How to Build a Yellow Finch Birdhouse

Yellow finches are a common back yard bird. They reproduce late in the summer as opposed to spring like most birds, giving bird watchers some late season chicks to look out for. According to the Audubon Society, yellow finches prefer to nest in shrubbery or small, shrub-like trees, approximately 8 to 10 feet off the ground. Their nests need to accommodate two adults, as the male finch will feed the yellow finch so she doesn't have to ever leave her nest. This birdhouse project mimics their natural-favored nesting conditions.

Things You'll Need

  • Gallon milk container with lid
  • Craft knife
  • Twine
  • Washer that fits inside the jug's lid (sizes vary)
  • Yard debris
  • Two 1/8 to 1/4 dowel rods
  • Hot glue
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a sharp craft or utility knife to cut a hole in a clean gallon milk jug, where the handle is. You want your hole to be large enough to remove the entire handle. Use scissors or your craft knife to smooth the edges to make sure they aren't sharp, as this could be harmful to the birds.

    • 2

      Use the dowel rods to make supports and perches. You can make them any size you like. Ten to 12 inches works well. Measure 2 to 3 inches from the bottom of your milk jug and create a hole just the right size for your dowel rod to fit through. On the back side of the jug, create another hole on the opposite side, so that when you insert the dowels, you create an "X" with them inside the jug.

    • 3

      Repeat Step 2 with a second dowel rod. This will serve two purposes. It will create four perches for the birds, as well as offer supports inside for the birds to begin nest building in. The extra perches in the back of the carton are optional. If you do not want to use them, simply adjust the length of your dowel rods.

    • 4

      Cut a small hole in the top of the lid, just large enough for two strands of twine to fit through. Feed two strands of twine through the hole and tie each end to opposite sides of the washer. Fill the inside of the lid with hot glue, then pull the twine from the top so the washer and bottom of the twine are pulled into the hot glue. This not only creates a right hold for the lid, but it helps keep water from coming in through the twine hole.

    • 5

      Run a thin bead of hot glue around the threads of the milk jug, and screw the top on. Gluing the top on makes sure it will not unscrew if blown around by the wind.

    • 6

      Take some yard debris, like dries grass, and place it in the bottom of the jug, under and on top of the "X" supports you created. This will encourage nesting. Place your bird house in some low, loose shrubbery, securing it with the twine, or hang it from a tree in the "V" where two limbs come together to avoid it being blown around by the wind.