I was wondering if you would comment on bird incesions. Do you generally make your cut on waterfoul from the vent to the breast bone or from leg to leg? Also, how do you cut a turkey. I would also appreciate your reason.
thank you very much
Roy
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Well, Roy....
For waterfowl, I use the standard ventral incision (breastbone to vent) I also use this on pheasants and other upland birds. I am in the process of changing the incision on turkeys to the leg to leg method. I still have a bunch of the old ventral cut ones to finish but the new arrivals are skinned crosswise.
Cranes are also skinned crosswise, but over the back instead of under the belly. I cut a ring around where the feathers stop on the legs, and then go up and over. This is so the legs can be cast or mounted and sculptured to the form, painted, and securely fastened to the base before I deal with the rest of it. Same method for eagles. (and competition mounts, but that's a secret!)
Birds that don't wash very well, like doves and some pigeons, cockatoos and cockatiels, I cut under the wing.
That's about all the versions and situations that I can think of.
I don't really think that the incision is all that important in the long run. If the skin is clean and dry, the feathers will cover an incision almost anywhere. Well, ... excepting ostriches, but those are a whole 'nother can of worms.
Nancy M.
Thank you very much. I would love to see your bird work and I do appreicate my answer and all the other comments you share.
Roy