How to preserve bird wings, legs, and heads...the Native way!

Step 4: Preserving

Open your box and pour about 2" of cornmeal into it. Make sure it's evenly distributed over the bottom of the box. Then, place your bird parts on top, without touching each other. Pour more cornmeal overtop, enough to completely cover the parts. Place the lid on firmly. Use your knife to cut a few slits in the lid to allow for air passage.

Now, place the box in a cool, dark, dry place and forget about it for a month. The cornmeal will absorb the fluids from the body parts during this time, essentially mummifying them. There should be no strong or bad smells coming from the box during this time.

After a month is up, remove the lid, take the bird parts out and inspect them. They should be dry and stiff, and should not feel moist at all. The exposed flesh shold be dry and hard with bits of cornmeal stuck to it. The parts may smell slightly 'meaty' still - this is normal. As long as there are no rotten smells, they should have been preserved perfectly. If the parts are still flexible, or feel or look moist, they have not completed the dessication process. In this case, put them back in the box and add more cornmeal, and leave for another two weeks.

Comments

[eware]

Hi Mahekun, thanks for all the info...
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

[Mahekun]

Hi Emma, with fresh bones there is very little in the way of preservation that you will need to do. If there is any tissue still attached to the bone, you can simmer them until the tissue can easily be pulled off. Simmer just off a boil, as boiling can cause the bones to crack. Once this is done all you need to do is lay them out to dry. If you want them to bleach naturally, you can let them sit out in the sun, but this will take some time. You can bleach them artificially by painting on a solution of v40 strength hair developer and baking soda. Brush it on and let it sit overnight. It will not be a dramatic difference but will get them at least a shade whiter.

If you want the bones to remain their natural shade, you don't have to do anything beyond letting them dry. :)

[eware]

Brilliant, thanks loads :)

[sailleseeker]

Hey mahekun, i came across a beautiful black vulture who passed after crashing in a tree during the first frost. I did take the wings, as instructed i buried them in about 25 pounds of corn meal total for over two months, cold but dry indoor porch area, with plenty ventilation . i took them out when completely stiff but just around the "meat" area smell grew over powering over a few days stronger and stronger after a week i noticed new fluid or damp something or other and got a new box and cornmeal and reburied them. I was wondering if because of their size (2.5 feet each) i didn't wait long enough or if i was overly sensitive to the odor? Any ideas would be wonderful. thank you so much for sharing this method!
saille

[Mahekun]

Hi! In my experience bigger parts do need more time. I had a crow's head that I kept buried for 5 months. Other factors could possibly be delaying the dessication. Although the area you have it in is dry, the cold can slow down the flow of fluids, so if you have a spot that is only slightly cool or closer to room temperature that would be preferable. Also make sure that the box is cardboard and has holes punched in the lid, as the airflow aids the moisture escaping.

[rmonya]

Quick, I started preserving some bird parts a few weeks ago but a huge, 3 day long cold-rainstorm has come in and made the air everywhere wet and heavy. One of my boxes is smelling slightly rotten and I dumped some salt in to stop futher damage. I'm not allowed to bring the parts in (wouldn't help we have the heat on) will they be okay or or should I stuff them in the fridge? I'm told that works too but I don't know.

[lweeks1]

Mahekun,
Is corn masa flour the same thing?

[Mahekun]

Hi! No, corn flour is too fine and you wouldn't be able to get all the dust out. Corn meal is more like coarse sand.

[dvalenciea]

could something besides cornmeal be used?

[Mahekun]

Borax or coarse salt can also be used. The advantage of cornmeal is that it won't damage the flesh or feathers and will brush off fairly easily. Borax tends to cake and stick to moist areas, forming a hard crust when it dries. the dry granules are also difficult to brush out of feathers. Coarse salt does not stick like this, but it can sometimes cause mineral staining on the flesh and feathers.