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)
- 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