How do you determine how big of a neck to make for a merganser? Their necks streach way out and thier neck are so small when you remove them. And also you do you get that long neck to look short. I got scared and put it back in the freezer. Any help will be appreciated.
BY
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It is common sense to put the same size neck as you remove.When the bird stretches his neck out to reach it does not grow more vertibrae to do so. Keep in mind that the neck skin is not attached like a deers neck skin is thought of,rather it is like a loose sock(you know when the elastic is shot .The neck that you are replacing fits into a slot between the shoulder areas of the wings.the neck curls down from the spine into this slot and curls up where we think of the throat up to the attachment point on the back of the head.If you took all the skin off and left the head and neck and body intact you would notice a very long appearing and s shaped neck.When at rest the neck is curled back into this slot and the head appears to be attached to a short neck held close to the body.So in order to answer your question in simple terms -put back the same size neck(length,diameter) as you remove.Its all in the placement of the neck skin when you pose it in relation to the rest of the body for the particular pose you desire.
Mergansers necks are large so they can swollow pretty big fish.
Wrap the neck to the size you took out. Than add latex caulk to fill it out more. If you look at a merg. reference from the front you will see their necks are pretty wide.
Tony