Barn Owls are a species that is known for their unique ability to breed in man-made structures. They're also known for their behavior of taking up residence in barns. But what's less known about these magnificent birds is that they actually prefer to make their homes in nesting boxes instead of abandoned barns. That's where you come in. The reason why barn owls prefer nesting boxes is because the DIY barn owl box plans have a few specific elements that attract the owl to them. where you come in. The boxes must be made out of wood and must have an open front and back with a hinged lid.
DIY Barn Owl Box Plans And Ideas
Barn Owl Box Plans are essential for providing a safe home, 15 Free DIY Barn Owl Box Plans for these beautiful owls. Manufacturing these boxes is a great activity to do with your kids or grandkids. You can work on it together and then they can install it in your houses. The Barn Owl Box Plans is very easy to build and you should be able to complete it in less than an hour when you know what you are doing. You need minimal tools to build it as well. The following 15 barn owl box plans will show you how to build a house for your owls so that they can live a healthy and happy life.
How To Make A Barn Owl Nest Box
Looking for a great project to keep you busy throughout the long winter months? We've laid out all the basics for constructing a nest box for the barn owl, a highly persecuted and much-maligned raptor that needs your help. Barn owls are a great species to see in or near your garden. A barn owl hunting tower is a way to bring them in to see. This is one way you can make your own simple basic barn owl nest box. It is easy to understand by anyone with basic woodworking skills and even beginners can read this book and successfully build a nest box! The box uses the best and most appropriate techniques to help your box last the test of time, while best helping your Barn Owls.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
How To Build A Screech Owl Box
A screech owl box is an elegant and attractive method of attracting this interesting and elusive species. Place your box in the location where you wish to attract screech owls. Once you have determined a location, mark the area where you will put your box. Make sure the box will not be too close to human activity and that it is within sight of an owl perch or tree tunnel. A screech owl box is an economical and convenient way to bring these birds into your own yard. They are easy to build, easy to use, and do not require many resources to put together. The biggest objection that people have is how the owls will cope with the cold. The answer to this is abundantly clear and there are no excuses for failing to ensure the success of the scritch owl's breeding program.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Barn Owl Nestbox by The Barn Owl Trust
The Barn Owl Trust’s nesting box plan is for a beautiful owl house. With osprey and peregrine nests under threat, barn owl boxes provide a safe place for breeding barn owls. Barn Owl Trust nesting box plans are made to offer comfort to the adult pair and protection for the eggs and chicks. This box is bigger than the standard boxes available and is designed to accommodate the barn owls’ greater size as well as their need for more open space. In addition, they offer at least partial protection from avian parasites and mammalian predators, as well as the elements (at least in regions where nothing freezes).
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Barn Owl Box
Barn owls are beneficial because they eat rodents and insects, a very important job here in Kentucky. However, they often have a hard time finding the right place to nest. That’s why they like to build their nests inside barns and other outbuildings. But, if there aren’t any available, they will readily inhabit boxes attached either to a barn or tree. It is just a matter of providing them with a place to nest, and we have put together a little pamphlet that shows you how to put together some great nesting boxes for both buildings and hang them on trees or poles. If the barn owl happens to nest in your box this summer, make sure they don’t get scared off by high-traffic areas close by. Be safe out there and happy nesting!
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
RSPB External and Internal Barn Owl Boxes
If you’re building a box to encourage barn owls to nest on your land, there are two ways of constructing it in accordance with RSPB recommendations. One is for outdoor mounting; the other is for use inside barns. The big difference between the two options is that the outdoor version should be built to last. It doesn’t need to be paint-ready, but it does need to stand up against animals, weather, and time if you plan to leave it there for long periods of time! The RSPB External Cupboard Box should be mounted on an external wall as high as possible, with rough openings facing the open countryside. The RSPB Internal Cupboard Box can be placed inside your barn.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Barn Owl Box
This USDA-designed barn owl box is better than the average because it's quick to build and easy to take down if something comes up. It's made with durable weathered wood that will stand the test of time, so you're not constantly having to rebuild. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about wildlife habitats and the importance of giving animals a place to live.
This simple to build owl box was designed to provide a space for young owls to take off from when released from captivity. It is also an effective tool in helping to remove barn owls from buildings. The box can be made with any scrap lumber and sheet metal you may have to lay around, it’s a helpful project for anyone looking to get some use out of old lumber as well as teach kids about wildlife and conservation.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Installing Barn Owl Boxes
This section of the Barn Owl Conservation Society Web site tells how to build owl boxes and where to put them.Barn Owl Boxes are a vital tool for helping the Barn Owl population all over the country to thrive. Installing Barn Owl boxes and using them consistently is an easy way to help bring about this and is beneficial for everyone – humans and owls alike. Whether you're a farmer or a suburbanite, anyone can install an owl box in his or her yard. One of the best ways to help improve the health of this species is to provide them with safe nesting sites.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Barn Owl Research
Re-fashioning the past, creating tomorrow. Reimagined with modern materials and ecologically minded thinking, these owl boxes are part of an unprecedented new approach to bird conservation. The Barn Owl research box is designed to make the process of banding and monitoring barn owls both easier for you and less stressful for them. The box has also been tested in conjunction with a degree-level study on the cognitive abilities of barn owls. The Barn Owl Research box is perfect for storing your scopes and instruments in. Made from the non-absorbent board with a heavy-duty wood base.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Creating Owl Boxes
Attract a pair of owls to your yard by building and installing an owl box. An owl box is a sturdy wooden structure that you build to provide nesting space for pairs of common owl species, such as barn owls, in your backyard. One of the easiest small birdhouses to build, an owl box is just a big box with an entrance hole on one end and a few ventilation holes bored into the side walls. Whether you install it yourself or have a wildlife expert do it for you, an expertly built or purchased owl box is a great way to attract these predatory birds to your property. Once you have a pair living nearby, squirrels, chipmunks, and other pesky rodent pests will be no match for the raptors' hunting prowess.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Site And Build A Barn Owl Nest Box
The Barn Owl Nest Box Kit can be built in one day by anyone and has a hinged front door and a screen bottom to protect against predators. This quality kit can also be adapted to protect owlets during the summer months and protect young owls from bad weather. Everything you need to build your own Barn Owl Nest box, completely protected from the elements. All parts are numbered for easy assembly. Compact design means that it can be built easily without any heavy lifting. It has been produced to help people who are interested in conserving Barn Owls within their countryside or those who live in, or near, an area where they can see the wonderful spectacle of a pair of breeding owls.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Barn Owls Help Clean Up Rodents Naturally
Barn Owls are capable of catching and eating up to 1,000 rodents per year. If you want to keep the rodent population down in and around your barn, you can consider attracting a family of owls to the area with a Barn Owl House. Barn owls are non-migratory, so it's a great idea to use them to help keep the rodent population under control. This is a win-win situation for farmers and barn owls! Barn owls may be small but they are an effective tool in helping farmers control rodent populations. By spending several days per season hunting rodents, barn owls can help keep crop losses to a minimum.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Owl Nest Box Resources
Owl Nest Box Resources are happy to offer high-quality plastic owl boxes, perfect for use in gardens. The boxes are made from UV-resistant plastic and assembled with screws, which means that they will prevent predators from getting into them and make it much easier to clean them out. Barn Owl and Screech Owl breeding boxes are available, as well as a range of accessories. The Owls is a set of three different style nest boxes. If you have a garden you can attract these wonderful flying creatures to live on your land.
Owl nest boxes come in a range of different styles and designs. They are available to buy individually or as part of a full owl box set that includes all the different styles. Some even come with a home for a specific species such as barn owls or screech owls.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
How to Build an Owl Box
Build your own owl box and lure a beautiful barn owl right to your yard. The perfect way to protect birds and rodent-eating raptors alike, the box will give you the chance to view these fascinating hunters up close, even as they are doing their important job as guardians of your garden or property. In order to discourage rats and other rodents without harming the birds that prey on them, make a home for an owl. The box below is divided into two chambers so that babies can be nurtured on one side without the risk of falling out of the tree. The other side has an entry/exit hole for the grown owl.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Barn Owl Nesting Box
The Barn Owl Nest Box is a beautifully handcrafted wooden owl nesting box. It will provide a home for breeding pairs. It is ideal to help increase garden bird diversity as they feed on insects and small mammals, particularly voles and rats that eat your crops or store food. Build a home for the Barn Owl using this beautiful nesting box. This shelter will attract these beautiful birds to your garden or yard. The wood of the Barn Owl Nesting Box is made from timber and we stain, lacquer, and polish it before construction. Each nesting box is designed to be long-lasting, secure, and provide a comfortable home for the birds.
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Build Your Own Owl House
Explore a world of discovery with the Build Your Own Owl House. This unique culmination of art, science, and imagination highlights the amazing diversity of animal homes around us. Once complete, this artistic plaything provides hours of entertainment. Take a walk in the great outdoors with this easy-to-assemble owl house. The kit includes all of the materials you will need to build your own attractive and inviting home for great horned owls, barred owls, screech owls, and even barn owls. Made from unfinished pine, it comes with instructions and hardware for attaching it to a tree or pole. All you need is a screwdriver and an urge to get up close and personal with nature! Made with waterproof western red cedar shingles, it provides an exclusive space that ensures years of enjoyment. Everything you need comes in one box, so it's easy to finish right out of the box
Project Difficulty: Easy
Time to Build: 1-3 Hours
Tools Needed: Tape measure, Speed square, Pencil, Drill, Circular saw, Level
Why Should You Build a Barn Owl Box?
If you’ve ever been in the wild, you know that owls are beautiful creatures. They have a majestic quality to them, and they live in harmony with their environment (at least, as much as any animal can). Unfortunately, many people don’t know much about owls and think that they’re birds of prey. In reality, barn owls are not birds of prey at all. First of all, barn owls play a huge role in keeping rodent populations under control. Just imagine if you had rats or mice running around your property 24/7! Barn owls are also very beneficial because they serve as an indicator species.
If you have barn owls on your land, it means that there is a healthy ecosystem with ample food sources. Birds thrive in this type of environment because they have plenty to eat and places to nest. This can be used to your advantage by turning your farm into an oasis for songbirds.*
Cleanliness
When building an owl box, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is that it has to be sturdy. You don’t want it falling apart and dropping on the ground while you have owls in it. The second thing is that you need to make sure your box is secure. Owls aren’t very good at opening doors, so you don’t need a lock for this one, but make sure it can stay locked if needed. Third, you want your box to be easy to get into for the owls when they need it, but also hard enough that predators can’t get in easily. Finally, keep your box clean inside and out. Owls like their nests clean, and if yours starts looking too messy they might move out.
Conclusion
Barn owls are one of nature’s great hunters. Their large eyes, razor-sharp talons, and amazing hearing all make them wonderful free pest control for your barn or homemade chicken coop. Now you can build your own nesting box for them too! This set of plans shows you how to build a simple, yet effective box for these natural predators. We’re glad to share some information and plans with you so you can learn how to build a barn owl nesting box!
We hope this article has shed some light on the importance of creating and maintaining a barn owl habitat. It’s truly worth the effort.
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