Hi - I have a couple of grouse tails which were dried and not fanned out first. Is there any way to make them pliable so they can be fanned out?
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Put a wet paper towel on the root and stick them in a plastic bag overnight. If the meat wasn't removed they may be very stinky (!) but they will soften up eventually. Once they soften, you would be better off pulling the feathers out and arranging them without the skin on them. You can hold them in place with some masking tape and use hot glue to secure the quills together. You can even shape it (cautiously!) with a wet finger before it gets completely hard.
Thanks for the information. I appreciate your help.
Place the tail in a dixie cub filled with some water and abit of fabric softener till soft, then run the quills over a soft wire weel until there is only a small amount of membrain holding the quills together, then soak until soft enough to spread.
I bondo my tails together at the base. This seal in nsome bad odors in these cases