How to Build a Finch Bird House for Free

Finches are partial to nesting in smaller shrubs or trees. However, they will use man-made birdhouses from time to time. The best way to encourage finches to use the birdhouses in your yard is to recreate the birds' natural nesting habitat. You could purchase a store-bought finch house, but if you want to make your own, you can do so using items found around the house, such as an empty plastic milk jug, some twine and a dowel rod.

Things You'll Need

  • 1-gallon plastic milk jug
  • Utility knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Drill
  • 2 12-by-1/4-inch dowel rods
  • Hot glue
  • 2 feet of twine
  • Dried grass
  • Leaves
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a large circle around the handle of a clean, empty milk jug. Remove the handle and discard it. Use a utility knife or pair of scissors to cut the hole. If the edges of the cut jug are rough, use sandpaper to smooth them down.

    • 2

      Drill four 1/8-inch holes, evenly spaced, into the bottom of the milk jug. These are drainage holes.

    • 3

      Cut a 1/4-inch "X" on the side of the milk jug, using a utility knife, 3 inches from the bottom of the jug. Turn the jug 90 degrees and cut a second X, 3 1/2 inches from the bottom of the jug. Turn the jug another 90 degrees and cut a third X, 3 inches from the bottom of the jug. Turn the jug 90 degrees once more, and cut a final X, 3 1/2 inches from the bottom of the jug. All of the Xs should be centered on their respective sides.

    • 4

      Insert a dowel rod into one of the Xs and out through the X opposite it. Place a second dowel rod into one of the open Xs and out through the X opposite it. When completed, the dowel rods should cross in the middle, making an X. Part of the dowels will stick out from the sides of the milk jug.

    • 5

      Attach the lid to the jug permanently, using hot glue. This will keep the lid from falling off and exposing the inside of the birdhouse.

    • 6

      Tie a piece of 2-foot long twine around the neck of the milk jug. Tie the other end of the twine to a branch or tree limb to secure the birdhouse in place. Tie the milk jug tight to the branch so that there is little slack. Cut away and discard any excess twine. If you are concerned about the jug moving in the wind, hammer three or four nails through the bottom of the jug into a tree branch to secure it. Space the nails evenly along the bottom of the jug where it meets the tree branch.

    • 7

      Fill the inside of the milk jug with dried grass and leaves. This will make the house more inviting to the birds.