Getting down feathers on backs to lay properly on ducks

I have been having trouble getting the backs of my ducks to lay down properly. I always have down feathers sticking up and out of place. I preen, sometimes for hours, and they always seem to pop up again. I wash in Dawn, rinse, degrease, rinse, then tumble by hand. The bird comes out fluffy and dry, but after mounting, the feathers just won't lay right. I would appreciate any help offered. Thanks Gary

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Back feathers

When you put your bird skin on the wheel pay close attention to the feather butts in the back area. These feather butts are not long. They are not obvious, but there is membrane on them and a thin layer of fat between the quills. Clean it good and the feathers will respond better. Also back blow with air and the feathers will line up better. If it is really dry and the quills are free to move the feathers will lay well and not show down.
Tony

One more thing

In addition to what Tony said, make sure that the skin isn't drying out before you want it to. The back skin is super-thin on a duck and can get to the crispy stage before you even get the incision closed.
Moisten it again just before you sew it up.
Provided you have fleshed, washed, and dried it properly, that should solve your problem. (Assuming the form is the right size.)

along with those..

Along with what Tony and Nancy said, if it happens and you have already mounted the bird, wrap some thin posterboard over the back and around the bottom, and staple it so it forces the back feathers down. Then, after two weeks, it should have dried into place.

I have had the same problem

Not to take away from the comments of Tony, Nancy and Chris because its all true but in many cases what I see is the down at base of the quills on the larger feathers sticking up because the feathers that cover them are gone. If a few feathers are missing from the back it gets tough to cover the entire base of those quills with the tiled feather ahead of it therefore exposing the down. You can move feathers around to hide them and do what Chris suggested. I see allot of birds missing feathers on the back from pellet damage and handling. Hunters a real a funny sort. I know because Im one of them. They like to lay the birds on their backs on the seat while they hunt so they can look at them. Freeze a bird to the seat and now you are missing back feathers. Dogs are also very tough on these feathers. I think back feathers are the ones that suffer the most from retrievers. Back feathers arent as forgiving as breast feathers.

One of the other big problems can be how rough you get on the bird when you mount it too. A bird sitting on its back on a hard table when you are putting allot of pressure on it while inserting the form and wires can bend those feathers and make them difficult and almost imposible to preen properly. Always set them on a towl at that point and it will be easier on the feathers. Also be gentle when you are doing you preliminary fleshing with a scisors and using your fingers under the skin. Always remember that there are feathers there. I found that if i slow down and take my sweet time and try to be as gentle as possible I end up with a much better bird.

Really this could go on and on... if you use too large of a form and try to stretch the skin on that will also displace back feathers along with other feathers. Hopefully your not doing that. Always check your form and make sure it will fit without trying to pull the skin too hard when you sew it up.

Body too big

Hi Gary, There is also the possibility that you are using too big of form. This will elongate the body skin causing the down feathers to stick out. Once mounted, always move the skin forward to get the feathers to lay in place. Hope this helps.

next time you skin a duck

check at the rear edge of the wing and see where it is attached to the carcass,under the inner edge of the wing next to the body. Make sure that when you mount the duck you get the skin back in place properly. I have found that if my humerus is cut to long it doesnt allow me the loose skin I need on the back to "taxi" the skin for a proper fit. In other words the skin is pulled out of place and I can't close the feathers enough to hide the down. Hope this helps.

Thanks to all of you,Very Much

I've taken bits and pieces from everyone, and have had tremendous results to my biggest problem

Thanks so very much

Gary