The Best Owl Houses for your Backyard

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Welcome to ThinkVail – shop the best owl houses featuring fully assembled and partially assembled kits for nesting screech owls, saw-whet owls, boreal owls, barn owls, flickers, kestrels and more.


Inviting owls into your backyard is a great way to watch these majestic animals up-close while learning about their habits, enjoying their antics and experiencing their hunting prowess. Putting up an owl house will not guarantee a nocturnal visitor but it’s a BIG step in the right direction.

TYPES OF OWLS

Here in Colorado, many owls including western screech owls, saw-whet owls, boreal owls and large barn owls all participate in cavity nesting as do American kestrels and flickers.

Owl boxes may vary in size but The Audubon Society recommends an interior nesting cavity of roughly 9 3/4″ wide, x 7″ depth, x 10″ height for small owls while recommending a minimum size of 11 1/4″ x 36″ x 15 3/4″ height for larger owls like barn owls.


LOCATION

Screech owl boxes are typically hung at roughly 8-15 feet off of the ground on a tree, post or pole. Face in a more southern direction to block cold northern winds.

For larger owls, mount 15-25 feet up. Best to mount on barns, silos, out-buildings, tall post with concrete footers, live tree or a snag in an open field. Face north or east to minimize afternoon heat.


PETS

Screech and saw-whet owls are of no danger to domestic animals, but  larger owls may go after cats or small dogs, so keep small pets inside at night if owls are around.

A predator guard, far from nearby trees, will discourage all types of predators, including cats from invading and killing young owlets.


BUILD-YOUR-OWN

We have found 10 great, fully-assembled or easy-to-assemble owl house kits for your convenience. But if you’re handy you may want to build your own instead. In that case, just remember, that the correct size and specifications for height, width, hole opening and more is the key to successful owl nesting.

To find plans, specification, information and tons of tips about owls and other birds visit: nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses

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See Also: Bird Watching in Vail, CO


Best Owl Houses


#1 Best Owl Houses – KingWood Cedar Owl Box

The Kingwood large pine owl box is ideal for attracting larger nesting owls. Barn owls will happily help keep your rodent and insect populations down naturally while being fun and educational to observe.

  • Fully assembled owl house
  • Made in Austin, Texas, USA!
  • Made from hand-selected, premium, all natural cedar wood planks.
  • No plastic or plywood
  • Weather permanent glue and pin nailed.
  • Waterproof silicone seal on roof seam.
  • A dowel & knob are placed in the bottom as a hatch door for easy debris removal.
  • Ventilated base ensures proper interior circulation and drainage
  • Owl house kit comes complete with 3-inch, treated decking screws, large washers
  • Includes a bag of pine wood chips for nesting.
  • Pitched roof allows rain to run off
  • 6″x 6″ viewing window
  • Exterior rail steps for quick flight landings
  • Exterior measurement: 25″ height x 11″ wide x 11″ roof depth

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#2 Best Owl Houses – Coveside Saw-Whet & Screech Owl House

Coveside Conservation Products are designed to support wildlife while making people happy. They have been creating superior products crafted from custom milled, sustainably grown Eastern White Pine for more than 25 years. This owl box is ideal from smaller owls and kestrels.

  • Hand crafted in the USA
  • Made of eastern white pine for insulation and durability
  • Sized right for saw-whet and screech owls
  • Measurements: 9.25″ x 11″ x 17.75″
  • Weight: 7.9 lbs.
  • Includes wood chips for nesting material.

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#3 Best Owl Houses – JCs Wildlife X Large Barn Owl Box

JCs Wildlife is a small family owned business who proudly offer high quality and affordable solutions to bird and nature enthusiasts. This owl house is perfect for larger owls like the Barn Owl.

  • Largest barn owl box available from this company
  • Built completely out of recycled poly lumber — this house will never crack, split or fade.
  • Elliptical entrance hole provides protection from predators and prevents young owls from being pushed out of the box by others owlets.
  • The exercise platform gives young owlets more space to learn to fly so they can land on the perch instead of falling out of the box.
  • Platform extends 7 inches out from the nest box and wraps around all sides of the box.
  • Special grooves underneath the entrance hole also help the adult owl gain access to the box
  • A side door allows for easy access to the interior – making clean out simple.
  • A base plate comes included to secure the barn owl box to a 6″ x 6″ post that is 16′ long.
  • This post will need to be in a hole that is at least 3′ wide and at least 4′ deep while being secured with concrete to ensure the integrity of the post due to the weight of the box. The 6″ x 6″ post and concrete are NOT included with this owl box.
  • Owl box dimensions: 31″ H x 33″ D x 34.25″ W. Larger overall dimensions better accommodates larger broods.
  • Hole dimensions: 5.5″ W x 4.5″ H
  • Hole height above floor: 24″
  • A bag of pine shavings is include
  • Weight: 75 lbs.
  • Some assembly required
  • Made in the USA

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#4 Best Owl Houses – Lone Star Woodcraft Cedar Screech Owl House

Lone Star are known for their wonderful bat houses but their owl boxes are just as useful and beautiful and great for bringing birds into your backyard. This is a family owned & operated business that has been producing great products since 1997.

  • Handmade n the USA
  • 100% Western Red Cedar
  • Handmade in Garden Ridge, Texas
  • Family owned and operated
  • Owl box dimensions: 24” x 5″ x 6″ (+ roof overhangs 4″)
  • Rectangular opening for full viewing
  • Decorative cast iron star detail has lots of personality
  • Includes instructions, mounting brackets and screws
  • Weight: 5 lbs.

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#5 Best Owl Houses – Uncle Dunkels Screech Owl House

This cute, rustic owl house puts out the welcome mat for small owls like screech owls, saw-whet owls, boreal owls and even American kestrels.

  • Handmade in the USA
  • Created by Kentucky artisans
  • Made from solid pine, tongue and grooved boards, with shingled roof.
  • Assembled by hand using rustproof decking screws and waterproof glue.
  • Exterior is finished with a special, acrylic, wildlife-friendly color stain to make it look like weathered barn wood.
  • Meets the specifications of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  • Features correct size entry hole, correct floor and head space
  • Interior fledgling ladder
  • Air vents and drainage holes
  • A clean-out door and latch.
  • Front Tree Bark is ethically sourced
  • A bag of pine shavings for nesting material.
  • Include (2) 3- inch stainless screws with washers for installation
  • Owl box dimensions: 12″ x 12″ x 19″ inches
  • Weight: 10 lbs.

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#6 Best Owl Houses – JCs Wildlife Screech Owl Box

JCs Wildlife has a broad assortment of owl houses for our nocturnal feathered friends. They offer the best habitat designs constructed of durable, bird-friendly materials that can stand up to whatever mother nature dishes out.

  • Made in the USA, in Indiana
  • Entirely hand-made
  • Made from cedar wood and recycled poly lumber
  • Owl box dimensions: 11.375″ Wide x 14.25″ Tall x 10.125″ Deep.
  • Inside Dimensions: 6.25″ W X 12.875″ H X 6.75″ D
  • Hole Diameter: 4″ W X 3″ H
  • For best results mount 10 to 20 feet high in a large, dense tree
  • Easy to mount and clean
  • Front door swings up for easy cleaning
  • Drainage holes in the bottom
  • Hole under the roof overhang allows for air circulation.
  • Screech owls and Saw-Whet owls have tough competition with other birds for natural cavities because they are so small.
  • Fully assembled

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#7 Best Owl Houses – Vundahboah Amish Goods Owl House

Vundahboah Amish Goods products are hand sourced from Old Order Amish in the foothills of Tennessee. Their products are high-quality and beautiful.

  • Handmade Cedar wood nesting box.
  • Includes two 4-oz packages of all natural Cedar wood shavings
  • Made in the USA in the foothills of Tennessee and constructed by Old Order Amish craftsmen
  • Solid weatherproofed Cedar wood roof, and all Cedar construction
  • High-quality construction from the hinged bottom lift door to the riveted screws and pivot points
  • Very durable will last for many years.
  • Measures 15″ height x 8.5″ width x 9″ depth
  • Weight: 10 lbs.
  • Suggested hanging height is 20+ feet.
  • Pre-drilled holes for hanging.
  • A sturdy and long-lasting addition to your yard or landscape.

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#8 Best Owl Houses – Amador Barn Owl Box

The Amador Barn Owl Box Company offers an affordable, sustainable farming solution to rodent problems. Their barn owl box was so successful, that today, they also offer bat houses, bluebird and screech owl boxes, raptor perch kits and more.

  • Handmade from wood by Amador county craftsmen
  • Long-lasting and handsome cedar cladding
  • Science guidance from Professor Emeritus, UCLA
  • Made from highly durable 5-Ply exterior grade plywood
  • Stained for weather-resistance
  • Serving tons of vineyards in California to deal with troublesome rodent problems naturally without poisons or pesticides.
  • The critical entry/exit hole is designed specifically for the Barn Owl; Entry by larger or smaller birds is unlikely; predators are thwarted.
  • There are no posts or perches to deter predators.
  • Designed to be mounted high, 12′-18′ on poles or posts, above vineyard and orchard growth where the birds soar.
  • An internal baffle protects the chicks from predators.
  • An easy-open side flap allows for rapid cleaning.

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#9 Best Owl Houses – Stovall Screech Owl Box

The Stovall Screech Owl Box is seamlessly designed to offer a blend of quality, style and durability that is perfect for your backyard and welcomes small owls and kestrels.

  • 3-inch entrance hole
  • Hand sanded
  • Fully assembled
  • Made with stainless steel, dichromate plated screws, washers, hooks & chains.
  • Owl box dimensions: 22″ x 8.25″ x 11.25″
  • All cedar construction
  • Hand-crafted in the USA in Michigan
  • Features a special perch for owls to roost on
  • Weight: 7 lbs
  • Includes1 bag of wood shavings
  • Includes placement instructions.
  • Follows environmentally green practices.

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#10 Best Owl Houses – KingWood Screech Owl House

The KingWood Owl Box is crafted with care in Austin, Texas, USA and is built with hand selected, premium all natural cedar wood planks to prevent rot and be long-lasting.

  • Made of cedar wood
  • No plastic or plywood used.
  • Measured, cut to length, weather-permanent glue, and pin nailed.
  • Silicone seal along roof line keeps out moisture.
  • A dowel & knob are placed in the bottom to release slide hatch for easy debris removal.
  • The base is cut for proper interior circulation and drainage
  • Available in natural cedar or stained with highlighted pops of color!
  • Kit comes complete with 3-inch treated deck screws and washers for hanging
  • Includes a bag of pine wood chips for nesting,
  • Exterior measures approximately 24″ long x 5.5″ wide, 8″ roof/knob depth
  • Interior nesting cavity measures 5.5″ wide x 4″ depth x 10″ height.
  • Fun and educational for the new or experienced owl enthusiast
  • Provides protection for SMALL nesting owls
  • Fully assembled

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See Also: Best Walking Sticks for Hiking


Comments

We hope you found this article about the best owl houses helpful. Have you used an owl house in the past? Was it successful? Do you have any tips to share with our readers to encourage and keep owls in your backyard? What was your favorite thing about having an owl family in your area? Please share your thoughts, comments and stories about owl houses and nesting owls in general.

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