I am having a lot of trouble folding the wings of standing ducks. The pocket feathers want to hang downward rather than up. I think the forms I am getting are a little too big. I am ordering them from McKenzie Supply. Any input or advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Are you wiring your wings? I never do on a standing bird and that allows me to push the wings up higher toward the back of the body. I know that Joe Ferebee hasn't changed his mannikins and they don't give me any problems.
always measure your carcass you take out and replace with the same or siliar size.dont always ordewr a mallard body for a mallard.sizes will vary.pay no attention to the species name for the body just compare sizes when ordering.
I don't wire my standing bird's wings either. You get those wings folded up nice and high, and tape or pin them folded up! Then, start pulling the side pocket feathers up, and you can even tape the pocket feathers into whatever position you need them. Tape can be your best tool sometimes!
I love Joe Ferebee's mannikins. But, like bw, I ALWAYS order by size and not by species. Joe's bodies are almost always too big for the species they are supposed to be. There are severl other factors that lead to good side pockets. You need to have the skin well fleshed in that area to begin with. Then, when you are mounting the bird, you need to make sure that the leg does not stick out farther than the side of the mannikin. If the leg sticks out farther than the side of the mannikin, you need to either grind out the leg socket on the mannikin or add some polyfill to the side pocket ares.
As far aw wiring the wings on standing birds...I don't do it. What I do is cut the ball off the wing bone. Then, I take a piece of wire that is the length of the wing bone plus about 1-1.5 inches. Then, I stick the wire down inside the wing bone and bend it into an "L" shape. Then, I just sick the wire into the form at the attachment point. I do not secure it or cinch it to the form. This type of arrangement keeps the wing bone in the proper place and allows it to rotate anyway you need it to. Once I get my wings like I want them, I stick a pin thru the wrist until the bird is dry.
I like James's idea. I think I will try that on my next standing.
Thanx for the tip.