TAXI SKINS, BODY SIZE

[BIRD4U]

ON THE LAST BIRD THAT I DID (GADWALL), AFTER I WAS DONE MOUNTING THE SKIN ON THE BODY EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD BUT AS THE SKIN DRIED IT PULLED THE FEATHERS APART AND THEY DIDN'T LAY PROPERLY.  WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP THEM LAYING FLAT OR OVER THE TOP OF EACH OTHER.  BIGGER BODY?  MORE CAULKING?  ALSO, THE GADWALL WAS VERY FAT.  HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE BODY AND ALLOW FOR THE FAT? TO GET THE RIGHT SIZE.

[drakeman]

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?!?!

[drakeman]

May not have fleshed it adequately.

[Paul C]

Your anatomy needs to be correct on the INSIDE before any of it will be correct on the outside.  If it looked good at first but then moved as it dried you either didn't have it fleshed clean enough or did not have the anatomy and feather tracts in the right spots to begin with.

[3bears]

I am no expert, but preening them as they dry would help.  I don't mount anything and walk away and forget about it til it is dry. The correct anatomy is essential as well. 3bears

[schenk]

Make sure you have the right body size, measure the one you take out. Get that size body, and you can use some caulk to give it something to set into. I love using it for turkeys to get the feathers to stand on strutters.
Get your feathers in the right spot, and groom and groom. I will pick feathers for a week or more while they are drying, depending on how fast they dry. The more you look at it, the more you find to do.
Also, it helps to take photos and check them out, you might see something there you didn't see with just looking at the bird.
Flesh really good, and wash with dawn and warm water and make sure you get all the fat out and tissue off the skin.