homestead.fyi / DUCKHOUSE-4

Duck House for 4

A ground-level 4 x 4 ft house for 4 ducks on a pressure-treated base, framed in 2x4s, sided in plywood, with a door, a pop door and two high vents under a sloped metal roof.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
4Ducks
48 x 48 inFootprint
16 sq ftFloor
30 to 36 inHeight
10 to 14 hrBuild time
~$422.39Materials, part estimate

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingsiding and roof removed
3D view, framing
Front elevation
Front elevation 54 in 45 1/2 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 58 in 45 1/2 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 54 in 58 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
32x458 1/2Rafterboth ends plumb cut 7.1°
12x448Front top platelaid flat
12x448Back top platelaid flat
12x441 1/2Left top platelaid flat
12x441 1/2Right top platelaid flat
42x433Front stud
12x433Left studtop cut to the slope
12x433Right studtop cut to the slope
12x432 1/2Left studtop cut to the slope
12x430 1/4Left studtop cut to the slope
12x430 1/8Right studtop cut to the slope
12x427 1/4Left studtop cut to the slope
12x427 1/4Right studtop cut to the slope
32x427Back stud
12x424Front door headerlaid flat
22x421Door battenlaid flat
12x414Left door headerlaid flat
12x47 1/2Front cripple
12x4 PT48Base fronton edge
12x4 PT48Base backon edge
12x4 PT48Front bottom platelaid flat
12x4 PT48Back bottom platelaid flat
32x4 PT45Base joiston edge
12x4 PT41Left bottom platelaid flat
12x4 PT41Right bottom platelaid flat
3roof58 1/2Roof panelcut to length, lap one rib

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Floor3/4 ply48 x 48
Front siding1/2 ply49 x 36 1/2door is the cutout, re-hung
Back siding1/2 ply49 x 30 1/2
Left siding1/2 ply48 x 36 1/2door is the cutout, re-hung
Right siding1/2 ply48 x 36 1/2
Left vent screencloth0 x 32
Right vent screencloth0 x 32
Roof deck 11/2 ply26 x 58 1/2
Roof deck 21/2 ply26 x 58 1/2

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 10 ft
Front top plate 48Right stud 2 30 1/8Back stud 1 27Left door header 14
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 1 58 1/2Front stud 2 33Back stud 2 27
2x4 x 8 ft
Front stud 1 33Left stud 4 27 1/4Right stud 3 27 1/4Front cripple 5 7 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Left top plate 41 3/8Left stud 2 32 1/2Door batten 1 21
2x4 x 8 ft
Front stud 3 33Front stud 4 33Back stud 3 27
2x4 x 8 ft
Back top plate 48Front door header 24Door batten 2 21
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter 2 58 1/2Left stud 1 33
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter 3 58 1/2Right stud 1 33
2x4 x 8 ft
Right top plate 41 3/8Left stud 3 30 1/4
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base front 48Base back 48Base joist 1 45
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bottom plate 48Base joist 2 45
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bottom plate 48Base joist 3 45
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Left bottom plate 41Right bottom plate 41
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 1 58 1/2Roof panel 2 58 1/2
roof x 8 ft
Roof panel 3 58 1/2

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Left siding48 x 36 1/2Right siding48 x 36 1/2
Sheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Roof deck 126 x 58 1/2
Sheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Roof deck 226 x 58 1/2
Sheet 4: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front siding36 1/2 x 49
Sheet 5: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Back siding30 1/2 x 49
Sheet 6: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Floor48 x 48

Shopping list $398.64 checked / $23.75 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot2$5.46$10.92see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot7$4.15$29.05see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$7.18$7.18see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot3$4.68$14.04see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated metal roof panel, 26 in x 10 ftHome Depot1$23.75$23.75see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated galvanized roof panel, 8 ft (Gibraltar 31 ga; check width)Home Depot1$19.98$19.98see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's5$32.26$161.30see sheet cutting diagrams
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$46.57$46.57see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 2 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot1$30.40$30.40uses about 64 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)Home Depot2$6.60$13.20door and pop door
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 inHome Depot2$6.78$13.56door and pop door
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Roofing screws #10 x 1-1/2 in with neoprene washer, 200 ctHome Depot1$17.98$17.98
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lbSouthern States1$4.49$4.49
Total before tax~$422.39
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Cut the base from the pressure-treated 2x4s on edge and screw it together. Set it on level gravel and check square by measuring both diagonals.
  2. Screw the plywood floor to the base every 8 in.
  3. Frame the front and back walls flat on the floor: plates, studs 24 in on center, and a header laid flat over the door.
  4. Frame both side walls. Their top plates and stud tops are cut at 7.1° to follow the roof. Frame the 14 x 16 in pop door in the left wall.
  5. Stand the walls, screw the corners together and screw the bottom plates down through the floor into the base.
  6. Cut the 3 rafters with plumb cuts at 7.1° on both ends, set them on the walls and toe-screw them.
  7. Cut the siding from the sheet layouts, including the door, pop door and vent openings. Keep the door and pop door cutouts. Screw the siding on every 6 in.
  8. Staple hardware cloth behind each vent from inside.
  9. Screw the roof deck down and then the 3 metal panels with roofing screws in the flats, lapping one rib.
  10. Brace the door cutout with two battens and hang it, and the pop door, on strap hinges with a hasp. Make a ramp from a plank with cleats every 3 in.

Before you start