I have a nasty rooster that I want to do in and utilize his feathers for my fly tying stock. What's the best way to harvest them in clumps or hakle style pieces. And how and what do I use to preserve the skin that holds the feathers together? I have no training in this department.
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
You can peel the skin off and the feathers will stay attached. Just cut around the parts you want to save. Visible layers of fat should be scraped or cut away, then apply plenty of borax to the skin side and let the pieces dry completely (skin side up) until they are hard. Protect them from insects like you would any of your fly-tying materials.
Nancy M.