Coconuts For Birds

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

I got a coconut at the store the other day. I want to make swings / chew toys outta the shell for the fids but don't know if I need to do anything to it first? Once youv'e taken the coconut out do you need to let it dry, clean it, etc before hanging it for the fids? Thanks, Crystal

[Machelle]

I clean mine really well and let it dry. Sometimes after I clean it I will put it in the oven to dry it out quicker.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Thanks. I figured I would have to clean them. Didn't think about the oven though. Mine likes to burn things so I gotta be careful. Crystal

[Mike B]

I don't like to hang cocnuts w/ the meat still intact. Bacteria issues. What I do. Make sure you get fresh cocnuts. Check by pushing in the eyes. If one of them is soft don't buy it. Take a screw driver, clean of course, push it through two eyes. Drain milk into a glass. Run the milk through a coffee strainer to clean it. Mix it in their water. Split coconut in 1/2 put on cookie sheet. Meat side down bake for about an hour on a 250 oven. This will allow the meat to come fairly easy. Take coconut 1/2s soak in bleach/water solution. Then rinse real well. Let dry. The coconut meat, clean the one side off, and run through food processor. Stick in ziplock, and freeze. To serve I just sprinkle some on their fresh veggies.

Mike

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

My hubby would kill me if he read this. I just had him scrap it all out with a knife. It took him about an hour. Thanks for the tips. Crystal

[Machelle]

Mike, that's pretty much how I do it. I also use the coconut milk in birdie bread instead of water.

[Buzzy]

I'm with you on this Machelle. & thanks for the other information.Although they love to sit on my shoulder & watch me work on getting the meat out the old way. What the birds let fall to the floor, Tara our schnauzer picks up. What a great team! Synergy at it's best.

[EliteBirds]

I would have neve thought of the oven "process" either. I would have spent forever getting the meat out.
I will have to keep this in mind next time I want to use the shell for a toy.

[dgcashier]

We took the meat out and I washed it really well and then I put it in a 200 degree oven for about 30 minutes. That is supposed to get all the bacteria and kill any bugs on it.

[Tiki]

In nature, birds would not be able to open a coconut to feed on, but I do know that people in places like Vanuatu and New Caledonia who have pet Lorikeets feed coconut to them fresh out of the shell. They open the coconut straight away and feed it fresh so there wouldn't have been time to let bacteria gather.