the upper arm bone on my mallard was totally blown into so i just removed it. can it still be mounted properly in a standing position. ive heard of people not even wiring the wings on a standing mount. is that a good ideal and is it harder or easier to get the wings to lay right? ive had trouble in the past with my wings not wanting to lay down right in the pocket when i wired them. thanks for the help.
mike ligons
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Where's Nancy when you need her? LOL. I don't wire my wings either, but having said that, I do replace any bones that are destroyed and repair those that are broken. Popsicle sticks and candy apply spikes work great. Smaller birds I insert a toothpick in the broken bone and slide the other over it to form a repair. If your wings aren't laying right, bet it's one of two things. You don't have the wing "shoulder" far enough forward or you don't have the "elbows" up high enough.
I've been at the Grand National pigeon show for 4 days, George, but I'm finally back. Whew! Small this year, only 3600 birds, but still...
Now, as to what to do with a smashed wing...
Mike, I agree that the broken bones should be repaired or even replaced if neccesary. I use wire of various sizes instead of wooden sticks, but the principle is the same. I normally invert the wings except on very large birds, so if the wing is badly broken near the wrist All of the bones come out. In that case, I make a wire elongated oval to replace the radius and ulna. It has a small circle at the elbow end (like on a safety pin) where I attach another wire to replace the humerus. That whole assembly is sewed to the manus area by stitching through the tendons that remain there.
If only the humerus is missing, I would replace it with a wire that was bent in half and twisted together. A little string can go through the folded end and tie it to the elbow joint. "Beef it up" a little with a few wraps of tape so that it matches the other side and you're in business. You can then wire it or pin it as you wish.
Nancy M.
Mike the only wire I use on standing birds is a short wire in the shape of a 7. Part goes into the bone and part into the form. This keeps the wing in place but gives you total rotation of the wing. Work the wing into position and then pin it to dry. I find it allot easier than wiring the entire wing.