feathers

[fireduck]

Last night I decided to get out my DVD and watch my Bird taxi instructor video. Just to refresh my mind.
Well every time I do I always pick something up.

I'm not drying my birds enough. I have been struggling with this. Seems like I have alot of moisture in the skin and some feathers do not lay right.

Stefan birds on his video look like they are dried really good. feathers are gorgeous.
I tried this last night as well on my birds.. tumbled, then used air, and blow dryer. It work better than what I was doing.
But still had some feathers, not working and still some moisture.
Could it be that I'm not getting the feathers dried. After I go back to the dryer with those feathers they look better.
I should have to use the blow dryer while I placing the form in. Should I get the skin 98% dried

Any suggestion.

[txoutdoors]

What are you seeing with the feathers specifically? I am not sure if it's a wetness issue as much as being clean. I have mounted several birds partially wet when going on the form. I blow dry after it's assembled and in its basic pose. I have not had any issues. I cant stress enough wash, wash, and wash!

[Scott Olson]

I have the bird 100% dry before i even think of mounting it. I also use a shop vac that blows to dry with. After its mounted, i hit it again with the compressed air to help align the feathers.

[alan webfoot]

Stefan also said watch out for moisture weeping back into feathers from too wet a skin ,It should be moist enough for good stretch and taxiing but not dripping ,wet or damp feathers seem to ''stick '' to fingers and pull out easier IMO

[meopilite]

I have not had any issues. I cant stress enough wash, wash, and wash!

The more i wash, the more feathers i lose......

[Nancy C]

I am a stickler about having the body feathers dry. In fact, most of the time I have to re-moisten the inside of the skin, especially around the rear portions where it is extra thin, but that is just standard procedure for me.
I don't dry the smaller head feathers quite as much because inside the neck skin is much harder to access in order to rehydrate it. Besides, I usually end up air-fluffing the head and neck anyway, and that takes care of any remaining dampness.

I make an exception for downy baby birds, which I mount wet, and sometimes for very small birds which can dry SO fast that I need all of the extra time I can get in order to get them assembled before they become crispy.

[fireduck]

The feathers are dry, I believe it is the downy feathers. almost next to the skin. Not sure how to describe this.

Good example would be a goose where they have tone of fluff to work with. the ones you really cant see that give me fits as far wetness

[Hoss.]

I think there might be small knife holes in the skin, and water/moisture is seeping through the feather side if you are really drying the feathers all the way.

I some times have this problem around the wings, if I make a slip.

the feather should be dry before you proceed.

below is a link to a feather. the "fluffy" part of the feather, should be fluffy before you proceed to mount it.
http://en.wikivisual.com/images/4/48/A_single_white_feather_closeup.jpg

[duck hunter 5769]

could be greasy .. i know tonight i was working on a pintail and the next looked wet so i got the air on it for like ten min but no change so i re washed