tumbling birds

have you tryed a gun smith that carrys reloading supplys they use corn cob grit to polish brass

 

I stopped using corn cobs some time ago. Go and get some hardwood shavings, place the bird in and tumble with your hands. It doesn't get it as dry but it does remove a large portion of the water. Here is another that some might throw up on but it does work... After you wash the bird put it in the washing machine and put it on spin dry (make sure your wife is not around......LOL). This works but you have to be careful on putting it in so the feather don't break. Then there is the last thing .....just spend more time with the blow dryer...

 

I just pay the shipping and don't worry about it. 40 lbs of corn cob dust will tumble a crap load of birds. My cost per bird for the product and shipping is probably 25-50 cents. I much prefer it over hardwood shavings. The product is made for blasting. It's possible a sandblasting company might carry it, or know who handles it locally.

 

This is some good advice here and you do have options

The hard wood chips is good and there is nothing wrong with it....I started with this method. What drove me nuts was how difficult it was to get out of the down. The little fiber ends on the chips really like to hold on. The other thing that concerned me about the wood chips is that all woods has a natural sap or pitch. Yes, the hard woods have a lot less than your pin varieties. I just didn't want to take the chance. I am not saying it's wrong or should not be done. Lot's of folks have no issues with the wood chips and that awesome. This is just my two cents about the wood.

Putting the skin in the washer on spin cycle does an awesome job. There is very little water left after that process. Your bird skin is cleaner than the dirty close that gets washed every day in the washer.

Another option you have is powdered borax.....head down to the local store and go to the laundry detergent section and you will see 20 mule team borax. You can drop the bird and a lot of borax into a plastic bag, add some air to inflate, twist tight and roll the bird around. You can also get a big cookie sheet filled with borax and then lay the bird right in it. Cover the bird with borax, pick up, shake out and repeat. Lots of my bird friends use this method. This gets a lot of surface water out and then you just spend a little more time with the blow dryer.

You could even start blow drying after the bird comes out of spin cycle.

Best Wishes and Good Luck!!!

 

If there is a company in your area that makes pallets that is a good place to get very fine hardwood sawdust. I have used it for almost 40 years. It's oak, works great, and they have always given it to me.

 

x2 Joeym

 

Here's an option and shipping doesn't cost a thing, don't tumble. I don't tumble any birds. Only blow dry them.

 

X2

Prior to blow drying and after the rinse cycle(s) I roll up the bird in a towel and that gets a lot of the water out.
I actually do the towel wind up twice with separate towels. It really doesn't take that long to blow dry them.
I am not doing a lot of birds so if takes me an extra "10" minutes to blow dry VS tumble, it is no big deal for me.

 

X3
And depending on your schedule ... I like to put the bird in the second towel in a plastic bag . Over night in the fridge pulls most of the water out of the feathers.....

 

Research has a free shipping day in summer sometime. I stock up on drift wood and corn cob grit then.