I did a flying goose today. the bird came out awsome except for the feathers on the wings where I made the incision to clean out the wing I think a large canada is too large to invert the wing and if you do it trashes the wing featers so bad. What do you do so these feathers look like they the way they were. I tryed steam, I taped the feathers before I started. I just cant get it. My customers dont see it and love my birds but this Irritates me to no end. Help
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The tape my cause a problem leaving some glue. I use borax as soon as I make the incision and right after I wash to help keep them clean. Try to pick a good line to follow right unde a row of the longest feathers for the incision. When I mount I card the top and bottom of the wings. I'm no expert but this works for me. Jeff
I always had the problem with the feathers on the underside of the wing. So I started to invert the wing, and it is very tough but it can be done. Once you have fleshed the bird, you can turn the wing right side out, and be sure to load tons of Dawn soap on those fine little wing feathers. If they have any grease on them at all, they will split and fray. For me, it is way too difficult to keep those little feathers clean if there was an incision under the wing.
On flying geese and turkeys, I invert the wings. Never had a problem.
I also invert mine and don't have any problems.
Card and tape once wings are positioned.
I like the incision underneath/leaving feathers attached to ulna. I figure that if i have to open the tip, i might as well open underside and do the whole thing that way. but both methods work.
as far as splitting feathers...little grease still. just clean out better and wash better and when tumbling, put your sawdust in the wings to soak up moisture. and don't sew too tight - it will look great
good luck
brian