Native peoples have been preserving the body parts of a wide variety of animals for many thousands of years. One way to do it with bird parts is easy and produces nice results.
All the birds I've used have been found already dead. No animals were harmed. The unneeded parts were returned to the Earth with respect.
At the time of this instructable, I have no dead birds to work on, so I will post drawings along with photos of the finished results.
Birds can be carriers of salmonella and various parasites, so please wear gloves for your safety, and wash your hands and all tools thoroughly afterwards.
All the birds I've used have been found already dead. No animals were harmed. The unneeded parts were returned to the Earth with respect.
At the time of this instructable, I have no dead birds to work on, so I will post drawings along with photos of the finished results.
Birds can be carriers of salmonella and various parasites, so please wear gloves for your safety, and wash your hands and all tools thoroughly afterwards.
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Signing UpStep 1: FAQ
***NOTE: Hi folks, I just want to add a note before continuing with this instructable:
Since I published this I have been receiving a lot of questions regarding your own preservations. I'm noticing that many recent questions are ones that can be answered by reading some of my replies to others, so to avoid typing out the same answers over and over I am putting a FAQ here. If you are sure these do not answer your question please proceed to ask me. If I do not answer it within a couple days you can presume the answer to your question is in fact in the FAQ.
Q: I found a bird that has some insects/maggots. Will it still preserve properly?
A: No. Even if you manage to get all the insects off, they more than likely have laid eggs that can still hatch and continue to destroy the parts, even after they're dried. Additionally, their digestive enzymes will contribute to a bad odour and the continued breakdown of the flesh.
Q My bird parts have no bugs but they do have a bad or rotting smell. Will it ever go away?
A: No, not even after preservation. The acids and gases of decomposition, once allowed to form, will never leave. The smell may lessen slightly over time, but the parts will always smell unpleasant. Before, during and after preservation it is normal for your parts to smell like warm (but fresh) raw poultry, but they should not smell like they are rotting. Ideally, found carcasses should be no more than a day old.
Q: My parts have been in the box for a few days but now there is a bad odor coming from the box.
A: At no time should any smell be coming from the box. If this is happening, something has gone wrong and the part is not preserving properly. In this case I recommend discarding the part.
Q: How do I know when the parts are fully preserved?
A: They should feel dry and completely stiff. The severing points should be completely dry and hard, and not sticky or moist. If they do not meet these criteria, bury them again for another month. As a rule, legs and wings take at least a month. Heads can take longer, two or more.
Q: I just want feathers, not the parts they're attached to. How do I get them off and clean them?
A: You can simply pluck them. Use your hands as any tools may damage the quills. It will take a lot of time, so be patient. To clean feathers, place them in a bath of 5 parts warm water, 1 part vinegar and 1 part witch hazel. Let them soak for 24 hours. The astringents will help sanitize the feathers and kill any possible feather mites. Remove and spread out flat on a towel to dry. You can use a blow dryer to help speed this up.
Q: I've found an owl, hawk, eagle, or other bird of prey.
A: Before you claim it, first be sure that it is legal in your country or territory of residence to do so. In the US and Canada, it is illegal to possess parts or feathers from birds of prey or migratory birds without a special permit, even if you've just found a single feather in the woods. Being caught with feathers or parts carries a heavy fine or even jail time.
Q: What's the best climate to preserve my parts at?
A: Parts should be stored indoors, at room temperature, in a dry location. Do not preserve outdoors as changing humidity levels and extreme temperatures can add too much moisture, or freeze the parts.
Q: Does the species of bird I have affect how it will preserve?
A: No, the method to preserve it is exactly the same for all birds.
Q: I want to preserve a wing or foot to pose in a certain position. Can I do this?
A: Yes, but in order to do this you will need to nail the part down on a thin piece of plywood or particle board, which then must be placed in the box along with the cornmeal. Otherwise, simply placing it in the shape you want before covering it up will not work, since the muscles and tissues will contract naturally as the part dries.
Q: Can I use something other than cornmeal?
A: Borax and rock salt will also work to preserve, but Borax tends to form a crust on the severed ends and it is near impossible to completely brush out of feathers due to its dustiness. Salt has the potential to cause some mineral staining on the feathers.
Q: I have an already dry part that I want to pluck the feathers off of. Can I do this?
A: Removing feathers from dry pieces is nearly impossible without damaging them. As the skin shrinks and dries, it essentially cements the feather quills into it. You can re-soak the part to restore moisture to the skin; however, this will permanently damage it and should not be re-dried.
Q: Will this method work on rodents or other small animals?
A: Yes, however, fur doesn't have the same coverage as feathers do, so the finished product may look a bit emaciated and patchy whereas feathers do not.
Now back to the instructable!
Since I published this I have been receiving a lot of questions regarding your own preservations. I'm noticing that many recent questions are ones that can be answered by reading some of my replies to others, so to avoid typing out the same answers over and over I am putting a FAQ here. If you are sure these do not answer your question please proceed to ask me. If I do not answer it within a couple days you can presume the answer to your question is in fact in the FAQ.
Q: I found a bird that has some insects/maggots. Will it still preserve properly?
A: No. Even if you manage to get all the insects off, they more than likely have laid eggs that can still hatch and continue to destroy the parts, even after they're dried. Additionally, their digestive enzymes will contribute to a bad odour and the continued breakdown of the flesh.
Q My bird parts have no bugs but they do have a bad or rotting smell. Will it ever go away?
A: No, not even after preservation. The acids and gases of decomposition, once allowed to form, will never leave. The smell may lessen slightly over time, but the parts will always smell unpleasant. Before, during and after preservation it is normal for your parts to smell like warm (but fresh) raw poultry, but they should not smell like they are rotting. Ideally, found carcasses should be no more than a day old.
Q: My parts have been in the box for a few days but now there is a bad odor coming from the box.
A: At no time should any smell be coming from the box. If this is happening, something has gone wrong and the part is not preserving properly. In this case I recommend discarding the part.
Q: How do I know when the parts are fully preserved?
A: They should feel dry and completely stiff. The severing points should be completely dry and hard, and not sticky or moist. If they do not meet these criteria, bury them again for another month. As a rule, legs and wings take at least a month. Heads can take longer, two or more.
Q: I just want feathers, not the parts they're attached to. How do I get them off and clean them?
A: You can simply pluck them. Use your hands as any tools may damage the quills. It will take a lot of time, so be patient. To clean feathers, place them in a bath of 5 parts warm water, 1 part vinegar and 1 part witch hazel. Let them soak for 24 hours. The astringents will help sanitize the feathers and kill any possible feather mites. Remove and spread out flat on a towel to dry. You can use a blow dryer to help speed this up.
Q: I've found an owl, hawk, eagle, or other bird of prey.
A: Before you claim it, first be sure that it is legal in your country or territory of residence to do so. In the US and Canada, it is illegal to possess parts or feathers from birds of prey or migratory birds without a special permit, even if you've just found a single feather in the woods. Being caught with feathers or parts carries a heavy fine or even jail time.
Q: What's the best climate to preserve my parts at?
A: Parts should be stored indoors, at room temperature, in a dry location. Do not preserve outdoors as changing humidity levels and extreme temperatures can add too much moisture, or freeze the parts.
Q: Does the species of bird I have affect how it will preserve?
A: No, the method to preserve it is exactly the same for all birds.
Q: I want to preserve a wing or foot to pose in a certain position. Can I do this?
A: Yes, but in order to do this you will need to nail the part down on a thin piece of plywood or particle board, which then must be placed in the box along with the cornmeal. Otherwise, simply placing it in the shape you want before covering it up will not work, since the muscles and tissues will contract naturally as the part dries.
Q: Can I use something other than cornmeal?
A: Borax and rock salt will also work to preserve, but Borax tends to form a crust on the severed ends and it is near impossible to completely brush out of feathers due to its dustiness. Salt has the potential to cause some mineral staining on the feathers.
Q: I have an already dry part that I want to pluck the feathers off of. Can I do this?
A: Removing feathers from dry pieces is nearly impossible without damaging them. As the skin shrinks and dries, it essentially cements the feather quills into it. You can re-soak the part to restore moisture to the skin; however, this will permanently damage it and should not be re-dried.
Q: Will this method work on rodents or other small animals?
A: Yes, however, fur doesn't have the same coverage as feathers do, so the finished product may look a bit emaciated and patchy whereas feathers do not.
Now back to the instructable!
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i successfully preserved my first bird foot!
im a glass blower by trade and i always thought it would be cool to make a bird foot pendant clutching a marble.
thanks to your direction and tips i made the first one!!
it was tough waiting that month...lol...
i want to finish it with a classy silver loop with maybe some wire wrapping...
one question...
do you have any tips on finding the deceased birds?
i dont want to go around killing birds for jewelry, i just have a ton of ideas....
thanks again
-Rev.
great instructable and after thread, very helpful. I have a question. I have a bird foot that i allowed to air dry. I never had any bad smell or bugs and the entire foot is now hard and dry. However, I never disinfected the foot or treated it in any way. Do you suggest doing this and if so how should I go about it?
Thanks so much in advance,
Granitegiant
I have just found a crow roadkill a couple of days ago. I removed the wings and feet similar to how you said to do and I put them in the freezer uncertain of how to preserve. Now I know to use the cornmeal...
I am wondering if freezing for a couple of days does any kind of damage to the process of drying? Should I defrost them before placing them in the box with the cornmeal?
Shucks, if I'd have known about how simple it is to dry I would have used the head as well!
Thanks again, Jay
I found an spotted eagle owl and got a friend to preserve the wings for me. They have been preserved closed. Is there anyway I can get them open as I would of like them to be preserved open. Or is it too late.
Sherry Whitefeather
In the lower 48 states all species except the house sparrow feral pigeon common starling and non-migratory game birds like pheasants gray partridge turkey sage grouse... are protected by the migratory bird act .
I'm wanting to preserve bones to use for jewellery, all kinds, at the mo I have chicken and lamb shoulder bone. Do they smell if preserved properly? Do I need to boil them down at all or just clean them up and leave them in the corn meal?
Cheers, Emma
If you want the bones to remain their natural shade, you don't have to do anything beyond letting them dry. :)
I used a wooden chopstick and kind of opened the whole from it's underside btwn it's legs, upwards..then I poured salt all the way inside...i burried it in borax and salt and a wee bit of cornmeal.
I think it should be outside, but my cousin didn't wantrs the cats to get it, so it, covered in a cardboard box, in the attic..with a heater on the box...trying to dry preserve it...IS THIS OK?
I don't want anyone getting sick from this. I have had smaller birds in the past that i just sunbaked/airdried, and that seemed to work fine...I am concerned because this is a much larger bird. It has been less then 24 hours now...
SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!! Has anyone ever cured a bird by stuffing salt into it?
I use salt to dessicate chicken feet. which is always easy because I buy them frozen or fresh and they are clean and no decomp. I bury them in salt for 3 or 4 days, and then with the salt still pretty much caked around them, shape them and bake them in the oven at app. 175 degrees for at least 8 hours or longer if nesessary. I'm very pleased with the way this works for the chicken feet.
I have never yet tried any other kind of bird foot. Let's say I found a Robin whose feet were in good shape. there is so much less meat than a chicken foot, would this same process work or would it ruin the Robin leg/ foot? Or would just leaving it in the salt for a week or two be best?
OK, now for a head (undecomposed) like on your spirit stick, since the head would not yet have decomp do you just stick the head in the dessiccant brains and all?
Thanks for your help! -Eric
Was I supposed to skin the leg? It is covered with fuzzy down. I covered it in cornmeal for tonight, and it is cold out - so I think it will be okay tomorrow in case I need to remove the skin.
If I preserve it this way, can I cut the leg down if I decide it is too long later, after it is preserved? (2-3 inches past the foot)
(I volunteer at a birds of prey sanctuary and we find feathers often, so I think it is okay to have them)
The sanctuary can legally possess birds of prey so their feathers are included in that. However, I don't know how or if this rule applies to you once feathers leave the property of the sanctuary, especially being a volunteer and not a paid employee; I would check with them first.
saille
I found an owl on the roadside yesterday and i would like to preserve the feathers for medicine. I am new to cleaning birds and need advice on how to best remove the feathers without damaging them. Also, i would like to clean the ones that have dried blood. Would you recommend soap and water? I would like to keep the beak and claws. i will shape the claws with a stone but i dont know if i should cut at the knee or closer to the body of the bird?
Thank you,
Ben T.
If you are able to keep them, they are difficult to remove from the skin if it isn't fresh. The skin shrinks and dries around the feathers after death.
The best way to clean bloodied feathers is to soak them for a few hours in a bath of warm water, vinegar, and witch hazel. Once they have been soaking for an hour or so gently rub the dirt/blood off with your fingers. The blood may still leave stains however. Lay them out on a towel or paper towel to dry naturally afterwards.
It's easier to cut the leg at the joint than close to the body.
A couple of questions.....first, I was gifted a pair of mallard wings that were, to my knowledge, had been completely preserved for a few years. After a few months of them on my alter in a new house i noticed bugs eating the dried flesh. im not sure what the bugs were, i dont think that they were maggots, but they did leave their 'skin' behind even after they were done munching, unfortunately they did too much damage so i had to return them to the Earth.
My question is, is there any way to rid wings of these bugs.
secondly, i am preserving wings in cornmeal currently and i am afraid that these bugs will find their way into the cornmeal....any suggestions?
thank you
I found a dead owl by the road and it had not been there long and smelled only slightly. I used rubber gloves when handling it, put it directly in a shoe box and covered it. That was 6 months ago and I never removed it from the box because I had been warned about diseases. I wanted the feathers,also but did not remove them beforehand. Should I have?
My question is it will it need disinfecting and if so, what do you recommend. Will I have ruined anything by leaving it so long in the box with the cornmeal?
Thanks
I have Patrirdge and Pheasant heads, which are quite small, 2 of each.
I couldnt find cornmeal here in the UK, so i googled what the British alternatives are and a couple of pages said polenta, so i got that.
I have the shoe box with the polenta and heads in.
They do smell a bit though, theybe been in there two weeks and its a sweet smell, but not quite a rotten smell. Ive uncovered them a few times and there is no sign of rotting, ive scraped around the feathers a little to try see the skin underneathe and its all still intact, the eyes are dry, the hole where i cut the head off is dry. In fact when i tap them, theyre very very dry and solid. There is no fluid. But theres still the smell. Is this really bad?
They appear to be quite dry already so can i still leave them in the box and persevere with them?
I also have a large box in my garage full of wings aswell, which i pinned to cardboard so they are fanned out and used washing powder on those, i was told that washing powders with enzymes in will work too.
Is that right?
Thanks xx
The parts should not smell at all while in the box. If there is an odour coming from the box it means there is some degree of decay happening. This could mean that there is not enough volume of dessicant to absorb effectively, or that the dessicant isn't the right kind.
If there is a slight "meaty" odour when you smell the parts directly that is normal. But unless your nose is right next to it you should not be able to smell it.
If the parts are fully dry, then the dessication is complete and you don't have to worry about further decomp. The only drawback is that they will always have a bit of a smell. Once it sets in it never leaves.
Washing powder like Borax works, but I don't recommend it because the powder is very fine and is very difficult to get out of feathers. It also tends to cake up and dry to a hard crust on moist areas.
The wings in washing powder have worked great, they dried open, so i can take them off the card, and it has gone into hard lumps on the fleshy parts, but it came off relatively easy with a scrub from a toothbrush and a light brish over the feathers brought it all off, and they smell really nice haha. So at least success with them :-)
Thanks for your tutorial, its really helped :p x
Also, thank you for this great instructable - I always find dead birds and collect their bones and, more recently, wings. They are lovely and full of magic. ♥
I'll buy cornmeal anyway to have it next time I find a birdie. Thank you for your reply!!