Taxidermy question for birds

MJE2083 · Dec 15, 2016

Forgive me for my ignorance, simple question. How do you dress/prepare a bird for a taxidermist? Do you just take the whole bird to the shop (entrails and all) or does it have to be gutted out? Can it be eaten?

I'd like to some day have some ducks, or maybe a grouse, mounted for the house. Obviously I have no knowledge of the process what so ever and I don't want to do anything that would screw things up.

Thanks!

Art Vandeley · Dec 15, 2016

You take them in whole.

406LIFE · Dec 15, 2016

Other thoughts:
1. Clean all the blood off, it can stain feathers.
2. tuck the head under the wings if possible.
3. cover head with moist paper towel.
4. cover vent with papertowel to prevent it from leaking on feathers.
5. make sure you double bag the bird so that no air can circulate around it. This is the biggest killer of feet.
6. I put mine in pantyhose to keep the feathers all straight and pointed in one direction. I take care to make sure the head is ok. Some taxidermist don't like this method, but I've put a lot of birds on the wall and no problem yet.
7. get to taxidermist within a couple of years. The sooner the better the mount.

7mm08mo · Dec 15, 2016

I've pus a few birds on the wall and have done the same things 406 said.

1_pointer · Dec 16, 2016

406LIFE said:
Other thoughts:
1. Clean all the blood off, it can stain feathers.
2. tuck the head under the wings if possible.
3. cover head with moist paper towel.
4. cover vent with papertowel to prevent it from leaking on feathers.
5. make sure you double bag the bird so that no air can circulate around it. This is the biggest killer of feet.
6. I put mine in pantyhose to keep the feathers all straight and pointed in one direction. I take care to make sure the head is ok. Some taxidermist don't like this method, but I've put a lot of birds on the wall and no problem yet.
7. get to taxidermist within a couple of years. The sooner the better the mount.

For the most part, this is what I've done. If possible, I try as hard as I can to get them to the taxidermist as soon as possible.

glass eye · Dec 16, 2016

I'm 54 and have been mounting birds since I was 12.

Tuck head against the body so that when it freezes the neck won't break like a twig.
Do NOT wrap in newspaper, or any paper. It draws out the moisture and will speed up freezer burn.
Do NOT vacuum seal, it will draw the blood and fluids out onto the feathers, and the checkered pattern on the bag will be branded into the feathers, feet, and bill.
I prefer to wrap in multiple layers of cellophane, squeezing the air out as I go.

glass eye · Dec 16, 2016

PS. Do NOT place in a pantyhose, nothing good comes of it, only bad.

Poke 'Em · Dec 22, 2016

MT Muley said:
You take them in whole.

Does that not violate wanton waste laws?

mdunc8 · Dec 30, 2016

You can ask your taxidermist to save the meat.

406LIFE · Dec 30, 2016

mdunc8 said:
You can ask your taxidermist to save the meat.

Some (mine) are generally unwilling to do this as they are not certified to store meat for consumers. Health laws and all.

Taxidermy question for birds

MJE2083

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