"This post may contain affiliate links and I'll earn a small commission if you shop through them. This is how we help to make money so we can continue to bring you amazing content"
After making a front porch bed swing, we had some wood left over. I didn’t want to waste this wood, so I decided to make an owl box to hang in the back of our woods to attract owls!
Owls are majestic birds of prey that feed off of small rodents, lizards, etc. Here in Georgia we have several breeds of owl, the most common being the Barn Owl and the Barred Owl. Owls are great to help promote a healthy and balanced environment around your home. And an owl box will help bring them in.
Material/Cut List
*4 Boards for side: 1″ x 6″ x 16-3/4″
*2 Boards for side (top board): 1″ x 6″ x 16-3/4″ with a slant at the top. I used a 17 degree angle.
*1 Board for front top: 1″x6″x 15-3/4″
*2 boards for front (2nd and 3rd board): 1″x6″x9″
*19″ x 17-1/2″ plywood piece for top
*19″ x 20-1/2″ plywood piece for bottom (a little bigger so it’s flush on the back with an overhang on the front.
Several 1″x1″ support boards for side of opening and corners. Just adds a little more support.
Building the Owl Box
Start by assembling your sides. Screw the sides on to the back boards. Then screw the front boards to the box. I made a 7″ opening for mine (hence the 9″ shorter boards for the front). I cut a couple 17″ 1×1″ strips for support for the front and a couple 14-1/2″ supports for the back (as shown here). Then I screwed the top on (at my slant). I added the bottom, making sure the back was flush to the back of the plywood. This leaves a small overhang on the front. It’d be a good idea to put a 1×1″ strip here too so the baby birds can perch when they’re young before they learn to fly.
I painted it and sealed it so it can withstand the weather for years to come. I also added shingles on the top, well my hubby did this part, because plywood isn’t very durable in the weather. You’ll want to add some pinestraw or a little mulch to soften the bottom where the mama owl will eventually lay her eggs.
I’m not going to go over the hanging method too much in detail…I would suggest wearing a safety harness. We used a ladder and tied a rope to another tree and hoisted the box up and secured it with 3″ long screws. It’s VERY heavy. A safety harness is a must, but still is dangerous. We also put two “kickers” out from the bottom to help support the weight on it. We couldn’t find a tree that had a really good limb to attach it to, so we just used the kickers.
I read that it could take 3-5 years for an owl to make your box their home, so be patient!
