Question about washing bird skins and feathers out of place
Whenever I wash a skin for mounting, the feathers - especially along the back - end up too "fluffy" and out of place showing alot of the underneath softer feathers - not nice and uniform like a live bird. I know all skins should be washed but when I do not, the feathers lay much more naturally. This may be a bit confusing......Basically it is like there aren't enough feathers to cover the down underneath....If I move or adjust one it just seems to leave the same problem next to it. Anyone want to give a shot at helping me?
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You're not getting them as clean as you think.
You're not degreasing. I like to use a liquid dish soap for grouse, pheasants, etc. You'll need a stronger degreaser for waterfowl.
You're not getting them completely dry.
You're using an oversized body. Birds won't take much stretch before those down feathers start showing.
I agree with everything cyclone says here. Wash twice or more if needed. Noone says you have to get it perfect the first time.
No rinse, rinse, rinse.
The last rinse I like to use a bucket, place bird in bucket fill with water shake the bucket around, pour the top few inches of water off the soap residue, refill and repeat until no soap is left
All of the above are potentials as well as the potential that the bird was immature, collected early in the season and thus full of pin feathers. So, if the feathers are sparse and intersperced with pin feathers the symptom you describe is the result - there are just not enough mature feathers to do the job. Lastly, in addition to washing, washing, washing and rinsing over and over, I put a cap full of Downy in the final rinse. Really works well for me. Good luck