What size neck material and approximate length should I use for a peacock? This is my first and, believe it or not, the bird came to me already skinned. I can deal with the skinning job but I don't have a reference for the neck size and length. I am no peacock expert but it looks mature and the owner said it was an old bird. Thanks in advance!
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OK,
since you don't have the origonal neck for reference, continue to flesh, wash, dry, and preserve the skin. then try laying the bird out and posistion the skin till it looks like the natural length. If you don't know what it should look like then get some refernce photos of live birds, you can find a lot by google image searching, or find a book with pictures or even a live bird would help. measure from behind the skull to the shoulders then add a couple of inches. It is always easier to take away length then trying to add on. as for the diameter, most upland bird necks are a little smaller than the diameter if the head. they are never larger than the head. i beleive a peacock neck is the same or larger than a mallard neck 1" - 1 1/2" in diameter. Try out diferent sizes if it slides in too easily go a size larger till it fits. back to the length. after attaching the neck to the head and to the body, pull the skin over the body and play with it, see how it fits, pull out your reference photos again, does the wings lay where they are supposed to? does the neck look to long? If so take an inch or 2 away from the neck and pull the skin over again to see how it looks and reapeat as needed. since you don't have the body i would also recomend fitting the body in the skin before mounting.
Hope this helps
CB