You duck guys have my respect. I just skinned and fleshed a mallard for my son. How do I put this....Fleshing wet tissue paper would have been easier. I have the heavy duty flesher from Van Dykes doubled the soft wire wheels. I don't know what was worse the burn throughs (had 4) or the damn pin feathers. I have never seen anything so thin and delecate. I have fleshed quail and pheasants on the thing with no problems but ducks....damn. Bought this flesher because I burnt the motor out of my other fleshing a turkey. Is there a secret to ducks. I went slow and was very gentle. I 4 small burn throughs bad for a duck? They were only the size of a dime each.
Just wondering.
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Think that was bad wait till you try a woodduck. Puddle ducks are so fragile when your skinning and fleshing them, diving ducks seem to be alot easier for me. One thing I tried was soon as I got a hole I would sew it up right away so that it wouldn't get any bigger later on like during washing. Seems to work well.
Good Luck Rich
A lot depends on the area of the nird skin and the direction your working the quill tips..yur going to find out the keel bone os best worked out from center and the tail inverted working twords the head..flanks head to tail..ect ect [practice is the only way to learn this OR pay someone to show ya
I use a 6" soft wheel and course borax to work as a rubbing compound and a fat remover.. go mutiple pass's and different directions very lightly and it wont burn through. yep wait till ya get to a woodduck their easy..IF you go slow and soft dont be in a hurry or treat the hide like a deer cape...
this helps strengthen up the skin makes it easier. try it, goodluck.
Mix some bactericide with water in a spray bottle and as you're fleshing keep the flesh side dripping wet. I took some private lessons from a really good bird guy and this was his "secret". You probably think I'm crazy, but it is amazing how well it works.
Also make sure all of the wires on the wire wheel are even, it you get one sticking out it can grab and rip a hole in your bird.
Good luck. BP