Nests - 15cm by 15cm by 15cm, external dimensions half-fronted wooden boxes.

A semi-translucent, half-fronted plastic box of 13cm x 13cm x 16 cm (5" by 5" by 6.5") has been used ('4').

Material - coconut fibre is all that is needed.   Some  straw can be added but it's not necessary.

Fashion the fibre into some sort of nest in each box. 

Siting - with a colony, get them started and any container or nook or cranny will be pressed into service.

Height - Sites range from highest available, 2 metres ('1' & '2'), to lowest 90cms ('7' & '8'). 

Boxes have always been sited with the entrance facing inside away from my gaze.

However, all free-built nests have had their entrance facing outwards!

Nest building was even attempted in a bird bath which had fallen to the floor during one particularly intense breeding frenzy.  Once a nest was built in the lower portions of a small pot plant ('5'). 

Shelves - Nests have been built between shelves formed by the bottom of the upper cage and the top of the one below   
Entrance height of 6cms, internal height 7 cms but reduced by conifer branches laid on floor of the ledge ('3' & '6').

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Inspection - never look at a nest if construction is in progress or egg laying may have commenced.  
Nest and/ or eggs will be abandoned.

Nest box tops - make nest box top removable if fostering is intended. 

Extracting eggs or chicks with a spoon without a removable nest box top is extremely difficult. 

Pin-tailed Parrot Finches make a small, tunnel-like nest entrance.  

The floors of the cages in the 'factory' are also removable for access to self-built nests in the ledge below.