I decided to add this page on to reference a lot of calls I was getting surrounding bird and mount care.
A good mount starts with a good specimen, but it also needs to be handled correctly to have a positive outcome.
First lets work on a few points to help make a perfect specimen.
There are a couple other things you can doif you plan on keeping it an extended period of time but the best is to get it to me ASAP.
Now for mount care , this is simple.
I hope this helps …. If you have a question … call ,
Thanks , Jay
A good mount starts with a good specimen, but it also needs to be handled correctly to have a positive outcome.
First lets work on a few points to help make a perfect specimen.
- Broken feathers , wings and legs. -------While a lot can be repaired the perfect bird would not have these .
- Broken or wrung neck. A bird can be dispatched by squeezing the rib cage hard right behind the wings from the back of the bird . It doesn’t take long for the bird to expire.
- Obvious bare spots and large wounds . I have to have feathers to work with.
- Maturity ………. Is this a mature bird with out Juvenile or seasonal pinfeathers. While I CAN mount just about any bird , pinfeathers make a rough looking mount
- Cool it : Place it aside in a cool spot and let the air cool the bird. The back of the truck in the sun doesn't cut it.
- Bag and freeze: Smooth the feathers down in their natural position ( panty hose really doesn't help anything and may damage feathers). Place the head under or along side a wing . Put the bird in an AIR PROOF bag . ( not a Joe Albertsons grocery sack but a kitchen garbage bag is fine) , push as much air out as possible . Seal it with a tie , string , tape or whatever . Freeze it . The whole idea is to keep it from freezer burning .
- Tag it , if some one else is going to transport the bird print out a tag ( from my site ) . Complete the information and attach it or place it in the bag.
There are a couple other things you can doif you plan on keeping it an extended period of time but the best is to get it to me ASAP.
Now for mount care , this is simple.
- Feather duster , I keep a feather duster for this purpose alone. I gently pet my bird mounts with it as needed .
- Blower , I also keep dust at bay by gently blowing the mounts with a blow dryer NO HEAT or the shop vac . Move the air across them like if they were flying….. Beak first.
- If needed I gently pull the wing feathers between a thumb and forefinger to smooth them.If you get a rough or bare looking spot you can move the feathers to cover ( preen) it with a pair of tweezers or a long pin.
- If some thing gets broke ………. Bring it in , I can fix it.
I hope this helps …. If you have a question … call ,
Thanks , Jay