I really don't know anything about taxidermy, but I have a large bird in my freezer that was electricuted on a fence. I have dried its wings in borax, which worked pretty well, although there is still a smell. I would like to preserve the skull but don't know how. Do I boil it after removing the skin? If so, what's the best way of removing the skin?
Thank you very much for your time.
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You probably have found some sort of Migratory Bird,which is illegal to have in your possession. Best get rid of it before some Wildlife Agency comes calling. You could end up with large fine and even worse-jail time.
First off, find out to see if it is legal for you to keep the bird. Most birds in the US are protected and cannot be kept. If indeed your bird is legal, the best way to do this skull is to skin it, remove as much flesh carefully as you can and then lay it out to where insect can get to it. A wirecage works great. It lets the insects work on your skull and at the same time it keeps critters like coons, cats, dogs and the like away from it. You can also soak the skull in a tub of water but keep a close eye on it. Birds have very fine bones around their beak which can easily get either lost or come completely loose if they are over macerated. Stay away from all boiling. It will damage the skull, especially on a bird.