I guess it makes a difference if the birds frozen or not when its brought to you. But while doing a wash on a Canadian last night I found what looked to be about half of the bird was pin feathers. Needless to say after the first wash I had around 100 feathers floating in the sink. I said to myself" Not even gonna attempt this one". To bad it was a youngsters first goose. I mounted that same youngsters first duck a week prior and that bird was also terrible with pin feathers(hen woodduck), but it did turn out pretty nice with the exception of some missing neck feathers. I hope I don't put a bad taste in the customers mouth. I hate telling them that it ain't going to work because your specimen wasn't good enough, but I guess as a taxidermist its something I need to get used to with waterfowl. Especially woodducks I'm finding. This was my first bad goose.
Is there something you guys tell customers who bring in waterfowl as kind of a heads up to the customer, that nothings guarentee with young birds.
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We have Canada goose seasons that open on Sept.1 and early duck seasons open in September and early October for teal and woodies. I always have folks bring me birds from these early seasons. Sometimes, the birds are not too bad and can be mounted. If the birds are frozen, I explain that there may be pin feathers and that I will call them as soon as the bird thaws and I can examine it. If the bird is not frozen, I look over the bird and show them what pin feathers look like. If you are nice to the customers and educate them, you will not have any problems...unless they are just plain jerks anyway. Most times, when I turn down pin feathered birds, I will offer to purchase a legal (pen-raised) replacement for the customer (at their expense). Usually they turn it down and lots of times, they come back later in the season with a better bird.
If you are honest and up-front with your customers, they will respect you and if you take the time to educate them, it will pay off in the long run. I mean, it is hard to turn down work, but I would rather lose a few dollars now in return for a completely satisifed customer for years to come.
I need to start explaining to the customer when I take in a frozen bird about the pin feathers like you do. Supprised your customers buy them pen raised birds those things are expensive.
Most ALL early season Geese are Junk. They tend to be the juviniles of the early season and are full of pin feathers. You can never make the necks look nice and full. I refuse birds till the middle of Oct. Thats ususally when the "Flight Birds" start appearing in the area.
Michigans goose season has really been screwed up by the DNR. Sept.1-15 is the early season. Then it closes for a few days and reopens for another week. Its to kill out the locals. You hardly will ever get a nice bird to mount.
Then you have the late season in Jan. Now THATS when you get the nice mature birds to mount.
And a bit of advice, stay away from the Fall Turkeys for mounting as well.....at least the Toms. You'll usually have the same results as you would with the early Goose birds. Bald Brds after the wash.
Good Luck,
Dave
With your customer and explain to them the difference between a full plumage bird and a juvie.they will understand.And if they dont then ohwell.Better to turn down a few bucks than scar your rep.Mount a juvie.bird so you can show them the difference.If they actually see one mounted they will get the picture.Pen raised is a great altenative.I have alot of customers go for the pen raised especially if its a youngsters first.
I know how frustrating it is to thaw out a bird and find tons of pinfeathers. But if this goose is important to the boy, maybe you can work with him. You can suggest a pose that will hide the neck, like a comfortable or resting pose, where the neck is folded up. That way, he will still get his first goose mounted, and you will still get paid!