How do you tan the hide to preserve feathers in hide? (soft hide)

[Phoenixxx]

I'm trying the borax method on a beautiful cockerel that got nixed by a mink. I will post how it turns out I didn't get rid of all the fat, though, so hopefully those spots will still cure okay.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Okay, so, I'm thinking it's pretty much done. It's not soft like leather, it's more crispy like when you fry it but it's still quite flexible and all the feathers stayed on. Here are some photos.

 

[Phoenixxx]

 

[gardenman]

I am tanning 2 hen pheasants and 1 rooster for tying. Does anyone know how to make sure any mites are dead?

 

[Phoenixxx]

I am tanning 2 hen pheasants and 1 rooster for tying. Does anyone know how to make sure any mites are dead?

I read somewhere to throw the skins in the deep freeze, for two weeks, I think.

 

[LittleChickWamuran]

Im havjng issue with the Borax absorbing moisture out the air. Its very humid here at the moment.

 

[Maeschak]

Im havjng issue with the Borax absorbing moisture out the air. Its very humid here at the moment.

Maybe use a fan? Put borax or salt on, rub into wet areas, blow a fan on it for 24 fours? Then brush off excess borax or salt, reapply desiccant, and use fan for next 24 hours? Repeat.
Just a guess but I'm anxious to try this out myself soon so please let us know how it turns out.

 

[cottontail farm]

For what it's worth, I have dried whole feathered quail wings sucessfully. Took them off of the body at the "arm pit" burried the cut ends in salt and put the container with the salt and the wings in a gallon zip loc bag. when they started to stiffen up I shaped them how I wanted and let them continue drying out. These were the whole wings, meat and all. They were done after about 6 months.
I know this is kind of off topic.

 

[LittleChickWamuran]

The Borax worked well. I vacuumed off the first lot and put a new batch on. It gets a bit stuck in the underdown but it looks good.

 

[LittleChickWamuran]

Feathers are not falling out and there is no smell.