Greenhorn needs more Details for how to Wash

Submitted by susan on 3/26/06 at 1:10 PM. ( susanchernak@aol.com ) 65.117.89.253

Okay, I've read every post about washing bird skins, and I am still confused a bit about washing. Here's my question(s): Do you fill up a sink with Dawn (or your favorite wash compound), and just submerge the whole skin? What if you are leaving the skull on the body? Drench that also?

Some posts have talked about washing the outside, then the inside. Sheesh, how do you wash one side and then the other?

Can you get the feet and wings wet?

I've ordered videos on all this, which are in the mail, but it is clear to me that you folks are a giant wealth of knowledge far past videos.

I'm a one-woman, do-it-mostly-in-the-sink-and-garage-and-dry-it-in-the -closet operation. Have to do everything by hand and with no machinery , but am meticulous and patient, and have a strong desire to learn.

Thanks so much for your input!

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Scrub lightly with brush

This response submitted by Pat on 3/26/06 at 1:32 PM. ( cuts@jps.net ) 66.245.8.137

I wash in a plastic tub in the sink in the garage. Stick the bird in the tub and fill with warm water. Use a lot of dawn. Then I start brushing the inside area with a dish brush and an old tooth brush in small areas. Do the inside a few times making sure all looks good and if you see an place with some fat, get your siccors and remove. I also check the incision area. Always seems to be a little to remove there. Change water a few times and soap while doing the inside. Start on the outside checking where the holes are and feeling for hard blood. Work these areas softly. After you think it's clean then starts the rinse. Dump the soap and fill with clean water. Shake the tub and pat down on the bird aggitating.Keep dumping the water and adding new. Do this until you think your wasting a lot of water and going overboard then your done. Do soap in sight.Squeeze out all water by hand then wrap in towel gently and put in spin cycle in wash machine for a few mins. Then go from there. Good luck, Pat


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