I recently asked a question about straightening out goose feathers. Tony answered me and said to try carding or steaming. I tried steaming that did not work. I tried washing the wings, that did not work . I tried blowing them with a cool hair dryer, didn't work. I tried blowing with an air compresser, did't work. The goose is mounted flying, feathers are curled on the edges and seperated, can't seem to get all the saw dust out, I used a real fine sawdust I purchased from Hide and Beak. I don't want to card until I can sraighten them. Is there any other suggestions? Please help.
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Switch to corncob grit. Even the best sawdust has microscopic splinters hanging off. That combined with the veinlets or the feathers make it difficult to dislodge. I stopped having many of those problems when I switched over.
If they are loaded up with sawdust you can scratch it out, although it is time-consuming. Use a fingernail to VERY lightly scratch backwards along the quill, mostly from the underside. The sawdust will pop out. It is helpful to have an air source available at the same time so the dust doesn't just go on to some other part of the bird. Once the dust is gone you will have to do some preening and fussing to get the feathers smooth again, but it can be done. If the tips of the feathers are badly bent, such as from a bad tumbler experience, I dip them in boiling water. That will straighten them right out. Blot with paper towel, let dry, and preen if necessary.
You need to get that goose carded if it has been mounted for more than a couple of days! Feather problems can be dealt with even on a dry mount but if the follicles dry out of position you will have a major headache.
I just carded the goose. I will try to get the sawdust out later. Can I still dip the wings in boiling water after the mount is dry? Thankyou for your time Nancy. George, I have since changed the sawdust, Thankyou also. Sherry
It doesn't hurt to dip the wingtips on a dry mount. Obviously you don't want to get water on any of the skin, but the feathers are dead and it won't matter.
It is MUCH easier when the skin is still flexible, but occasionally ... well, things happen. I have had the feathers on mounts get bent for one reason or another and used the hot water dip to straigten them out with great success - even years after they were done.
Hint: on larger birds it is easier to bring the water to the bird rather than vice/versa. This may seem completely obvious to everybody else but I was a little slow catching on.
Thanks again for your help. You saved me big time. Sherry