again folks, looking for some help. this forum is a god send for a rookie taxidermist. my question is this, what is the secret to mounting dove and , or, quail without the exessive loss of feathers?
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO DOVES GET READY FOR ALOT OF HEADACHE AND GET YOUR KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE SO THEY DON'T HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. THEY ARE DIFFICULT AT BEST. QUAIL ARE A LITTLE LESS FINICHY BUT STILL DIFFICULT. TAKE YOUR TIME AND SKIN THEM SLOWLY. MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE LATE SEASON QUAIL AS TO AVOID THE PIN FEATHERS. IT CAN BE DONE JUST GO SLOW.
is the key. I also use a very smooth surface during the skinning process. A rough table top can contribute to feather damage. Try to invert the skin only once. Repeated inverting can really create challenges particularily in the neck and on the wings. If the birds are excellent specimens and not shot full of holes, avoid washing the skin if possible - this does not mean you ignore removing fat and grease, but washing and drying are also places where feathers dislodge. If you wash the skin, blot dry with a soft towel - do not wring out and tumble. When drying, use a very low volume of air. All this is not to say that they are impossible - I do a number of quail each year - fewer doves. Just pay a little more attention to soft handling - do not force the skin where it does not want to go and you will do fine. I would encourage you to do a few of each before you try a customer bird. Better to error during practice. Good Luck.