This is an instructable inspired by canida's mouse/rat taxidermy. For more information on detailed taxidermy, go search "mouse taxidermy" and you'll probably find it.
to start off, I would like to say:
THIS IS GRAPHIC, THIS HAS GUTS, THIS HAS DEAD (and live) ANIMALS, so please, keep the comments on topic and dont stray into the purely bashing morality.
I will accept moral standings, because I believe in freedom of speech, but please... be mature. if not, you will be bashed with a twinkie.
thankyou, and enjoy. :)
to start off, I would like to say:
THIS IS GRAPHIC, THIS HAS GUTS, THIS HAS DEAD (and live) ANIMALS, so please, keep the comments on topic and dont stray into the purely bashing morality.
I will accept moral standings, because I believe in freedom of speech, but please... be mature. if not, you will be bashed with a twinkie.
thankyou, and enjoy. :)
Step 1: Getting your items
you will need cotton balls, borax/cornmeal mixture (for absorbancy), scissors, nail scissors, exacto knives (or box cutters, anything really sharp), wire, thread, a needle, and a dead bird.
oh, and chickens. but they're optional. you'll see later.
oh, and chickens. but they're optional. you'll see later.
Step 2: Find the non-feathered patch
first part is finding the middle of the breastbone, it is the ridge in the center of the bird's breast. once you find it, get the feathers to part with your fingers. this is the gap where you can find a spot of skin that ISNT covered with feathers.
.... -_-;; my chickens keep getting in the way....
.... -_-;; my chickens keep getting in the way....
Step 3: First incision
now, once you've found your "featherless" spot, make an incision from the base of the tail all the way up to within 1cm of the beak with either boc cutters or exacto knife.
Step 4: Open up!
okay, simple easy steps over.
now you need to separate the skin from the torso.
this step should be easy because the skin should automatically begin to peel away from the lower membranes.
warning: try not to cut through the feathers, and try to keep the feathers as dry as possible. when they get wet, they get sticky.
note my thumb.
now you need to separate the skin from the torso.
this step should be easy because the skin should automatically begin to peel away from the lower membranes.
warning: try not to cut through the feathers, and try to keep the feathers as dry as possible. when they get wet, they get sticky.
note my thumb.
Step 5: Peeling the skin away
now, remember how I told you to try to keep the feathers nice and dry?... well, you have to keep the innards and skin damp, so continually dip your fingers in water.
now, here's a good picture of the skin versus the inner membrane. note the "gaping" hole in the throat is the inner membrane tearing. try to avoid this. also, fat resides between the inner membrane and skin, try to keep that attached to the inner membrane.
note: older birds will have more fat than younger ones.
now, here's a good picture of the skin versus the inner membrane. note the "gaping" hole in the throat is the inner membrane tearing. try to avoid this. also, fat resides between the inner membrane and skin, try to keep that attached to the inner membrane.
note: older birds will have more fat than younger ones.
Step 6: Taking out the neck
now, once you've separated the skin from the rest of the bird, grab the nek like this, making sure to only be holding the skin of the bird (with feathers of course) and snip snip the neck, making sure not to cut the skin.
note: see the big black glob?.. this bird died because of a car, and its neck broke. leaving a blood clot in the neck and leaving the face all bloodied.
note: see the big black glob?.. this bird died because of a car, and its neck broke. leaving a blood clot in the neck and leaving the face all bloodied.
Step 7: Brain surgery
okay. this is the hard part. first of all, you cut off whatever's left of the neck that is hanging off, then you insert the nail scissors into the head and pull out the brains bit by bit... t'would be easier with tweezers... .. just a suggestion.
Step 8: Legs
okay, back to the main body..
peel away the skin around the legs the best as you can, then pop the leg throught the skin from the back. (the feathered side)
when you got it mostly through up to the scaley part, snip the leg with the scissors and repeat on the other side.
peel away the skin around the legs the best as you can, then pop the leg throught the skin from the back. (the feathered side)
when you got it mostly through up to the scaley part, snip the leg with the scissors and repeat on the other side.
Step 9: Wings
now, do the same thing you did with the legs, minus the popping through part. ... well... basically just snip them off and leave them with the skin. they'll dry nicely.
Step 10: The back
now, this gets a litle trickier. first, start at the neck and gently.. GENTLY peel down the back.
be WARY, there are tendons around the spinal cord and this is where you sometimes tear a hole in the skin...
eek. ... I tore a hole through the skin.
you'll see the severe affects of this later.
be WARY, there are tendons around the spinal cord and this is where you sometimes tear a hole in the skin...
eek. ... I tore a hole through the skin.
you'll see the severe affects of this later.
Step 11: The tail
now, once you get down here, you're almost done skinning a bird!
you then snip off the tail (trying to keep meat at a minimal) fom the body, but still attaching to the skin.
the first time I did this, I messed up and cut the WHOLE tail off.
... then my chickens almost ate it.
you'll see my FIRST bird taxidermy at the end...
man, it was horrible.
you then snip off the tail (trying to keep meat at a minimal) fom the body, but still attaching to the skin.
the first time I did this, I messed up and cut the WHOLE tail off.
... then my chickens almost ate it.
you'll see my FIRST bird taxidermy at the end...
man, it was horrible.
Step 12: Preparing
now... you've skinned a bird! the next step is to lay the skin out, and sprinkle the borax/cornstarch mixture to ensure absorbancy and disinfect.
should look like this.
should look like this.
Step 13: Stuffing
now, take a cotton ball and stretch it much like this.
then put it into the bird's neck snugly.
make sure you dont overstuff and be wary of feathers getting in the way.
when you have it in the bird's neck, begin sewing the neck up.
now, once you have the nek sewn up, add another cotton ball for the torso.
depending on the shape and size of the bird, you can stuff them differently. but always keep the neck slim.
then put it into the bird's neck snugly.
make sure you dont overstuff and be wary of feathers getting in the way.
when you have it in the bird's neck, begin sewing the neck up.
now, once you have the nek sewn up, add another cotton ball for the torso.
depending on the shape and size of the bird, you can stuff them differently. but always keep the neck slim.
Step 14: Stitching up!
the last part is the most tedius.
stitching the bird up.
be EXTREMELY cautious about feathers getting in the way and try to keep near the edge of the skin.
stitching the bird up.
be EXTREMELY cautious about feathers getting in the way and try to keep near the edge of the skin.
Step 15: Fixing your mistakes...
at this point, any place where you've accidently torn the skin should be stitched up.
:) hey, its only m second try!
:) hey, its only m second try!
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I have a baby chick I did a while ago I might sell. I also occasionally sell on ebay. If anyone is interested in some pigeons I will probably sell them starting @ $40 ea. Depending on colour, etc. I can also do some house sparrows for $35ea. None will have eyes, as glass eyes are a bit pricey but if you just want them for crafts and stuff, totally willing to do some skins for people.
The cats had eaten most of the insides, the exterior looked good enough for a first try. I AM COMPLETELY AMAZED @ the results.
Was looking for tips on wiring, was so excited w/ my leetle experiment I HAD to tell somebody..... I'll try this way when I get the guts to kill a cardinal just for me.
This is a fun way to decorate, just fun period Weird huh???
Specialized in Skinning - Meat cut & Wrap - Fleshing - Tanning - Taxidermy. http://www.mastertaxidermist.ca
Seeing your display was nice experience to be added towards my works. Thanks.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/surroundsound5000/5380298528/
Now looking for ideas on how to do it properly. Thanks for the well illustrated 'ible!