When a bird is mounted with the wings tucked in should they be wired?
Can they be positioned without wires then pinned into place?
Will they dry hard enough to hold their position?
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YES they will.
If this is one of your first birds, I would recommend against it.. Yes the wings will go into place fine without wire, and yes they will dry inplace with no worries. Place a few strategically placed pins to hold things in place that will be hidden and you will be fine.
The reason i recommend against it for beginners is, it gives you much more control if they aren't wired. It can be very discouraging to get everthing sewed up just to find out that your anatomy was wrong or some other thing that always go wrong.
Once you get birds under your belt and understand why and where things go where they do, then I would definatly recommend wiring your wings. It is the better way of doing things and does have it's advantages in the long run... but... you need to understand the mechanics behind it all. It's all about the learning process and curve.
Now.. if you are talking about a larger bird such as a turkey then yes those need to be wired regardless... Heavy wings will always need to be wired. But smaller species, you can get away without doing it.
Jon
I cut off the "ball" at the end of the wing bones and make a "L" shaped wire. One leg long enough to slide into the bone and the bend at the correct length. The other leg is an inch or two, depending on the size of the bird. I then push the one leg of the "L" in the body. This will allow the wing to swing free, but keep it in the proper location.
When posing the bird, unfold the wing, position the feathers and refold, using a pin to hold in place.
Works great!