Ok...I just finished my first bird and I got to say, you guys ARE working for nothing! After ruining my first two birds on the flesher, I was able to get through this one.....pretty much....without tearing too many holes.
I know I didn't get all the fat off of it, esecially in the neck area where I couldn't turn it completely because of using the original head. BUT.... I wanted to go through ALL the steps this time so I mounted this bird (looks pretty good) but what are the chances of this mount NOT getting bug infested?
I used Borax on every inch of the bird before putting it back together but I'm afraid it may not be enough. I knew the risks beforehand but I wanted to see if I could finish one completly.
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
When you wash with the soap it removes a lot of fat that you missed as long as you broke it up well with the wheel. If you dusted well with the Borax , it should be fine. I still have my first birds I did in 1999, a pair of green wing and they still look good. Even though I wasn't to sure what I was doing. Watched a Sally Dahmes video 3 times, then got after it. Have fun, it's nice to look at the progress of your work from year to year. Good luck, Pat
I just hope this one holds up.....
I kept my first duck for about 15 years it finally ended up in the back of the shed where i didnt have to look at the damn thing. The first couple of years i used to think it looked okay but the more i did, the worse it looked now i know all the experts say "keep it" to remind you where you come from but the birds i did a year later were bad enough for that so i through my first duck out it wasnt degreased very well and it wasnt wire wheeled either but it didnt get bug eaten in all that time so i think yours would be okay.
I would like to keep my first one to learn from all the mistakes that I KNOW I made on this one.