Hey Guys,
I have a few days old skull (fleshed out and ants currently eating out) with intact antlers.
I just want to have an intact skull and antlers clean and suitable for display,
Please help out a beginner. I have read some of the archives, but not got any real answers.
Many thanks in advance.
Iain.
Return to Deer Taxidermy Category Menu
She went to the archive and searched just like you said you did, and look what she found.
Maceration Method
Submitted by PLTannery on 4/8/06 at 7:34 PM. ( shelby@promiselandranch.net ) 64.146.187.232
Been reading up on skull cleaning and wanted to try the water soaking route until I get my shop set up and ready for beetles. Also I have several skulls that are slightly rotten and not suitable for beetles. SO my questions are...
1. How do you get the brain out for both methods(beetles and water)? or does it matter when you soak them?
2. How likely is a Newborn lamb skull to fall apart because the bones are not fused yet?
3. Can you Bag and Rot and skull to pop the horn caps off before you soak it or will the horn caps be ok in the water?
4. I have read conflicting info... Do the horn caps need to be removed before putting the skull in with the beetles(if so how?) Or will the beetles not eat them?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Shelby
Return to Beginners Taxidermy Category Menu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What I do
This response submitted by John on 4/8/06 at 7:40 PM. ( Brownstaxidermy@satx.rr.com ) 24.243.46.224
1. How do you get the brain out for both methods(beetles and water)? or does it matter when you soak them? As the skull soaks the brain will turn to mush and just run out eventually.
2. How likely is a Newborn lamb skull to fall apart because the bones are not fused yet? Have no Idea! ?
3. Can you Bag and Rot and skull to pop the horn caps off before you soak it or will the horn caps be ok in the water? Yes, but don't leave the caps in the water too long. They should come off after a couple of days of soaking.
4. I have read conflicting info... Do the horn caps need to be removed before putting the skull in with the beetles(if so how?) Or will the beetles not eat them? Take them off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rotting
This response submitted by Mike on 4/8/06 at 9:17 PM. ( ) 209.206.208.140
I used the double plastic bag method on a couple bear skulls last fall, without soaking them, and it worked well. I just sealed up the skulls in the bags so they wouldn't dry out and the bugs found their way in and took care of things outside. The only drawback I found to the rotting method is that the teeth fall out and need to be glued back, keep track of the teeth!
I was able to rinse off most of the remains after rotting about 1 month, with a garden hose, this is when it gets tricky with the teeth. I then soaked the skulls in Rittels degreaser for a couple days, changed to clean water and more degreaser, and a couple more days, cleaning off the residue between soakings with hot water.
Can't help you with the lamb's skull ques. either. Good luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here ya go...
This response submitted by Raven on 4/8/06 at 10:06 PM. ( ) 24.150.168.143
1. Put a bend in the end of a stiff wire... then put the other end in a drill. Insert the wires bent end into the formaen magnum (the opening where the spinal cord enters the brain case. Rev it up and jellify the brain. Run it for aminute and really work it around good in there. Then tip it over and you'll end up with a thick creamy pinky grey ooze that pours out the back. Not removing the brain is amateurish big time.. it is incredibly high in fat and by the time it turns to mush you have impregnated the bone with oils and makes degreasing even harder to do properly.
2. Dont use maceration on frail specimens or young specimens unless you dont mind gluing them back together afterwards. Immature specimens are almost guaranteed to fall apart during maceration. The bacteria eat the cartilage as much as the meat, unlike beetles which will avoid cartilage until VERY hungry, prefering meat instead.
3. bagging horns or some other removal method is preferable. The bacteria will dissolve connective tissue yes... but also can break down the keratin and hair in the horn. By bagging the bacteria are limited in contact area to the connective tissue INSIDE the horn... not the entire surface of it.
4. Beetles can and will eat horn material but at differing rates. Again as above its not thier favoured food source. Wrap the horns tightly in foil... plastic wrap etc then tape tightly around the bases. While this isnt a prevemtative method entirely - its a mild deterent... the concept being the beetles will seek out easier food before workign through plastic etc to get what is a secondary food source (hor) anyway. Make the meat easily accessible and appealing and everything else ... not so much.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
one note about brains
This response submitted by Raven on 4/8/06 at 10:38 PM. ( ) 24.150.168.143
If you switch over to using beetles... you can leave more brain matter in there... the entire thing in small animals even. Beetles love the higher fat content and although it can make a bit of s stinky mess, if you keep it from going moldy etc, you can get a nice little population explosion from brain left inside...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
This response submitted by PLTannery on 4/9/06 at 10:11 AM. ( shelby@promiselandranch.net ) 64.146.187.245
Thanks to everyone who replied. That really answered my questions.
Thanks Again,
Shelby
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.hidetanning.net/SkullCleaning.html