Frequently asked questions : How long in the salt: up to two months, this is a long process Freezer time: put the fresh , bagged specimens into a freezer and leave it for two days to kill any parasites, birds can be dirty! What kind of salt?: plain table salt , iodized salt Thawing: after he’s been in the freezer take him out and put him in the fridge for a few hours untill he’s soft and completely moveable Can this work on any bird : yep!
@@rubenthadon don’t put it in the fridge, and don’t keep it outside inside the house ontop of the fridge in a cabinet or in a closet is best, you want like a cool (NOT cold) dark area
@@irisvanderhoorn8017 freezer first, that kills any parasites on the bird but when your ready to process it for the wings make sure it’s thawed completely!
DISCLAIMER: I am a registered Native American, I am the only person LEGALLY allowed to handle an owl/ other birds of prey, if you are not native you can keep almost any other bird just be sure to research what birds are legal for you to own, this will get you some serious jail time!!!
Lol in that case what tribe are you an enrolled member with? Because a lot of ppl like you claim to be native but fall far from the actual truth which in other words means you are full of it lol
this is exactly i was looking for! my dog sniffed out a barred owl that had hit a window of the hospital by my house, and i wanted to see how to preserve his wings and feet. thank you so much for this video! sincerely, a fellow punk taxidermist :)
Thank you so much! I found a dead owl on the road today and I strongly felt she wanted to come home with me. After finding and seeing this video I understand she wants me to preserve the wing and make a smudge ornament out of her this video helps a ton!!! Thank you so much. Going Salt shopping tomorrow😂
I found three dead snow geese yesterday. Upon inspection I saw one with a lot of burnt feathers , and the others had a hole on the leg and head. Laying directly below regular 20' rural power lines. I got the primary flight feathers at the joint from the best one. I left the rest for the coyotes and crows. Glad to see it's all about salt , salt ... and salt.
Thank you so much for this video! This helped me a ton. I'm also native american and my dad always did these things for me when I found a roadkill hawk or owl so I never had to. I lost him to covid last year and just found a beautiful bird I wanted to make some dance fans with .... I didn't want to ask for anyone's help, but didn't know where to begin. I wish you had more videos! I'd love to see more. I have a snake skin just chillin in alcohol & don't know what to do with that yet either lol
I’m so sorry to hear that I hope you and your family are doing well! I hope I was able to help so you can continue the craft of your dad, and I’ve seen people stretch snake skin over a nice piece of wood and display it that way
Today my family and I went hiking at our local gamelands. I found a pile (3 piles actually) of dead dove's. They had been skinned out /meat taken by the hunter who shot them. I assume they were shot this morning because they were still soft. Anyway, out of all the birds, I found 2 that were not mangled and shot up so I cut the wings off. I also got several sets of feet from the other's. It's been a while since I preserved any bird wings. Thanks for the video! I needed a quick refresher/ how to and this was perfect. Hope you show the owl wing once it's preserved. I bet it will be freaking awesome!
so a small recommendation I've got for anyone else doing this, try and string a wire underneath the skin following up the bones in the wing. this can make it easier to attach to things if you want to craft with them... learned the hard way.
Everyone check the legality of birds in your area!! Even if it’s found dead, it’s illegal to take any parts from birds protected under the MBTA or any birds of prey in the US. You can get fined even for picking a feather off the ground, do some research before picking up any bird.
@@ricotta5753 I deal with fish and wildlife and usda regularly in my career trust me sir nobody is looking too spot an owl feather that you picked up and most fish and wildlife arnt educated in wildlife enough to even be able to tell what feathers are from what bird
I have a pouch i use daily, I attach any beautiful looking feathers I find to it I have ton of woodpecker hawk and owl and a few raven like literally almost every feather on my pouch is from a protected animal I have yet to meet one officer from either administration say anything about it to me most actually like it and none has ever mentioned that law or been an asshole trying to enforce it but definitely it makes sense like in my preserve we had a lot of rare plants and flowers that can be damaged or removed from its original location and if certain ones bloom in a single area we have to set up a protection perimeter
I know I don't know you but I love you. Lol it's a fucking shame some one hit him cuz people suck!!! Anyways I'm a girl and this is my obsession. I sit outside and play my owl calls and its my church and I have a dead bird right now and don't know what to do with it so thank you
Smaller birds/parts three months or until COMPLETELY stiff you should not be able to bend the wings or talons AT ALL so I honestly just salt it then put it somewhere safe and ‘forget’ about it, there’s no such thing as too long in the salt
What happens if you salt the wings right away? Do you think eventually after two months in salt they will die off? 😅 and if not, what should be done after salting for around two months? Alternatively, if I have a friend with a walk in meat cooler, could I just put the whole box lidded in there? What temp does it need to be at to kill off the parasites? Thank you!
So I’ve had some large wings in salt for about 3 months. They do not give at all except for the ball joint that connected to the main body where a sort of webbing skin is. I’m not sure if it is ok to take them out yet due to it but everything else is completely solid
If the whole wing is stiff that’s a great sign, I suggest changing out the salt and tying a bag of fresh salt to the wing stump so it’s constantly in contact with salt
Thank you! I try my best to treat all animals and people with respect . Youll want to leave it in a warm dry place for up to a month, dont mess with it just let it sit. Then remove the salt and viola you now have a lovley specimen
@@taxidermypunk4685 Super, thanks so much. I also found a Barred Owl dead in the woods, right on my path, a "meant to be" perhaps. I want to preserve the wings to use on my altar. I assume they are permanently stiff in whatever position they are preserved in. What did you do with yours? Also, curious, are you vegan?
@@taxidermypunk4685 Vegans like to convince animal lovers that it is the kind thing to do. We say "why do you love your dog and eat your hog?" And I'm sure you are aware of the cruelty of animal agriculture. I am so much more healthy since I went vegan 6 years ago. I am responding to your love of the Owl and other creatures.
Thank you!! I am raising quail, and I would like to preserve the wings to sell for training hunting dogs. Can the salt be reused multiple times to help cut on costs?
A few questions. Would this prevent Rot, Smell, Decomposition, and Keep them forever preserved for display? found Road kill and the wings were gorgeous.
Completely new to this, but I found the wings of a black vulture in the woods out back (both wings are still connected to the keel). Would it be reasonably possible to preserve it whole, or would you suggest just severing the wings and drying them out separately?
@@anonymousalien7417 I would say separation is better. It’s a risk doing the keel with them because if it does not cure and starts rotting you’ve gotta scrap the whole thing
does this method of preservation leave any odors? ive got a gorgeous raven wing stashed in the freezer, maybe a day dead at time of finding, and the bird itself smelled a bit at the time. not severely as it was pretty newly dead but still, hoping to keep it without stinking up the house
Hi, Thank you for this info. I have two questions I was hoping you could help me with: 1. How do you clean the salt off of the feathers? 2. Do you wash, steam and blow dry the wings after the salt? Thank you for your help!
You can use borax as well I just use salt because it’s a cheaper alternative, just keep an eye on it and change frequently since borax likes to clump up
One of my mom’s peacocks got into some sort of accident so we had to remove its wing just yesterday would I still need to put it in the freezer or would I need to salt it first? I’m asking mainly because I don’t want to screw this up and have the bird loose its wing completely
I came across a hawk that’d been hit by a car, and it was a bit mangled but the wings were still in decent shape. Would this still work if the bones were broken, and then stabilize them after they’re done curing?
i have some wings but left then inside a bag for a month can i stull do this process? I don't know it needed to be dine until now, i want to put them in a frame they look good they stayed closed now they are a bit hard bit i want to open them carefully all feathers look good
@@taxidermypunk4685 yes they smell a bit but they're kept inside a little plastic bag folded, each one on a separate bag but everything looks ok, what should I do ? I also live in sea level in Cancún mexico so i am not sure about the salt process cause of humidity
@@danielchapa7195 if they already smell I don’t think it would end up working but you can still try! Humidity might make it hard but just keep an eye on it and you should be good
@@taxidermypunk4685 they look pretty good considering that it passed away a month ago , the smell is not really that bad, the bag is kinda sealed so maybe it has helped a bit, and the wings are from a small owl, dont have that much of meat,will do it tomorrow and will let you know how it goes, thanks for your advice
@@danielchapa7195 can you give us an update? I have this sparrow wings, since they are starting to smell a bit, for now I am soaking them in alcohol to prevent them from rotting, so if you have done that, I would like to know if this works for older dead animals, thank you
So I suggest keeping it inside in a cool dark place, out side is fine to just keep an eye on the temps don’t want any condensation in the box, lid is optional but if you do put a lid make sure it’s got holes for air flow . If you need anymore help just lmk
Hey I still keep up even if I don’t upload! I only put the lid on because I have a bunch of critters running around and nosey cats, but no you don’t need to put the lid on and if you do leave some kind of ventilation like holes in the lid so the moisture sucked up by the salt can escape
Okay cool that's kind of what I figured but I wasn't 100% sure, however if I leave the moist salt on the wings for too long will it cause mold or is that okay, oh and thank you for answering my question I really appreciate it
Sooo I'm just curious is having it wrapped in a napkin sitting on my dehumidifier right now doing anything or not sanitary lol? My friend brought in 2 ducks to work today and tossed me a wing he told me to just leave it on my basement furnace for a month 😅
I already put mine in salt for a month or so now.. is it just too late for me to freeze em for parasite stuff? They’re in good condition and everything. Just didn’t freeze em.
No not ever bird has parasites it’s just a good practice with most wild animals, if you haven’t had a problem already then you want have one, hope everything goes well !
THIS WAS SO HELPFUL!!! I have a few pairs of tallons/ wings baking right now, and am trying various different methods of preserving for each set!! Do you know any specific tips on how to minimize smell? I’ve found everything fresh, but there’s always a faint lingering scent- nothing too noticeable, but still present. Again, this video does WONDERS, thank you!!!
If you have a smell more salt time is best, when you salt it mix in some herbs of your liking! I’d you don’t have access to herbs you can use good smelling tea bags! Just rip the (DRY) tea bag and mix it into the salt
I lost my wings. There was maggots all around them and it smells so bad. First time i did this,with the same process worked. I always find them dead by the road here🥺
Hi! My cat just killed a dove and I want to preserve its wings. We are currently on holiday and far away from any shops to buy salt. Is there a maximum amount of time you can freeze them for? We are going back home in a week so we can get salt there. Also we will be in the car for at least 7 hours, if I put it in a cooler box will it work? It won’t be frozen but hopefully it will stay cold.
@@Fern.The.Otter.Therian keeping them frozen untill your trip is over will be just fine! Yes keep it in a cooler on your drive if you can start preserving as soon as you get home it should be thawed enough for you to work with it !!
Turns out we had a HUGE bottle of salt so I could do it now. I also managed to use the feet! Sadly only one wing was usable cuz my cat chewed the other one.
2 questions. 1. When it comes to pinning the wing in the pose, do I have to do that if the wing is already staying in position? Or is it gonna end up closing again due to the salt? And 2. How long is the wing and feet meant to stay in the salt?
It may close again or “shrink/shrivel” as it cures in the salt so I definitely suggest pinning, they can stay in the salt for months this takes a while and I suggest atleast a month in the salt
Reiter & Reiter cover the lid with something like plastic wrap with a fee holes poked in and leave it in a warm dry place for up to two months or until the parts are stiff
Ive just found a dead crow. I was thinking of just burying it and going back for it in a year.. would the wings still be intact or do I have to do this?
You would have to do this but if you didn’t put him inside the freezer then he’s no good, what you can do is pluck the wing feather (GLOVES) and hold onto them while he rots, feathers can be fixed back onto the bones! To disenfect feathers keep them in a jar of equal parts water and peroxide then dry them out and shape them with your fingers
For anyone who’s wants JUST the wing, I tend to leave the rest of the bird out for the coyotes or other predators if you want a good way to dispose of the rest of the bird without wasting it 👍
How long does the wing need to be in the salt for before its ready to be left in the open? I want to use it to make a smudge wand....same goes for the feet, how long before they can be out in the open?
They need to stay untill they are COMPLETELY stiff there should be no give if there is it’s still ‘raw’ I usually give it up to three months just to be safe! But for very small birds like doves it should only be a month
Okay so I need some help and suggestions quite quickly my step dad has zebra Finches two young ones died they look fully grown like size and feather wise but unfortunately 2 died and I want to preserve them somehow as I collect bones and things but I'm not sure how I'm thinking about leaving one in a rot box to decompose so I can have a skull and taking ones wings and preserving those but I'm not sure
If you take the one you want to rot and put it inside a plastic shopping bag in a sunny part of your yard it will break down to bone completely with no mess in about two months.
I’d do one in the salt and one to rot, since finches are so small you can actually preserve its entire body just remove Ibarra and pack it with the salt
I have a dead rat that was killed in a trap a few months ago. I put him in a bucket with a lid and had plans on burying him after some research, unfortunately it was harder than I thought to figure out what exactly to do with this whole rat skin fur and all, so when the time had come to just bury him and cross my fingers winter had hit… so I wasn’t able to put him in the ground. He’s now still in the bucket with the lid in the garage. Probably frozen, when summer comes will he unthaw and be all mush? Bones too? Or does he have some hope of saving, I just want his bones. Maybe a skull
I’ve found that putting the body inside a plastic bag (grocery bag/garbage bag) with a hole or two poked in it, and then leaving the bag outside in a safe area where it will get plenty of sun and bug activity, leads to the body being broke down to bone in a matter of months other then burying him and waiting a year. Yes he is perfectly salvageable the only way he would be is if his bones where broken but he sounds like a good specimen, keep me updated with what you figure out!
So did you freeze him first? I have a dead little bird I found in my backyard and i froze it so trying to find out what to do now. I want feathers, feet and wings.
is there another way to sanitize the bird before salting it? i only have one freezer for my food and i dont really wanna be putting stuff like that with the rest of my families food. ive seen another method of leaving the body in an antibacterial soap and water mixture for a few days but i dont know how well that would work
I wouldnt leave it in the soapy water because that could start the maceration process (GROSS) but the freezer is your only method, I personally wrap the body in a few layers of trash bags , tape it, and then box it before freezing it and my moms non the wiser about the box in the freezer lol
How long can I leave it in the freezer? I found an owl yesterday but I’m in the middle of packing and moving in a week and half. Can I leave it in the freezer until I move?
The cool thing is. You can leave it as long as you need! Some museum have frozen specimens from DECADES ago and after a quick thaw there practically brand new, you can leave the owl in the freezer untill your good and settled into your new home, just be sure to thaw them completely when your ready to use
No , to disinfect it’s good to put the bird into the FREEZER for up to THREE DAYS to kill any parasites, if you still don’t feel 100% just wear your gloves and solider trough
Salting heads it’s a bit more complicated I myself haven’t completely got it yet but Its better to remove the brain and eyes carefully and pack the holes with the salt and submerge in salt completely
Hey, great video - super helpful thanks. One question though, do you clean the feathers at any point? I’ve seen a few written descriptions suggesting washing them in a liquid before running them down with a non ammonia based product to give them a shine? Cheers
You could do a few things such as wet preserving organs, and of course cleaning the remaining skeleton to keep if you’d like, pluck all feathers to keep ect.
I found a dead owl too yesterday but nothing i could do bcs the bird's hanging 15 m above the ground. Today i found it on the ground but it really stink and there's a lot of ants and diphteras. should i bring it home or just leave it rest in peace:(((( I've been thinking about it since yesterday 😭
If you’d like to keep the bones , get a trash bag and gloves and collect the bird, if you have a big yard tie the bag up and place it some where it will be safe from other animals and let it sit for a few months and it will completely rot to the bone with minimal mess, if he stinks he’s to far gone to salt preserve but his bones are fine!
@@taxidermypunk4685 oh they were bloody and smelled so bad. I washed them and the talons. I dried them with a hair dryer as much as I could and put salt/borax over them. The wings are huge so Left them on my garage floor is that ok to leave them out drying if there’s still meat and bone attached but everything is covered completely with the salt And borax. My friend said I might want to clean out the bones… it’s not attached to much of it but enough. I’m wondering will that rot and should I do more work to that region where the wings are attached to?
@@realmsofthespiritarts8557 everything should be fine as long as they stay dry , the shed should stay hot with dry heat, if it feels humid move them to a hot dry area As far as the meat, a small amount will definitely dry out no problem, if you let it dry out you will be able to peel it off the bone when it’s finished
@@elizabethroberts9867 nah if theres already bugs present its bo good just get bones from it, it had to be literally fresh as in right to the freezer after it died
Hi, I just found a dead owl which was probably hit by a car too For how long do I have to keep the wings inside the salt container? How did yours turned out?
Thanks for this guidance! A few questions.... I have a fresh bird that broke it's neck flying into my window at home, do I need to freeze it first or can you put it strait I to the salt from freshly clipped wings? And as it's drying out does it cause a lot of bad smell at all? And is it ok to cover the container at all perhaps over night so rats/pests don't get in? Thanks for your help!
Some wild sunbirds made a nest in our garden, one baby didnt make it to adult hood sadly it was the runt of the clutch, but i didnt realise until it was too late. I felt really guilty for letting nature do it's thing so i wanted to see if i could preserve this baby.
I know that pain nature is cruel but things happen, if you put the baby straight in the freezer after death then you may be able to wet preserve him, I don’t have a tutorial for that but there are several great ones online, sorry for the loss 🌟💚
Again if you people could just read the damn previous comments, I am a registered Native American, I can posses this bird and keep its parts to give to other members of my tribe
@@taxidermypunk4685 I'm glad you are doing this legally, but still recommend putting that in the actual description of the video so people in the future will be aware about it :)
Frequently asked questions :
How long in the salt: up to two months, this is a long process
Freezer time: put the fresh , bagged specimens into a freezer and leave it for two days to kill any parasites, birds can be dirty!
What kind of salt?: plain table salt , iodized salt
Thawing: after he’s been in the freezer take him out and put him in the fridge for a few hours untill he’s soft and completely moveable
Can this work on any bird : yep!
Does it disinfect the bird wing or is their another way
Storage: After the wing is in the salt, does it need to be stored in a refrigerator or can it be left outside or inside?
@@rubenthadon don’t put it in the fridge, and don’t keep it outside inside the house ontop of the fridge in a cabinet or in a closet is best, you want like a cool (NOT cold) dark area
in what order should it be? first in the salt or first in the freezer?
@@irisvanderhoorn8017 freezer first, that kills any parasites on the bird but when your ready to process it for the wings make sure it’s thawed completely!
DISCLAIMER: I am a registered Native American, I am the only person LEGALLY allowed to handle an owl/ other birds of prey, if you are not native you can keep almost any other bird just be sure to research what birds are legal for you to own, this will get you some serious jail time!!!
I figured you were gonna get a lot of comments telling you about the MBTA. Glad you pinned this comment! ✨🌿🪶 thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
I don't give a fuck
Lol in that case what tribe are you an enrolled member with? Because a lot of ppl like you claim to be native but fall far from the actual truth which in other words means you are full of it lol
@@patrickswayze2596 you assumed I’m something. You didn’t even ask what I am. Fk off with your bs comment
I found a single wing on the sidewalk near my school. I wanted to keep him on my cool oddities shelf. very helpful, thank you!
Of course! hope it goes well 🤙🏽
the same thing happened to me today!
this is exactly i was looking for! my dog sniffed out a barred owl that had hit a window of the hospital by my house, and i wanted to see how to preserve his wings and feet. thank you so much for this video! sincerely, a fellow punk taxidermist :)
How long do you let it remain in the salt?
Thank you so much! I found a dead owl on the road today and I strongly felt she wanted to come home with me. After finding and seeing this video I understand she wants me to preserve the wing and make a smudge ornament out of her this video helps a ton!!! Thank you so much. Going Salt shopping tomorrow😂
I found three dead snow geese yesterday. Upon inspection I saw one with a lot of burnt feathers , and the others had a hole on the leg and head. Laying directly below regular 20' rural power lines. I got the primary flight feathers at the joint from the best one. I left the rest for the coyotes and crows. Glad to see it's all about salt , salt ... and salt.
Thank you so much for this video! This helped me a ton. I'm also native american and my dad always did these things for me when I found a roadkill hawk or owl so I never had to. I lost him to covid last year and just found a beautiful bird I wanted to make some dance fans with .... I didn't want to ask for anyone's help, but didn't know where to begin. I wish you had more videos! I'd love to see more. I have a snake skin just chillin in alcohol & don't know what to do with that yet either lol
I’m so sorry to hear that I hope you and your family are doing well! I hope I was able to help so you can continue the craft of your dad, and I’ve seen people stretch snake skin over a nice piece of wood and display it that way
I feel you brother. It's awesome you are continuing to learn. That's what's up.
Soak the snake skin in 50/50 mixture of alcohol and glycerin for 3 days up to a week and it will come out soft and stretchy
Today my family and I went hiking at our local gamelands. I found a pile (3 piles actually) of dead dove's. They had been skinned out /meat taken by the hunter who shot them. I assume they were shot this morning because they were still soft. Anyway, out of all the birds, I found 2 that were not mangled and shot up so I cut the wings off. I also got several sets of feet from the other's. It's been a while since I preserved any bird wings. Thanks for the video! I needed a quick refresher/ how to and this was perfect. Hope you show the owl wing once it's preserved. I bet it will be freaking awesome!
You're an amazing woman! I just got a wild turkey in pretty much one of the most epic fishing stories of my life,lol. Thanks for the info.
so a small recommendation I've got for anyone else doing this, try and string a wire underneath the skin following up the bones in the wing. this can make it easier to attach to things if you want to craft with them... learned the hard way.
Everyone check the legality of birds in your area!! Even if it’s found dead, it’s illegal to take any parts from birds protected under the MBTA or any birds of prey in the US. You can get fined even for picking a feather off the ground, do some research before picking up any bird.
I mean honestly does it hurt that bad to pick up a feather?
@@lovetigers4806 hurts your wallet pretty bad when you’re fined $1000 because you can’t prove that you didn’t kill an owl.
@@ricotta5753 I deal with fish and wildlife and usda regularly in my career trust me sir nobody is looking too spot an owl feather that you picked up and most fish and wildlife arnt educated in wildlife enough to even be able to tell what feathers are from what bird
I have a pouch i use daily, I attach any beautiful looking feathers I find to it I have ton of woodpecker hawk and owl and a few raven like literally almost every feather on my pouch is from a protected animal I have yet to meet one officer from either administration say anything about it to me most actually like it and none has ever mentioned that law or been an asshole trying to enforce it but definitely it makes sense like in my preserve we had a lot of rare plants and flowers that can be damaged or removed from its original location and if certain ones bloom in a single area we have to set up a protection perimeter
Fuck the government
Thanks! After seeing this the kiddos and I picked up a hawk on the side of I-95. Let’s see how it turns out.
good to see this video. I have been working with Coturnix quail wings, and have been using salt as well. Each batch gets better here!
Practice makes perfect! Trail and error is key 💚
I know I don't know you but I love you. Lol it's a fucking shame some one hit him cuz people suck!!! Anyways I'm a girl and this is my obsession. I sit outside and play my owl calls and its my church and I have a dead bird right now and don't know what to do with it so thank you
My crows wings/feet are gonna be awesome
*****It's legal in my area to keep these birds*****
That’s what I like to hear! Hope everything goes good!
I just found a sparrow wing in my front yard so I thought I just add it to my collection.
Nice!
Looks like were just gunna have to wing it hahaha
Thank you for this tutorial it was very useful
How long do we keep it in the salt for?
Smaller birds/parts three months or until COMPLETELY stiff you should not be able to bend the wings or talons AT ALL so I honestly just salt it then put it somewhere safe and ‘forget’ about it, there’s no such thing as too long in the salt
What happens if you salt the wings right away? Do you think eventually after two months in salt they will die off? 😅 and if not, what should be done after salting for around two months? Alternatively, if I have a friend with a walk in meat cooler, could I just put the whole box lidded in there? What temp does it need to be at to kill off the parasites? Thank you!
So I’ve had some large wings in salt for about 3 months. They do not give at all except for the ball joint that connected to the main body where a sort of webbing skin is. I’m not sure if it is ok to take them out yet due to it but everything else is completely solid
If the whole wing is stiff that’s a great sign, I suggest changing out the salt and tying a bag of fresh salt to the wing stump so it’s constantly in contact with salt
@@taxidermypunk4685 awesome! I’ll definitely get that going by tomorrow then 😊 I got the one that was set out. Now I just gotta get the salt off
How long should it stay in the salt
Beautiful 😭 🕊️ 🪽 🙏🏼
What next?? How long in the salt and then what? Thanks! Love how you appreciate the owl itself.
Thank you! I try my best to treat all animals and people with respect . Youll want to leave it in a warm dry place for up to a month, dont mess with it just let it sit. Then remove the salt and viola you now have a lovley specimen
@@taxidermypunk4685 Super, thanks so much. I also found a Barred Owl dead in the woods, right on my path, a "meant to be" perhaps. I want to preserve the wings to use on my altar. I assume they are permanently stiff in whatever position they are preserved in. What did you do with yours? Also, curious, are you vegan?
@@dagenjulty2772 its no problem, and no im not vegan
@@taxidermypunk4685 Vegans like to convince animal lovers that it is the kind thing to do. We say "why do you love your dog and eat your hog?" And I'm sure you are aware of the cruelty of animal agriculture. I am so much more healthy since I went vegan 6 years ago. I am responding to your love of the Owl and other creatures.
@@dagenjulty2772💜
Iv read that borax is better than salt for feathers and wings ? Thoughts ? Please and thank you 🙏
I have never personally used borax but it don’t hurt to try
Thank you!! I am raising quail, and I would like to preserve the wings to sell for training hunting dogs. Can the salt be reused multiple times to help cut on costs?
It’s not recommended but if the salt is still ‘loose’ and then Yes!
@@taxidermypunk4685 Thank you for such a quick response!
A few questions. Would this prevent Rot, Smell, Decomposition, and Keep them forever preserved for display? found Road kill and the wings were gorgeous.
Yes yes and yes! If done properly these will last forever
Completely new to this, but I found the wings of a black vulture in the woods out back (both wings are still connected to the keel). Would it be reasonably possible to preserve it whole, or would you suggest just severing the wings and drying them out separately?
@@anonymousalien7417 I would say separation is better. It’s a risk doing the keel with them because if it does not cure and starts rotting you’ve gotta scrap the whole thing
does this method of preservation leave any odors? ive got a gorgeous raven wing stashed in the freezer, maybe a day dead at time of finding, and the bird itself smelled a bit at the time. not severely as it was pretty newly dead but still, hoping to keep it without stinking up the house
No it may have a dry meaty smell but that leaves after you take it out the salt
@@taxidermypunk4685 thanks so much!
Hey I wanted to say you can also mix dried lavender into the salt and it can help with scent!
Hi, Thank you for this info. I have two questions I was hoping you could help me with:
1. How do you clean the salt off of the feathers?
2. Do you wash, steam and blow dry the wings after the salt?
Thank you for your help!
I use a tooth brush or any soft brush to loosen up the salt after wards
Do NOT get them wet after drying they may start to rot because of it
Hi thank you for the video, for how long should I leave my wings in salt ?
The Description says two months!! I was confused too!
@@jadennightshade5092 thank you
Hello. I was gifted parts parts of a dead crow but there is still a lingering smell will salt help with smell of these? 😊Thank you kindly in advance.
If it has started to smell it may be rotten, dry it for longer and if no luck you may have to let it rot outside for the bones sorry :(
Some people have mixed dried herbs and potpourri to help if it has any weird scent
@@taxidermypunk4685 I appreciate your time to reply and knowledge
Can you use Borax instead of Salt? Is Salt the best option for the wings?
You can use borax as well I just use salt because it’s a cheaper alternative, just keep an eye on it and change frequently since borax likes to clump up
So how long it’s got to say buried in salt?
Question: how long should you preserve it in the salt?
Depends on size I’d do a month minimum just keep an eye on it as it goes you can never do to long
@ ok thank you :)
One of my mom’s peacocks got into some sort of accident so we had to remove its wing just yesterday would I still need to put it in the freezer or would I need to salt it first? I’m asking mainly because I don’t want to screw this up and have the bird loose its wing completely
@@Lex.Gothic if it’s fresh no need to freeze go ahead and salt it!
I found a red owl . Dont i have to disinfect it first ?
Christinia Chavez putting it in the feeezer a few days will disinfect it, but only if its fresh dead with no maggots
Can the salt be reused for future wings?
If it’s not all chunky from collecting moisture yes only keep salt that still looks “unused”
Do you put lid on container or leave it open?
I would put the lid on but poke a few holes so moisture won’t escape
@@taxidermypunk4685 Thank you! :)
I came across a hawk that’d been hit by a car, and it was a bit mangled but the wings were still in decent shape. Would this still work if the bones were broken, and then stabilize them after they’re done curing?
It should but I can’t truly say as I’ve never tried it but I would definitely stabilize BEFORE you cure it will be easier that way
Thank you!
i have some wings but left then inside a bag for a month can i stull do this process? I don't know it needed to be dine until now, i want to put them in a frame they look good they stayed closed now they are a bit hard bit i want to open them carefully all feathers look good
@@danielchapa7195 do they smell? How have they been kept?
@@taxidermypunk4685 yes they smell a bit but they're kept inside a little plastic bag folded, each one on a separate bag but everything looks ok, what should I do ? I also live in sea level in Cancún mexico so i am not sure about the salt process cause of humidity
@@danielchapa7195 if they already smell I don’t think it would end up working but you can still try! Humidity might make it hard but just keep an eye on it and you should be good
@@taxidermypunk4685 they look pretty good considering that it passed away a month ago , the smell is not really that bad, the bag is kinda sealed so maybe it has helped a bit, and the wings are from a small owl, dont have that much of meat,will do it tomorrow and will let you know how it goes, thanks for your advice
@@danielchapa7195 can you give us an update? I have this sparrow wings, since they are starting to smell a bit, for now I am soaking them in alcohol to prevent them from rotting, so if you have done that, I would like to know if this works for older dead animals, thank you
Do i put a lid on the container and where should i put it (indside or outside)
So I suggest keeping it inside in a cool dark place, out side is fine to just keep an eye on the temps don’t want any condensation in the box, lid is optional but if you do put a lid make sure it’s got holes for air flow . If you need anymore help just lmk
Thank you😊
IDK if you check this channel or get notifications. but stupid question, do we put the lid on the container?
Hey I still keep up even if I don’t upload! I only put the lid on because I have a bunch of critters running around and nosey cats, but no you don’t need to put the lid on and if you do leave some kind of ventilation like holes in the lid so the moisture sucked up by the salt can escape
Can you still preserve the wings and talons after severe decomposition?
No once rot sets in it’s in, sorry :(
Great… how long do you leave the wings in salt before it’s preserved and ready to create a Smudge Fan? Thanks.
Would borax be a good alternative??
@@freddieevansjr9623 I’ve heard that borax works good! I personally haven’t used it but it would be worth a shot
Just a question should I be changing the salt out as it absorbs moisture?
Yes
Okay cool that's kind of what I figured but I wasn't 100% sure, however if I leave the moist salt on the wings for too long will it cause mold or is that okay, oh and thank you for answering my question I really appreciate it
Sooo I'm just curious is having it wrapped in a napkin sitting on my dehumidifier right now doing anything or not sanitary lol?
My friend brought in 2 ducks to work today and tossed me a wing he told me to just leave it on my basement furnace for a month 😅
I already put mine in salt for a month or so now.. is it just too late for me to freeze em for parasite stuff? They’re in good condition and everything. Just didn’t freeze em.
No not ever bird has parasites it’s just a good practice with most wild animals, if you haven’t had a problem already then you want have one, hope everything goes well !
Does ice melt salt work?
THIS WAS SO HELPFUL!!!
I have a few pairs of tallons/ wings baking right now, and am trying various different methods of preserving for each set!!
Do you know any specific tips on how to minimize smell? I’ve found everything fresh, but there’s always a faint lingering scent- nothing too noticeable, but still present.
Again, this video does WONDERS, thank you!!!
If you have a smell more salt time is best, when you salt it mix in some herbs of your liking! I’d you don’t have access to herbs you can use good smelling tea bags! Just rip the (DRY) tea bag and mix it into the salt
Also is the salt is starting to get “chunky” replace it for fresh, it clumps as it sucks out moisture!
As first Nation's smoke is how you cure the smell then smudge with cedar and sage
I lost my wings. There was maggots all around them and it smells so bad. First time i did this,with the same process worked. I always find them dead by the road here🥺
Hi! My cat just killed a dove and I want to preserve its wings. We are currently on holiday and far away from any shops to buy salt. Is there a maximum amount of time you can freeze them for? We are going back home in a week so we can get salt there. Also we will be in the car for at least 7 hours, if I put it in a cooler box will it work? It won’t be frozen but hopefully it will stay cold.
@@Fern.The.Otter.Therian keeping them frozen untill your trip is over will be just fine! Yes keep it in a cooler on your drive if you can start preserving as soon as you get home it should be thawed enough for you to work with it !!
@@taxidermypunk4685 Alright thank you for replying so quickly!
Turns out we had a HUGE bottle of salt so I could do it now. I also managed to use the feet! Sadly only one wing was usable cuz my cat chewed the other one.
2 questions. 1. When it comes to pinning the wing in the pose, do I have to do that if the wing is already staying in position? Or is it gonna end up closing again due to the salt? And 2. How long is the wing and feet meant to stay in the salt?
It may close again or “shrink/shrivel” as it cures in the salt so I definitely suggest pinning, they can stay in the salt for months this takes a while and I suggest atleast a month in the salt
Should there be any smell from the box? At first I placed it in cornmeal for about 3 days but then I read that's not a very good idea.
No smell any kind of strong smell means it has started to rot! If it already stinks sadly burying it for the bones is your best bet
Thanks mate, I’m having a crack at a white cockatoo wing here in Oz. 🙏❤️
That’s awesome! My condolences if it was a pet
How long do we keep it in the salt for?
Is it possible to do small birds like a budgies
Yes this works with any bird
Do you put a lid on the container? And how long do you leave the wing in the salt?
Reiter & Reiter cover the lid with something like plastic wrap with a fee holes poked in and leave it in a warm dry place for up to two months or until the parts are stiff
@@taxidermypunk4685 use plastic wrap that has holes poked in it with lid? Or just plastic wrap with holes??
@@TheDementedBabe just the wrap will be fine
A quail just flew into my house and I'm going to do this with its wings.
would you be able to use sea water insted of salt? or would the water mess things up?
Water starts rot so no sea water would not work
is there a way to preserve the bird wing in a way that its still flexible? like you are able to bend it
No sadly , the only way to leave the joint bendable would be to not let it cure all the way and then it would begin to rot
So, you just put them straight into the salt without removing any muscle, right? How'd she turn out? Thanks for sharing!
It’s good to not leave any huge chunks of exposed meat , and she turned out amazing , I’ll be posting her very soon
Can I use borax instead of salt?
I personally haven’t used borax but I don’t see why not, give it a try, I’d like to hear back from you when you’re finished
Ive just found a dead crow. I was thinking of just burying it and going back for it in a year.. would the wings still be intact or do I have to do this?
You would have to do this but if you didn’t put him inside the freezer then he’s no good, what you can do is pluck the wing feather (GLOVES) and hold onto them while he rots, feathers can be fixed back onto the bones! To disenfect feathers keep them in a jar of equal parts water and peroxide then dry them out and shape them with your fingers
For anyone who’s wants JUST the wing, I tend to leave the rest of the bird out for the coyotes or other predators if you want a good way to dispose of the rest of the bird without wasting it 👍
How long does the wing need to be in the salt for before its ready to be left in the open? I want to use it to make a smudge wand....same goes for the feet, how long before they can be out in the open?
They need to stay untill they are COMPLETELY stiff there should be no give if there is it’s still ‘raw’ I usually give it up to three months just to be safe! But for very small birds like doves it should only be a month
@@taxidermypunk4685 sweet, 3 months it is....thanks for the reply
@@elronmosdell1310 no problem, good luck!
Does freezing kill the feather mites?
Yes it does
Okay so I need some help and suggestions quite quickly my step dad has zebra Finches two young ones died they look fully grown like size and feather wise but unfortunately 2 died and I want to preserve them somehow as I collect bones and things but I'm not sure how I'm thinking about leaving one in a rot box to decompose so I can have a skull and taking ones wings and preserving those but I'm not sure
If you take the one you want to rot and put it inside a plastic shopping bag in a sunny part of your yard it will break down to bone completely with no mess in about two months.
I’d do one in the salt and one to rot, since finches are so small you can actually preserve its entire body just remove Ibarra and pack it with the salt
I have a dead rat that was killed in a trap a few months ago. I put him in a bucket with a lid and had plans on burying him after some research, unfortunately it was harder than I thought to figure out what exactly to do with this whole rat skin fur and all, so when the time had come to just bury him and cross my fingers winter had hit… so I wasn’t able to put him in the ground. He’s now still in the bucket with the lid in the garage. Probably frozen, when summer comes will he unthaw and be all mush? Bones too? Or does he have some hope of saving, I just want his bones. Maybe a skull
I’ve found that putting the body inside a plastic bag (grocery bag/garbage bag) with a hole or two poked in it, and then leaving the bag outside in a safe area where it will get plenty of sun and bug activity, leads to the body being broke down to bone in a matter of months other then burying him and waiting a year. Yes he is perfectly salvageable the only way he would be is if his bones where broken but he sounds like a good specimen, keep me updated with what you figure out!
So did you freeze him first? I have a dead little bird I found in my backyard and i froze it so trying to find out what to do now. I want feathers, feet and wings.
Yes a day or two in the freezer is essential for killing any parasites on the bird both inside and out
is there another way to sanitize the bird before salting it?
i only have one freezer for my food and i dont really wanna be putting stuff like that with the rest of my families food.
ive seen another method of leaving the body in an antibacterial soap and water mixture for a few days but i dont know how well that would work
I wouldnt leave it in the soapy water because that could start the maceration process (GROSS) but the freezer is your only method, I personally wrap the body in a few layers of trash bags , tape it, and then box it before freezing it and my moms non the wiser about the box in the freezer lol
You don't have to salt the feathers, just the flesh.
The goal of salting is to fix and dry the meaty parts.
Correct! I was young when I made this and it needs a few adjustments
@@taxidermypunk4685 Thank you.
Used your vid to prep the wings and tail of my favorite pigeon.
How long do you leave the feathers in the salt?
Two months and up, if the salt starts to get chunky change it out that means it removing moisture
How long can I leave it in the freezer? I found an owl yesterday but I’m in the middle of packing and moving in a week and half. Can I leave it in the freezer until I move?
The cool thing is. You can leave it as long as you need! Some museum have frozen specimens from DECADES ago and after a quick thaw there practically brand new, you can leave the owl in the freezer untill your good and settled into your new home, just be sure to thaw them completely when your ready to use
Does the disinfect the bird wings?
No , to disinfect it’s good to put the bird into the FREEZER for up to THREE DAYS to kill any parasites, if you still don’t feel 100% just wear your gloves and solider trough
Can salting work to preserve the head of the bird?
Salting heads it’s a bit more complicated I myself haven’t completely got it yet but Its better to remove the brain and eyes carefully and pack the holes with the salt and submerge in salt completely
Hey, great video - super helpful thanks. One question though, do you clean the feathers at any point? I’ve seen a few written descriptions suggesting washing them in a liquid before running them down with a non ammonia based product to give them a shine? Cheers
I personally let the freezer do the work for me but if you mix a 1:2 of hot water and dish soap and let them soak that works to
What can I do with the rest of the body?
You could do a few things such as wet preserving organs, and of course cleaning the remaining skeleton to keep if you’d like, pluck all feathers to keep ect.
@@taxidermypunk4685 so smart, I didn't think about doing wet specimens!
@@courtneyhawkins6834 I’ve done a few myself but there not the best it’s a hard practice to master 🥲
I found a dead owl too yesterday but nothing i could do bcs the bird's hanging 15 m above the ground. Today i found it on the ground but it really stink and there's a lot of ants and diphteras. should i bring it home or just leave it rest in peace:(((( I've been thinking about it since yesterday 😭
If you’d like to keep the bones , get a trash bag and gloves and collect the bird, if you have a big yard tie the bag up and place it some where it will be safe from other animals and let it sit for a few months and it will completely rot to the bone with minimal mess, if he stinks he’s to far gone to salt preserve but his bones are fine!
@@taxidermypunk4685 alright thnk you so muchhhhh
Can I use borax too? Instead of salt?
I’ve heard talk of people using borax and even cornmeal, I personally have never tried but I’d always research before trying
@@taxidermypunk4685 should I wash the wings and talons before putting them in borax?
@@realmsofthespiritarts8557 no, unless they are visibly dirty the freezer will be enough
@@taxidermypunk4685 oh they were bloody and smelled so bad. I washed them and the talons. I dried them with a hair dryer as much as I could and put salt/borax over them. The wings are huge so Left them on my garage floor is that ok to leave them out drying if there’s still meat and bone attached but everything is covered completely with the salt
And borax. My friend said I might want to clean out the bones… it’s not attached to much of it but enough. I’m wondering will that rot and should I do more work to that region where the wings are attached to?
@@realmsofthespiritarts8557 everything should be fine as long as they stay dry , the shed should stay hot with dry heat, if it feels humid move them to a hot dry area
As far as the meat, a small amount will definitely dry out no problem, if you let it dry out you will be able to peel it off the bone when it’s finished
How long do you keep it in salt
Up to two months, this takes a while to do
where are your gloves?
The bird is clean , and not sick so I’m fine, gloves tend to make you slip and the blades I use risk taking off a finger
What kind of owl is this? I just found one myself and can't id it
This is a barred owl, i suggest googling a lost of all owl species you should be able to find it
@@taxidermypunk4685 is the freezing to kill meat borne maggots etc or for mites? Or both? This bird is still warm and it's been a cold here
@@elizabethroberts9867 nah if theres already bugs present its bo good just get bones from it, it had to be literally fresh as in right to the freezer after it died
Can you reuse the salt?
I definitely would NOT reuse the salt
Hi, I just found a dead owl which was probably hit by a car too
For how long do I have to keep the wings inside the salt container? How did yours turned out?
Leave them for up to a month, and mine actually turned out amazing! I’ll be making a video of the finished product very soon
@@taxidermypunk4685
Thank you so much!
I’m kinda nervous since I used a Salt/Borax/Cornmeal mix ^^”
ever use borax?
Personally no but I’ve heard it works great , I’m sure you can swap the salt for borax in this instance
Thanks for this guidance! A few questions.... I have a fresh bird that broke it's neck flying into my window at home, do I need to freeze it first or can you put it strait I to the salt from freshly clipped wings?
And as it's drying out does it cause a lot of bad smell at all?
And is it ok to cover the container at all perhaps over night so rats/pests don't get in?
Thanks for your help!
Freezing is necessary because birds tend to be covered in mites! The freezing process insures all the bugs are dead
Will you timelapse the salt pour please!
Poor owl 😭😭😭
I knooow I was so sad when I got him , still don’t get how you manage to hit an OWL
How about my comment to stop cursing doing this sacred art.
You’ll get over it lol
Poor thing. Unlucky things the world come to far to stop
I'm crying. Hes so beautiful 😢😢
Some wild sunbirds made a nest in our garden, one baby didnt make it to adult hood sadly it was the runt of the clutch, but i didnt realise until it was too late. I felt really guilty for letting nature do it's thing so i wanted to see if i could preserve this baby.
I know that pain nature is cruel but things happen, if you put the baby straight in the freezer after death then you may be able to wet preserve him, I don’t have a tutorial for that but there are several great ones online, sorry for the loss 🌟💚
Is the owl dead???
Yes he was hit by a car and found by a friend brought it to me
So gross without gloves. Just giving that dead owl a massage 🤢
He’s been froze so long it’s completely sanitary, people who work in museums do it bare handed to :)
Do you realize you can get into nasty trouble with this video? This video can get you a fine and jailtime
Again if you people could just read the damn previous comments, I am a registered Native American, I can posses this bird and keep its parts to give to other members of my tribe
@@taxidermypunk4685 I'm glad you are doing this legally, but still recommend putting that in the actual description of the video so people in the future will be aware about it :)
How long must it stay in the salt?
How long do you let it sit for
Up to two months
How long does it take to thaw?
And do I need to do it in the fridge?
Depends on the size! And yes I recommend doing it in the fridge bottom drawer or bottom shelf incase of mess
How long does it need to be in this salt?
A month or longer untill it is completely stiff, if any joints can still move it’s not finished