the wood duck nesting boxes and predator guards are described on the price sheet and order form. If you have questions about the nesting boxes, guards, or how to place an order please contact Dave Larson at (571) 340-5296 or Troy Heck at (320) 905-5451.

Wood Duck Nest Box and Predator Guard Forms:

Price Sheet and Order Form are PDF documents. If you are having trouble opening the documents please download Acrobat Reader.
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Local Orders -

If you live in or near Willmar, Mn you can purchase predator guards directly from Chappell Central on a cash and carry basis. Please contact the receptionist at (320) 235 - 2151 for assistance. Contact Dave Larson at (320) 214 - 1497 about wood duck nesting boxes.

Wood Duck Nesting Box Best Practices

Roger Strand, a founding member of the Prairie Pothole Chapter, is a nationally recognized authority on wood ducks and nesting structures. He has spent years observing wood duck nesting practices on Stoney Ridge Farm and has refined these observations into some best practices. These include mounting the nesting box on a pole instead of high in a tree. The use of predator guards to protect nesting hens. The proper placement of wood duck nesting structures in the landscape. Advantages of these best practices include easier maintenance , no ladders required, and better predator protection. Placing nesting structures in trees requires ladders and they can never by adequately protected from predators. Rogers best practices approach simplifies your life while ensuring nest box protection. While the predator guard provides protection from the ground it is important to recognize that predators can reach the nesting box from adjacent trees and limbs, so it is important to maintain at least a 8-10 foot zone around each box. More information about wood ducks and nesting structures can be found on the wood duck society web site.