I have a possible job mounting up some farm chickens and want to know what type of foam body would work, or should I wrap my own. Also can I use the birds live head or should I reproduce a artificial one.
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I've done a lot of them over the years and here's what I do. I order the game hen bodies from McKenzie. That's going to fit your bantam type chickens rather well. For the Rhode Island Reds and larger breeds, I use the XL Canada goose bodies and carve them down to the proper size. I PERSONALLY, don't like the wrapped body, but if you're good at it, go for it. I'd also suggest casting your own artificial heads from the real ones or buying them. WASCO has a good selection and I know Tony Finazzo makes a couple more. You CAN use the real heads, but the combs offer lots of problems. If you do decide to use the real ones, remove it as if you were going to use an artificial and then resculpt the comb and set the eyes before reinstalling it in your bird after it dries.
Kasey,
I cast chicken heads of all breeds using a combination of both hard and soft urethane rubbers in a seamless construction. This makes the combs and wattles flexible and they feel real. You can see my work on www.runningkfarm.com/TaxidermyStudio.html You can email me for the prices, painted or unpainted. Thanks, Kimberley
Sounds like kim has some nice heads,but if you want, you can use the real head.some pheasant bodies are very close,and there are even a numder of laying hen bodies.George....xl honker body?honker...waterfowl.....chickens....not. why not just a piece of foam to carve a body.people do the crazyist stuff!