Got carried away

Submitted by Donna on 8/1/04 at 4:09 PM. ( DreamcatcherTaxidermy@hotmail.com ) 67.192.52.28

O.kay, here's what I've done. I've ripped the head off a duck.
I was skinning this mallard drake and for a moment forgot I was dealing with a bird and pulled a tad to hard and the head (skull and all) popped off. Can I sew this back together and have the mount look okay, or should I ditch the bird and get another.?

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Get another

This response submitted by George on 8/1/04 at 4:28 PM. ( georoof@aol.com ) 152.163.253.100

Some of my bird friends will say you can sew it on and you'll never see the difference. What they DON'T tell me is that I could if I was as good as they were. Considering that you forgot what you were dealing with and pulled the head off in the first place, I'm figuring you're not as good as they are either. Do what I do and get another.


Sew It

This response submitted by James Parrish on 8/1/04 at 6:05 PM. ( ) 68.156.52.144

I'm one of those bird guys that says sew it back on. Be careful and make sure everything is aligned properly. Sew it with small thread and tiny stitches. Don't pull them too tight or you will see the seam.


Too funny ,,,WAY TO FUNNY

This response submitted by Wally on 8/1/04 at 10:08 PM. ( muthagoose@hotmail.com ) 216.251.183.17

Stick with deer heads if you forgot that it was a bird


give it a try

This response submitted by Waterfoul Unlimited on 8/1/04 at 11:06 PM. ( LISAM508@aol ) 64.12.116.134

I would give it a try for craps&grins. If it looks like crap, get another bird. But if it looks good You will be a better Taxidermist.


Super glue is a wonderfull thing

This response submitted by Scott on 8/2/04 at 3:23 PM. ( HodgesDuckdock@aol.com ) 69.40.101.240

Depending on the pose you chose for the mallard, the way I would fix the neck is to super glue it back together. Go ahead and finish preparing the skin as usuall with the head detached. When you get ready to mount [this is easier to do with a flying mount] go ahead and do all of your wiring as normal sow the bird up and then slide the head and neck skin down to meet the skin on the bird. This is usually the last thing I do, go ahead and set him up get everything done get your head and neck like you want and then when you have him mounted go back and put a thin bead of super glue on either the head side or the body side of the tear, not on both side you don't want to much glue. Then get it all lined up and start touching your skin together being carefull not to get glue on your feathers, start and go all the way around touching skin to skin, don't let the glue stick to your necking material as this will mess up your ability to taxi the skin after the tear is fixed. This method works best for me as it does not leave a wrinkle in the skin and feathers as the skin dries.


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