Wood stain outside without finish

[Eurekan]

So I am making a bird house and want to stain it but for a lot of reasons I don't feel like spar varnishing over it. I also don't want to go buy a gallon of deck stain. Does anyone have experience with using something like Minwax (or other) stain for outside. Will UV degrade the color too quickly to be worth the effort? I'm using untreated cedar fence slats. Any other suggestions?

[Eurekan]

That works. Thank You.Did not think of that. 

BUT, what about the original question? How does Minwax (or other) stain hold up outside by itself?

[EdL]

Loml uses a Cabot stain that holds up very well by itself.

Ed