We love wildlife gardening at Kids of The Wild and there’s something really satisfying about putting a homemade bird feeder in the garden, especially when the kids have made it.
In this super-easy tutorial learn how to make your own hanging coconut fat feeder to encourage garden birds.
Make it now and the birds will be using it in time for your children to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of January.
You will need:
- Half a coconut (saved from a shop-bought feeder and well-cleaned)
- Lard
- Bird seeds, raisins, meal worms etc
What to do:
- Thoroughly clean the coconut shell if re-using one that birds have previously fed on. Use a bird-safe disinfectant such as Ark-Klens
- On a low heat in an old pan gently melt just over a third of a packet of lard
- Place the coconut shell on a bowl or old takeaway container for stability and to catch spills
- Carefully pour the lard, a little at a time, into the coconut shell
- Add seeds, raisins and meal worm as you go
- Top with a layer of sesame seeds if you have them and stick meal worms out of the fat
- Allow to cool and harden – around 60 to 90 minutes
- Hang in a tree and wait for the birds
Let me know how you get on and why not send some photos to the Kids of the Wild Facebook page?
More Information
Did you know you should feed garden birds all year round? For detailed information on what to feed garden birds read my post encourage garden birds all year round.
To learn how to site and hang a bird nest box read my post love nests for Valentine’s Day.
Try these ideas from a lovely blog called WilderChild; decorating an outdoor tree for birds including an alternative to our coconut feeder using orange peel halves, and for younger kids, throw a birthday party for the birds.
To find out about feeding wild ducks read my duck feeding guide.
Get the Gear
Don’t forget to sign up to the Big Garden Birdwatch.
These little i-Spy books are only a couple of pounds and perfect for inspiring children to go birdspotting. Click on the images for best prices at Amázon.
#CountryKids
My son is asking how the birds are surviving this winter and I said its harder for them to get food. We try to feed them nuts and bread at the seafront just to help a bit. And this is an amazing idea! #countrykids
It’s amazing, though it shouldn’t be, how much children care about wildlife and all the more so when they can be actively involved in watching and caring for it. We’ve tried this in old yoghurt pots and various other ways but recycling coconut shells works best for us. Thanks for reading
Brilliant, I want to makes these for our garden birds too
Go for it! We also discovered that it’s less messy if you only soften the lard not completely melt it, and it hardens more quickly too. Thanks for stopping by
We incorporated just this into our Valentines’s crafts this week, except it all got very messy shaping the setting lard into heart shapes instead of using the coconut shell! Such an important time of year to give the birds a little extra fuel, natural resources are at their lowest now waiting for spring to emerge.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
That’s a lovely idea too though I can imagine how messy!! Bet the kids loved it… X
Great idea! I’ll show this to my kids.
Great, it’s really easy for children to do, so long as you supervise the fat heating
This is such a great idea. We might try this once we’ve done the garden up! #CountryKids
It’s great when the birds get used to them and start arriving, so exciting for the kids, who also love getting involved in the messy making of them! Thanks for reading
Sir / medam
I make creations from coconut and making bird cages ,
bird feeder ,
repatile cages.
I am looking for buyers .
Can you buy my product
Low prices.
Thank you. I am dammika
From srilanka
where can I get meal worms, thank you.
Great to hear from you Jenny. If you’re in the UK most pet shops and smaller supermarkets have them (Wilko, Yorkshire Trading etc) which are all still open during lockdown. If you’re isolating have a look online for specialist suppliers, RSPB, Amazon etc. Good luck and let me know how the birds like your feeders! Wild wishes for some fun birdwatching too