How to make a bird feeder from a coconut

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The Jaspell bird feeder is attracting many sparrows, robins, blue tits, great tits, wrens, and blackbirds that come for the suet and mealworm pellets. Our busy feeders are visible from our kitchen-diner and give us—and the birds—enormous pleasure.

Figure 1 - (Photo) Hooded bird feeder from a coconut

Why use this design when there are also many other designs for bird feeders made from a coconut? Jaspell’s design is engineered so that:

· Its hood and U-shaped hanging wire limit both ingress of rain.

· Its hanging wire prevents the feeder from spinning.

· Its mouth is shaped to counteract spillage and allow birds up to the size of blackbirds easy access.

· Its simple perch is sufficient for birds paying a brief visit.

The cost? Just over £1. The birds now prefer this low-cost homemade device instead of all the other purchased feeders we’ve been using for decades!

All you need is:

· An empty coconut shell;

· Some bendable 3mm thick coated wire—one piece 330mm long and one 125mm long;

· Exterior glue (slightly expanding polyurethane adhesive is serving us well)

· Hacksaw;

· Drill and 5mm twist drill bit

· Pliers

Figure 2 - (Diagram, side view) Hooded bird feeder from a coconut

1. Follow the diagram and photograph.

2. Carefully saw out a segment of the coconut shell and save this to be the hood.

3. Drill one or two drainage holes gently in the soft indentations at the bottom of the shell.

4. Drill two holes large enough for the hanging wire to fit through freely.

5. Drill two holes to hold the perch wire.

6. Take the perch wire and at each end bend the last 10mm up vertically at 90°to form anchorages.

7. At each end of the perch wire allow 15mm horizontally in from these turn-ups before bending the remainder at 90° horizontally.

8. Bend the middle section of the perch wire in the form of a horizontal curve that matches the surface of the shell.

9. Fit the ends of the perch wire through each side of the shell with the ends pointing upwards.

10. Now take the hanging wire and bend the last 10mm up at 90° to form anchorages.

11. At each end of the hanging wire allow 15mm horizontally in from these turn-ups before bending the remainder at 90° vertically downwards and then upwards again to form a 20mm deep U-shaped drip.

12. Bend the middle part of the hanging wire in a gentle curve but with a kink at the centre.

13. Fit the ends of the hanging wire through the holes each side of the shell with the ends pointing upwards.

14. Check that the ends of both wires are bent up sufficiently inside the shell to be clear of the movements of the birds.

15. To make the hood, take the shell segment that was cut out and hold it upside down from how it was. Find the best position for it to serve as a hood above the opening in the shell. Mark the position on the shell, and note the narrow gap that will need filling during gluing.

16. Glue the hood in place. Hold it in place until sufficiently set while ensuring that any gaps are filled. A small ridge of glue can also be extended beyond the corner of the hood to the corner of the opening to further deflect rain.

17. Fill the shell with suet pellets or other bird feed, and hang it up in a safe place.

Best wishes,

Jasper & Ellen Burford for Jaspell

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Date of last edit: 23 March, 2026