Positioning Duck Feathers

Help! Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a pintail (my own), that I am doing. I had to make an incision in the neck to turn the head. Now after sewing up the neck, the fine neck and head feathers are kind of separating showing the cut and stitches. Does anyone have any suggest how to hold the feathers till the skin dries? I have read about the old methods of wrapping string around it. Does this work? Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Kimberly

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You pulled the skin to tight

You probably pulled the stitches to tight, and maybe trapped the feathers inside the incision. The best way to sew up the head skin is to get the feathers wet and keep the stitches very small and only tight enough to close and pull the sides together.
I have always kept the stitches about 1/2 the length of the feather/hair apart on anything I sew up. Duck heads I would maybe go a little closer with a very small needle and fine thread.
To fix the head now, you will need to rehydrate the skin and remove the stitches and sew it again. Then, dry the feathers with a hair dryer on low heat, or no heat, and arrange them while they dry.
I use latex caulk under the skin of my birds to keep the skin in place and keep a smooth look to the heads and necks. It also allows me to adjust the skin a lot and it stays where I put it. Around the incision you will have to keep it away until it is sewn, but then you can squish it under the incision after it is done. this will hold it together as well amd keep it in place so you will not have to pull the stitches so tight.

you shouldnt make any incision in neck

you can turn the head without cutting it skin around bill pill it back down the head then skin rest of duck cut head off pull body out if your using original bill just skin all the way to beak still there will be only your belly cut to so

use masking tape

tape your feathers down with wide masking tape as drying it wont stick to feathers and it will dry good in place

call me with any questions

call my shop at 903-465-6626 with any questions

dont put caulk under any bird feathers

all you have to use is tape i have won many titles with just tape to keep feathers in place plus it is to messy

Thanks a bunch

Thanks a bunch guys for all the suggestions I will rehyd the head and neck and give it a try.
Kimberly