The A-frame is chosen by a number of the small to medium size geese as a nest aid. Among those are the Nene, Barnacle, Snow, and Eastern and Western Greylag. This page is based on the construction of six A-frames. The materials and the assembly pieces are detailed in the chart below. The major components are treated 2" x 4" lumber of various lengths and 4' x 8' sheets of CD plywood which were treated with a preservative. Eventually all of the wood was stained.

A good starting point is the construction of the supporting frame. Begin by cutting 12 pieces of 2" x 4" x 32" long. Follow by cutting 12 pieces of 2" x 4" x 25.5". Secure a 2" x 4" x 32" piece to each end of a 2" x 4" x 25.5" piece using two 3" deck screws at each attachment point. Finish the rectangle by inserting a 2" x 4" x 25.5" piece between the ends of the two 2" x 4" x 32" which were earlier attached to the first 2" x 4" x 25.5" (See A-frame Support Parts below). Construct five more of the rectangles to complete this step.

A-frame Support Parts

The second step involves the cutting of 12 pieces of 2" x 4" x 42.5" long. After cutting the pieces place a 2" x 4" x 42.5" flat with the 4" side up. Make a mark that is 23 inches from the end on one side of the face of the board. Then make a mark 23 inches from the other end on the opposite side of the face. Connect the two marks and cut the board along the line you drew. Bring the two cut ends together and place a 3" deck screw to hold the boards together as shown in the photograph above. When finished you will have cut and fastened 12 of these As.

The third step involves attaching the As to the base. The As should be attached to the 2" x 4" x 32" boards making up the base. The As should be positioned so that the upper sides of the A ends right at the upper corner of the base support. The A should be secured with a 3" deck screw on each side.

A-frame Supporting Structure

The fourth step involves cutting out the tops. In this demonstration I chose 3/8" plywood where I have traditionally used 1/2" plywood. Either will work, but the 1/2" plywood may be the best in the long run.

Begin this step by marking the two sheets of 4' x 8' x 3/8" plywood to cut four pieces which are 2' x 4' in size. If this is done by using the narrow width of the board to obtain the 4' length, then a second line can be drawn 32 inches from the long side. Thus when cut you have four 24" x 32' pieces and four 24" x 16" pieces from each of the plywood sheets.

A-frame Supporting Structure With Tops

The fifth step centers on placing the tops on the As. The tops can be brought together at the top and secured with screws. Due to the thinness of the plywood being used, it was determined that the tops should be brought together at the top with the intention of using some type of ridge cover. The tops were secured to the As with 1 and 5/8" deck screws.

A-frame Constructed

In the final step the A-frame was treated with a preservative, then stained using two coats of the latter. An aluminum ridge cover was improvised to protect the plywood at the top of the A and to keep water from going through the ridge crest joint.

A-frame Constructed

In the name of trying to conserve two of the remaining pieces of plywood (24" x 16") were attached by screws to a 1" x 2" board making a top of 24" x 32". These in turn were mounted in the same way as the whole tops to the As.

A-frame With Altered Top

A ridge crest was fashioned from a 1" x 2" board to protect the roof joint and add strength for the joined tops. Preservative and two coats of stain followed.

A-frame With Altered Top Completed

The original fleet of A-frames was built about 15 years ago and needed refurbishing last year. The origninal A-frame 2" x 4" structures were secured with screws rather than the usual nails from the past. All were still usable once secured. They were topped with 1/2 inch plywood which is thick enough to allow securing of the two tops (see photograph below) rather than having to use the ridge crest covers detailed above.

A-frame Completed And With Tenant

This file was placed in service 02/09/2004.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

Last Modified Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 13:06:56 CDT