What do you prefer as a feather dryer, borax or corn cob grit? I've been using borax for the past few years and found that it works pretty good. Recently I made a switch over to the grit. It seems to me that the grit dries the bird a lot quicker in the tumbler but I have experienced some significant feather damage in the primaries and secondaries of waterfowl. Just want to hear some opinions. Thanks.
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For the exact reason you listed. I'd be willing to bet that your feathers were damaged NOT because of grit but (1) there's a gap in your baffles catching the feathers, or (2) you don't have enough medium in the barrel. It needs to be at least half full or you end up bouncing your birds around instead of tumbling them.
In my 55 gal. tumbler I have only about 15lbs. of medium. How many pounds do you feel would be adequate.
I just get a bag full and tilt the barrel. I dump it in until it touches the top of the back and the lip at the same time. I'm too old to measure. LOL
However many lbs. it takes to fill your tumbler up halfway. HEHEHEHE!