How to Build an A-Frame Barn Nest Box

The goose family is large and extremely varied, ranging from wild geese that make thousand-mile migrations to domestic geese, which are common barnyard denizens. Whether wild or domestic, geese have many uses, including eating pesky snails and providing food eggs. Build a nesting box for geese to attract wild geese to your property to lay their eggs, or to give your domestic geese a place to roost and lay.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 inch x 4 inch x 10 feet planks (2 pieces, treated wood)
  • 24 inch x 32 inch plywood (2 pieces, treated wood, 3/8-inch thick)
  • Electric saw
  • Pencil
  • Measuring tape
  • Electric drill with screwdriver bits
  • 3 inch deck screws (8)
  • 1 5/8-inch deck screws (10)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut your wood using the electric saw. You will need 2 pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch plank, 32 inches long, for the front and back of the base, 2 pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch plank, 25.5 inches long, for the sides of the base, 2 pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch plank, 42.5 inches long, for the A frames and 2 pieces of plywood, 24-inch by 32-inch, 3/8-inch thick, for the roof. Use your pencil and measuring tape to ensure accurate measurements.

    • 2

      Build the frame by forming a box of the four base pieces you cut (sides = 25.5 inches long, front and back = 32 inches long). Secure the pieces together by using 2 3-inch deck screws at each corner.

    • 3

      Locate the 2 A frame pieces you cut (2-inch by 4-inch by 42.5 inches). Lay each piece flat on the ground so that the wide face is up. On the first board, measure 23 inches from the end of the board and make a mark on one side of the face. Measure 23 inches from the other end of the board and make a matching mark on the other side of the face. Draw a straight diagonal line from one mark to the other. Cut along this line to produce two boards with angled ends. Fit these ends together to form an "A," and secure them with screws. Repeat this process with the other board.

    • 4

      Attach the A frames to the front and back of your base (the 32" pieces). Place the A frames so that the upper corners of their ends fit with the upper corners of the base box. Use a deck screw at each corner to secure the frames.

    • 5

      Build the roof of the box. Take the 2 pieces of 24-inch by 32-inch plywood and fit them flat onto your A frames. Make sure the roof pieces are flush at the apex of the roof, to keep water from getting into the nesting box. Secure the roof with 1 5/8-inch screws along the A frames.