Question on coconut.

[mamalovesrico]

I read an article in BirdTalk over the weekend. The writer had mentioned giving her bird a whole coconut.
Ok, I just got back from the market and purchased a whole coconut. Trying to figure out how to put it in his cage. I'm talking about Murray here, my 2 year old greenwing. It will fit right into his dish. I considered drilling a whole through it and attaching it to his cage. Or I could drill a hole through it and hang it on a skewer.
Any warnings I should be aware of before I put this in his cage? I figure I can leave it in there for a day and then I'll have to toss it due to bacteria, correct?
Would like to hear all feedback and experiences.

[Irish]

What we did is buy a whole coconut, drill a hole into an eye and drain the water, then cut it into halves, string onto SS dog chains, and hung them from the cages that way. Bob and Arthur love it that way. We left the shells in their cages for a little over a day.

It got to the point where they couldn't reach the coconut deep inside the shell. When we took the shells out of their cages, we hung them up to dry in the hopes of removing the leftover meat and keeping the shells. It didn't work out, though. The coconut molded, dried up, and was impossible to remove from the shell, so we tossed the whole thing....

[Captain Jack]

We do the same as Irish. We drill holes in the top and bottom of coconut. Drain. Then Lance saw's the coconut in half, washes it, and uses the dog chains or rope (rope from old toys works well) and ties them up for the boys. They LOVE them!

[mamalovesrico]

Well I just did it. I drilled it and drained it as you both stated. I sawed it in half. Boy is that a job in itself. I hung it from a skewer in his cage. He went over and looked at it and walked away.
I think he'll eat it eventually. I saved the other half in the fridge for this weekend. Thank you both for your help.

[homebird]

I personally love to eat Coconuts. I found the easiest time to get the flesh away from the shell is when you first open the nut. I use a small paring knife.

Pehaps your fid will enjoy a few slices of the flesh to get started? They when he's more interested he'll explore the shells?

[AmandaB]

This is a little info about removing the coconut meat, it's supposed to be easier. Don't know if it really works as I've never tried it, but I know I had a heck of a time trying to get it out when it was freshly cut. I didn't think of giving it to them with the meat in it though.

http://www.cheepparrottoysntips.com/hints.htm

[birdsnthings]

I once tried giving fresh coconut to my Hyacinths and they thought I was "nuts". Never touched it but they like dried coconut. Go figure! The expressionn on their faces was priceless when they saw the fresh coconut.
Alice