Bird skin cure question

[Mad Mikey]

I got a beaut of a Ruffed yesterday, big adult with full plumage. Thought it would be a shame to just eat him and toss the hide.

I used to skin birds a lot, back when I was younger. I'd salt up the hide and tack it somewhere Ma wouldn't bump into and the method worked quite well(unless Ma' found it, but that's another story... )

Even with my fumble fingers I managed to not muck it up except I wasn't able to get the head feathers and top notch off correctly.

Getting the stuff around the wing was always difficult, I seem to end up having to leave a tiny chunk of flesh around the bone though. Although the salt will do the trick I'd like to get it dried out quickly and tack to a board for the wall.

If I stuck it in the oven at say 100-110 degrees F for an hour or so would that do the trick?

Don't worry, I don't think Ma' will mind since she lives a few hours away now....

[Chesapeake]

Do it up with Borax just like you would salt a cape.

[Limbhanger]

Dont put it in the oven!!
Flesh all the meat and fat off the skin. Make sure to trim the oil gland at the base of tail out and flesh between the tail feathers good. You should probably skin the wings down to atleast the elbow joint and get the meat off the bones.
Then either rub an even mix of salt/borax or straight borax like Chesapeake mentioned into the skin.
After you do that, lay it skin side down on cardboard and pin the wings and tail in the desired position until dry.
There is some work involved, but it should turn out pretty nice. Post up a pic when its done.


Good luck!!

[BrotherWolf]

Originally Posted by Limbhanger

Dont put it in the oven!!
Flesh all the meat and fat off the skin. Make sure to trim the oil gland at the base of tail out and flesh between the tail feathers good. You should probably skin the wings down to atleast the elbow joint and get the meat off the bones.
Then either rub an even mix of salt/borax or straight borax like Chesapeake mentioned into the skin.
After you do that, lay it skin side down on cardboard and pin the wings and tail in the desired position until dry.
There is some work involved, but it should turn out pretty nice. Post up a pic when its done.


Good luck!!

Ditto!

[Oregon-Jet]

straight borax Dont let it dry untill you are done fleshing it and ready to mount.



Hey Mike I did a few birds last year, I will get a hold of you.