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Post by dusty on Jul 10, 2012 10:40:05 GMT
Today we bought a coconut - now what do I do with it? I'm thinking, we get the liquid and the coconut flesh and the girls get the shell. What if we can't get all the flesh out cleanly, would it hurt for them to have a bit? Is it ok for them? The shell itself has quite a lot of that hessian matting type stuff attatched to it, can they have that in quantity or should I remove some of it (all of it)? Does the shell need drying time or can we just give it to them as it is?
I don't think I've ever questioned myself this much, about every little thing. We now have to think everything through really carefully and plan in advance for ever eventuality. Wow they are hard work - but so much fun ;D
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 10, 2012 15:02:13 GMT
You'll get more confident with time and experience and then it gets easier As long as you are thinking things through you and they will be fine, it's usually prolonged exposure to harmful things that might cause a problem, there's no need to worry about every little thing The only coconut I got for them I forgot about, and by the time I cut it open a few months later, the inside had shrivelled up and come away from the shell, so it was simple to remove. I wonder if you could replicate this by putting in a low oven (after you have opened it for safety), or perhaps a low oven would help you get the last bits away from the shell. Little traces of flesh won't do any harm. The loose fibres on the outside are fine for them, they may even enjoy investigating this bit.
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Post by bijett on Jul 10, 2012 19:34:46 GMT
Usually I get someone to crack it oen for me, i drink the milk and empty out the flesh- it's quite easy and i put the outside shell in the degu cage. With the flesh, i either eat it as it is or grate it and bake bscuits or mffins or use it in sauces.
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Post by dusty on Jul 14, 2012 13:39:31 GMT
We haven't managed to prepare the coconut yet. Today we had Chunks on an escape mission - the other 2 thought it was funny ;D I had to throw the whole coconut in to keep them occupied while we retrieved Chunks. They love it, now how do we get it back ;D ;D ;D
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 14, 2012 15:23:19 GMT
Quick! Get another coconut to give them to divert them from the first coconut!!
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Post by pixierodentrescue on Jul 14, 2012 21:06:58 GMT
I had one I forgot about for aaages when its all mank inside it peels away from the shell easy peasy
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 15, 2012 5:27:21 GMT
If you break it in half and then heat it for a while in a low oven, it will shrink a bit in size and then will just fall right out of the shell. SUPER easy!! And the coconut meat then has a bit of a roasted flavor.
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Post by posieposie on Jul 17, 2012 15:19:18 GMT
I have just got my 2 a coconut - and was wondering what to do with it! I dont like coconut so never tackled one before - how do you get into it? Seems pretty tough to me to break through! is it literally a case of smash it with a hammer?! thanks!
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Post by dusty on Jul 17, 2012 16:49:56 GMT
Take a look at the pointed end! You should find 2 - 3 indents that you can pierce with a errr, screwdriver, skewer etc. then you can pour out the liquid. After that yeah, I think it's a case of take a hammer to it. Maybe a hammer n chisell around the centre to get a nice two halves - I have yet to try this with mine so don't listen to me, I hope someone else has done this before ;D looks a bit like this - especially when other goos get involved. His name is henry and is about to be disected (the coconut that is not my little blue goo) ;D
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 17, 2012 17:03:14 GMT
Best thing is a machete or a small axe, but I guess not everyone's home is as tooled up with violent equipment as mine! Hammer and chisel could work if you want two halves.
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Post by posieposie on Jul 17, 2012 17:29:32 GMT
Haha! Well, i shall wait for the other half to get home from work and then i think we'll tackle it! Think hammy and nibbles need something new to get their teeth into (literally!) and think they will love it! i'm hoping it'll have what i call the 'Walnut' effect, that kept them entertained for about a week!!! shame they can only have them rarely!
I'll keep you posted on how we get on!
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Post by dusty on Jul 17, 2012 19:09:10 GMT
The walnut effect??? I take it you gave them a whole walnut and waited to see who could get into it first. Not been brave enough to try that one yet, and usually we can only get whole nuts around xmas time. They will all have their own stockings of course ;D
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Post by posieposie on Jul 17, 2012 19:34:20 GMT
Yes - they love a walnut! they were at it day and night! all we could hear was the scrape of teeth on shell - and of course the little arguments over whose walnut it was! quite amusing to watch! we have now sorted the coconut too! we're just about to pop it in their playpen while we clean them - hope it keeps them occupied! thanks for the help!
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Post by dusty on Jul 17, 2012 23:47:38 GMT
Might try a walnut for them at some point. I tried the coconut thing without a chisel - there I was sitting on the front porch with a large screwdriver and a hammer, the neighbours came home Man next door very kindly took a saw from his van and sawed it in half for me Just for laughs here is my original plan
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 17, 2012 23:56:33 GMT
I've been told that if you use a hammer and hit the coconut right at the three depressions, it will open right up for you. Just be sure that you are holding it over your sink or a bowl because it happens very quickly! It is incredibly easy this way. I'm sure I've done it myself, it's just been a while since I last did it. LOL!
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Post by dusty on Jul 18, 2012 13:15:51 GMT
Yes - they love a walnut! they were at it day and night! all we could hear was the scrape of teeth on shell - and of course the little arguments over whose walnut it was! quite amusing to watch! we have now sorted the coconut too! we're just about to pop it in their playpen while we clean them - hope it keeps them occupied! thanks for the help! How did it go Posie?
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Post by posieposie on Jul 18, 2012 20:43:21 GMT
hi Dusty! Coconut went well (although i'm not sure they know what to do with it!)! they have one half in their cage and the other in their playpen, they like to sit on it! not much chewing yet tho, they have however taken off some of the husk from the oustide and placed in their hammock! love the pic - my other half took it into the garage and set to it with a saw! When i disover how to upload pics i'll post some of Hammy and Nibbles working out what to do with it!! Hope yours are enjoying thiers!!
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 19, 2012 9:05:19 GMT
The best way to share photos is to upload them to an image hosting site like Photobucket, and then you copy and paste the web image tag (appears at the bottom of list of tags below each photo on photobucket) into your post on here.
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Post by winic1 on Jul 19, 2012 18:53:34 GMT
the instructions in the Degu Photos section are excellent. I even managed to use them successfully. Was looking on the 'net, and you CAN buy coconut shells, singly or in bulk. Just look around, the prices vary by an insane amount. Coconut shells are also a popular component of bird toys, is why I was looking. I love fresh coconut, but with degus, guinea pigs (cavies) and 17 parakeets (budgies), that's an awful lot of coconut for one person to eat, as the rest of my family won't go near it!
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Post by rh1ann0n on Jul 19, 2012 21:08:58 GMT
If you're trying to hide coconut to help non cocnut lovers to eat it you could maybe try putting it in a cake? I've done it a couple of times and you end up with a moist, fluffy cake that's not too coconutty in flavour
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