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Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 14 11:29 am Post subject: Wings
I have been given some wings..the feathers are still attached together and they have been in salt for a while to dry out the fleshy bit..is there a further treatment that needs to happen to preserve the structure...

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46359
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 14 11:47 am Post subject:

desalting before drying can help with salt cured parts as it reduces moisture uptake(=rot) after drying

without using nasty chemicals a light smoking might help but it depends what you want them for

the victorian hat decorators used mercuric compounds to preserve whole birds which probably was a bad idea

cured as though for furs but longer cure and extra drying might be a good compromise for long lasting and not growing mushrooms etc

if the "marrow " inside the bones is not cured they will rot if they get damp so removing bones and replacing them with sticks is an option

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 14 12:59 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that...definitely dont want mushrooms to grow on them...

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16101

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 7:40 am Post subject:
Might be quite ornamental. Agree you don't though.

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 11:39 am Post subject:
I was thinking that myself...I love toadstools and mushrooms..but in the right place.... I was wondering if I dried them out in the bottom oven of the rayburn on low,,with the door left open slightly..would it ruin the feathers..I am not able to smoke them at the moment.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46359
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 2:19 pm Post subject:
drying should be more air rather than hotter than about 50 C for feathery things imho

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 3:25 pm Post subject:
Ginkotree What are you going to do with them?

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 8:01 pm Post subject:
Making hats, fancy dress items etc..I have a friend who goes to festivals who sells all sorts of fantastic creations..she is showing how to make wings at weekends here....all very frivolous but making Fun times is essential in this day and age in my opinion..

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 14 8:04 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

drying should be more air rather than hotter than about 50 C for feathery things imho

I only ever have it ticking over on a low heat..and with the door slightly open on the bottom oven it will be below 50c...shall try out a few feathers as a tester first....and then maybe with salt on the more fleshy parts on the real thing...worth a try.

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 14 10:16 am Post subject:
Have had them sitting in the bottom of the rayburn with the door ajar for six days and they seem to be drying out at a steady rate and holding together...all the pink has gone. will leave them there for another couple of days to get right to the middle.The salt that was stuck to them is dry so it seems I might have success

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46359
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 14 10:21 am Post subject:
i recon the outside dries much faster than the bones so it they are not in the way leave em quite a while

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Mar 25, 14 3:51 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that..I was worried the feathers might not like the constant warmth but they seem to be staying in good condition.,so they can stay there.

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