I like to rubber band all the toes except the middle one. Put it up against something solid while it dries. Then you have the bird giving you the bird and I use them in the garage to hang hats. It's pretty popular, get a lot requests from non hunting friends for one when I get my turkey.
Hello, i wanted to ask if there’s a way to make feet that are already stiff flexible again? I was giftet a crow leg that is already dry and would like to change the position a bit. :)
It may be very difficult to rehydrate the skin and connective tissue inside the leg and feet and then move it without damage. I heard it is easier to harvest another than to successfully move a previously dried bird leg. So, soaking it in water might make it pliable again, but it may also destroy it. It’s a risky move. When is crow season? May be time to add to the collection and dry some new ones.
What kind of salt would you use to preserve the color. I received a pair of yellow eagle talons from the Eagle repository as I am a Native American. I am new to working with talons so have next to no idea what to do
A non-iodine salt would probably be best for color preservation. I would try to keep salt or any other solution away from the skin and just use it on the cut area to wick away moisture
I am no taxidermist, so for me, a wing is not as easy. It requires more of a skinning, fleshing and drying process. I do not have a video but may "try" to make one if I get a turkey this season (which hasn't been working out so far). Basically, you cut the skin down the inside of the wing (the non-display side) all the way to the tip and peel it away from the muscle just like skinning any other animal. Then carefully flesh fat and meat from the skin. be careful no to flesh the feathers off. Wash it in dawn and dry it with a blow-dryer (low setting) on the feather side. Get some borax (I get mine from the Dollar Store laundry section) and sprinkle it over the inside of the skin. You also remove all the meat and connective tissue from the wing bones, and wash them (i use a small wire brush and also put them in boiling water for a minute.). If you separate the bones, you may need to drill and wire them together. Bones need to be ready before the skin, this way, the skin can be placed over the bones and stitched, stapled or pinned into place in the orientation you want to display them. The skin should dry stiff enough to hold he bones giving the skin structure when everything is dry. You may need to get creative depending on the display and stitch bones to the skin by looping thread around the bone several times while stitching the skin above and below the bone.
@@CamoMatrix I actually managed to do it. Super easy, hardest part was letting it dry. I think if I let it dry longer it would have turned out better but it turned out decent!
Not sure if this will help, but I actually started looking at how to preserve chicken wings with feathers. there are quite a few videos on that that hopefully could help with turkey.
you made a comment about iodized salt and preserving color, does iodized salt better preserve the color where regular salt will not? or is there a better way to do so?
You are correct with your guess. I use it because the iodine in iodized salt “may” alter color. With the turkey foot, it may not matter much but i keep it around for my deer hides so I just default to it.
Great idea very effective Im interested in your explanations I have a segul to preserve do you think this method will work for the whole bird. After wahing with salt fora few hours I was thinking now to hang it upside down in a box put salt all over as you have. Do you think the insides will dry up so I can stand it up in a glass box to keep I think it's a young one there's not much volume In the body And advice will be much appreciated Thankyou ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖
@@jennawolf5713 Was is an open air container where air could circulate? I use an open box and just packed the open joint with salt. I just checked mine ( the ones I did in the video are dry, stiff and don't smell).
@@jennawolf5713 I wonder if the salt didn't allow enough air circulation. I think I would get them out a the container and let them air out for a while longer.
I like to rubber band all the toes except the middle one. Put it up against something solid while it dries. Then you have the bird giving you the bird and I use them in the garage to hang hats. It's pretty popular, get a lot requests from non hunting friends for one when I get my turkey.
I have seen that. I like it!
Thank you for this! The box idea is genius.
I’m gonna try making a little lamp out of mine. Thanks for the info
Good idea!
This is awesome!!
Thanks! It does turn some heads
Thanks for the tutorial, i just got a egret leg.
You might need a bigger box and more time.
It's about 24 cm long, i still have a bigger box so it'll hopefully work out
@@bunnygirl2383 I will be interested in the result
Funny little spur. Do all turkeys have little spurs like that or was he a young guy? Coming from a chicken perspective.
For my area, it seems that is average. Or i just never get the big boys.
Thank you!!!!&
Hope it works well for you. Its easy
Thanks. I'm making earrings out of pheasant feet.
Cool. Same process will work
Nice!!
Hello, i wanted to ask if there’s a way to make feet that are already stiff flexible again? I was giftet a crow leg that is already dry and would like to change the position a bit. :)
It may be very difficult to rehydrate the skin and connective tissue inside the leg and feet and then move it without damage. I heard it is easier to harvest another than to successfully move a previously dried bird leg. So, soaking it in water might make it pliable again, but it may also destroy it. It’s a risky move. When is crow season? May be time to add to the collection and dry some new ones.
@@CamoMatrix Thank you for the answer. I think i’ll leave it be then. Best regards!
What kind of salt would you use to preserve the color. I received a pair of yellow eagle talons from the Eagle repository as I am a Native American. I am new to working with talons so have next to no idea what to do
A non-iodine salt would probably be best for color preservation. I would try to keep salt or any other solution away from the skin and just use it on the cut area to wick away moisture
Have you done the wings before? I want to do a fan and wing mount but not positive on what to do for the wings and can’t find any video on it!
I am no taxidermist, so for me, a wing is not as easy. It requires more of a skinning, fleshing and drying process. I do not have a video but may "try" to make one if I get a turkey this season (which hasn't been working out so far). Basically, you cut the skin down the inside of the wing (the non-display side) all the way to the tip and peel it away from the muscle just like skinning any other animal. Then carefully flesh fat and meat from the skin. be careful no to flesh the feathers off. Wash it in dawn and dry it with a blow-dryer (low setting) on the feather side. Get some borax (I get mine from the Dollar Store laundry section) and sprinkle it over the inside of the skin. You also remove all the meat and connective tissue from the wing bones, and wash them (i use a small wire brush and also put them in boiling water for a minute.). If you separate the bones, you may need to drill and wire them together. Bones need to be ready before the skin, this way, the skin can be placed over the bones and stitched, stapled or pinned into place in the orientation you want to display them. The skin should dry stiff enough to hold he bones giving the skin structure when everything is dry. You may need to get creative depending on the display and stitch bones to the skin by looping thread around the bone several times while stitching the skin above and below the bone.
@@CamoMatrix I actually managed to do it. Super easy, hardest part was letting it dry. I think if I let it dry longer it would have turned out better but it turned out decent!
@@CamoMatrix it’s on my Instagram @gavin_schmitz if anyone wants to check it out
@@gavinsmitty23 i will check it out
Not sure if this will help, but I actually started looking at how to preserve chicken wings with feathers. there are quite a few videos on that that hopefully could help with turkey.
you made a comment about iodized salt and preserving color, does iodized salt better preserve the color where regular salt will not? or is there a better way to do so?
You are correct with your guess. I use it because the iodine in iodized salt “may” alter color. With the turkey foot, it may not matter much but i keep it around for my deer hides so I just default to it.
I'm trying to dry mine in silica gel.
Let me know how it goes
Would you consider putting them in a food dehydrator?
Prob not a bad idea to try. Maybe on low but they may curl up if they arent secured in position.
Great idea very effective
Im interested in your explanations
I have a segul to preserve do you think this method will work for the whole bird. After wahing with salt fora few hours I was thinking now to hang it upside down in a box put salt all over as you have. Do you think the insides will dry up so I can stand it up in a glass box to keep
I think it's a young one there's not much volume In the body
And advice will be much appreciated
Thankyou ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖
You would need to skin the hide off the bird feathers on and then preserve the hide, then remount it on a wood or foam body.
I used salt and now they have a bad odor, what should I do?
How long did it dry? And is it still wet at the joint that was cut and packed with salt? Is it still flexible?
@@CamoMatrix
I had them in a container filled with salt for +2 months
@@jennawolf5713 Was is an open air container where air could circulate? I use an open box and just packed the open joint with salt. I just checked mine ( the ones I did in the video are dry, stiff and don't smell).
@@CamoMatrix
It was a closed container but I had poked holes in the top
@@jennawolf5713 I wonder if the salt didn't allow enough air circulation. I think I would get them out a the container and let them air out for a while longer.
What colors do you use for painting?
no paint on the leg, the wood was a mahogany color wax finish.