Is it preferable to remove the beard before processing and tumbling the skin, or does it matter?
If the beard is removed (either for processing, or to upgrade) is it best to sew it back on, or use an adhesive of some kind?
Thanks...
Return to Beginners Category Menu
I never remove my beard before skinning and tumbling...had it since 1962. Sometimes I trip over it...but when that happens I just wrap it around my neck like a scarf.
Get the Breakthrough BIRD TAXIDERMY MANUAL from WASCO...it features complete skinning and processing of turkeys in great detail with explicit photos.You'll learn everything right there that you want to know and even not thought about asking.
~ ETCC
Pee-Ess...As George would say...'check the Archives' too...LOL.
...but I didn't find anything in the archives (ten pages) that addressed my particular question. Can any damage be done to the beard by leaving it attached during the preparation process?
Strands from the Beard CAN break off during the tumbling process. And if it scores in the books,personally,I would recomend that you simply use compressed air to dry them.Not saying that they CANT be tumbled,but there are Pro's and Con's to doing so!
Plus it could be a real mess getting all the tumbling mix out of the downy feathers on such a large bird. Just my opinion!
Have a great day,
Dave
take it off. go and order a couple of back issues of Breakthrough issue 67,70,68,66. these are the one that have the articles from cally morris on them and they are really good. he cuts the beard off and after the bird is down he gets a piece of wire and makes a small bend in it to form a L shape in it then he ties and wraps the beard to the L shape piece of wire and then just sticks it in where it belongs. good luck andy
I just got back from the WTC show where I watched Cally's seminar, and he does NOT remove the beards any more!
Personally, I have never removed them. They aren't visibly damaged by being tumbled (at least in my set-up) and I don't worry about drying them. I blow-dry the feathers around them but the beards dry fine by themselves.
Nancy M.
ANDY...HEY...this ain't no strip-klub ya no.
NANCY...I blow dry my beard too...on low heat. Use to use the blower end of the vaccum cleaner...but hate all that dirt in my face when the bags broke loose.
~ ETCC