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South Carolina, United States
Vetsy is my nickname that my family have fondly called me since my childhood. My blog reflects my personal views about the world around me. My topics may be anything that interest me but the majority of it is about my favorite past times...nature and gardening. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment or becoming a follower.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

A Coconut birdfeeder







 I made my first coconut bird feeder in the Winter of  2007 for my Chickadees and  I loved it because It was fun to make, Whimsical, different and only a few sparrows were able to manipulate it...Ha!..

It's hard for sparrows to hang from a moving feeder and feed at the same time..because there feet just aren't designed to cling the way a Chickadee's can....Yes you'll come across a few of those wise guy sparrows, but this swinging feeder will cut down on the masses.



Tools you'll  need...  A Drill of course and

( 1 ) ... A hole Saw 1" 25mm..
I used a Black and Decker hole saw kit, The kit came with the mandrel and hole saw together, You can't operate the hole saw with out the mandrel... the mandrel is the center piece and guide that directs the hole saw into the intended object.   


 Below.. hole saw with mandrel and twist bit

                                          

( 2 ) .. A work bench vise.... to hold the coconut in place while you are drilling.
 
( 3 ) ...  A standard twist drill bit... the size of the twist drill bit is objective as long as you can create a hole big enough to thread a hanger and make small openings for draining the coconut of it's liquid and rain, for this  a standard bit will do.

( 4 ) ... String,  jute,  wire, or a small chain can be used for your hanger, If you have a squirrel problem wire and chain are the best options especially if hanging it from a tree... I had a few smarty pantses that would chew through the string and I would often awake to find an empty coconut on the ground.

The first thing you'll want to do is to drill holes in the bottom of the coconut for drainage.  If you are using a fresh coconut you will need to drain it of it's coconut milk or liquid.

I like to drill holes in all three eyes of the coconut when draining  it.. Than add a  few at the top for the hanger. (  these holes also help the coconut drain and air out a little after it rains )


 Below...holes created by the twist bit..



 Below ..The nice little opening made by the hole saw... 

   



Step ( 5 ) ...You will need to remove the meat of the Coconut.... To do this allow it to hang for about a week... The coconut will begin to dry and peel away from it's hard shell on the inside...This makes it much easier to manipulate and extract the meat..  My coconut was a little dry from the start because I bought it months ago and forgot where I placed it .... by than the meat had dried up a quite a bit on the inside.


Tools you'll Need ..... A Firmer chisel or any small sharp wood cutting tool  if you can't find or don't have any of these tools do what I did in the photo below... get out the screw driver  and  Take your time.. this part of the job is a little time consuming but expect it.... It's part of the process,  getting in a hurry may get one injured...

However,  a Firmer chisel or any wood chisel will make fast work of this process because the blade is sharp and thick.. Do use with care please".... My niece demonstrates below..




( 6 ) ... In the photo below my niece is using a twist tag from a loaf of bread to guide the jute. Start from the inside of the coconut exiting the hole made in the top and then back through the other opening and tie it..with a little patience and imagination you'll figure out how to get your hangers in.. be it string  or wire.




A few tips and notes:  Before the meat of the coconut dries out.. the coconut will be heavy... So hang it up on something sturdy.

The feeder can be filled with many goodies such as suet in the winter, sunflower seeds,  fruit, nuts, meal worms and fresh coconut meat...  It can be chopped into small pieces and placed inside along with sunflower seeds.

NOTE....I read that shredded coconut... the kind we buy in the super market should never be used...It will swell in the birds bellies and be fatal!  

Just like most bird feeders,  you will want to check the coconut after it rains and replace seeds accordingly.

Thanks for stopping by my blog... Do leave a comment I love to here from you...

14 comments:

  1. What a cool idea. I guess I've never even looked for coconuts in the supermarket, but they must sell them! :)

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  2. Monica you can find them at Randazzos fruit markets all year round and I also saw few at Krogers, just yesterday.

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  3. Hi Vetsy, I don't think the common orange lilies are officially called ditch lilies--it's just they grow in ditches and where I grew up (Macomb Cty) that's what we called 'em. :)

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  4. Hi Vetsy, my Dad made me a couple coconut feeders years ago. They last forever.

    I forgot to include the name of the fragrant oriental lily in my post. I'll let you know the name tomorrow. It is the most fragrant lily I've ever had and I got it at Home Depot's garden center of all places. Mona Lisa has some fragrance but not as much.
    Marnie

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  5. Vetsy, this as a really cute project.
    Your directions and pictures are better than professional guides. You should start writing for DIY publications!
    I would like to try this - everyone step aside I might be coming through with electric tools.
    Thank you

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  6. Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it.

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  7. Hi again, got the name of the super fragrant oriental lily. Alessia. The tags says 36" tall by 12" wide.
    Marnie

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  8. Hi Vetsy!

    What a great tutorial! It would look so cool to see a bunch of these coconut feeders hanging in a tree at different levels. I hope you're enjoying your summer.

    Take care!

    ~Karrita

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  9. How clever! I love this! Your reference to the wise guy sparrows is funny and also interesting. I didn't know their feet weren't capable of hanging on to swinging feeders. Great easy to follow tutorial!

    (and please do post pics of your tomatoes and peppers when they're ready. I love garden veggies!)

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  10. Thank you Marnie I appreciate you taking the time to find it for me..

    Karrita that's a good idea that would look so interesting thanks...

    Thank you Angie I'm glad you all liked it..

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  11. Mya, DIY publications" That's a very nice compliment Thank you...

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  12. What a cute idea! I've never seen a feeder like that. I bet the birds do love it.

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  13. Thank you, I like it because it also adds a little whimsy to the garden.

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