Preserving Turkey Feathers

Preserve turkey feathers by cleaning them thoroughly.

Preserving turkey feathers involves a series of steps that removes bacteria and dirt that can cause the feathers to deteriorate prematurely. All of the items you need to preserve turkey feathers are standard household products. Whether you are a hunter who wants to preserve a prize turkey, or simply want to preserve turkey feathers that you have found, you can prepare the feathers so that they retain their shape and color for a long time to come.

Things You'll Need

• Sink
• Warm water
• Liquid dish soap
• Towel
• Washing machine
• Hair dryer
• Borax

Instructions

1. Fill a sink with warm water until it is half full. Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of liquid dish soap to the water and agitate the water slightly to mix in the soap.

2. Place the turkey feathers into the water and gently press them down with your hands to submerge them. Use your hands to swirl the feathers around gently in the water. Rub the shaft of the feather with your fingers to remove dirt and debris, but try not to press the actual feathers or you may damage them.

3. Remove each feather from the soapy water to rinse it. Hold the feather under a gentle stream of water to rinse off the soap residue. Hold the feather by the shaft and point the tip downward so as not to damage the feather.

4. Lay the feathers on a towel in a single layer to allow most of the water to drip off.

5. Place the feathers into a washing machine and set it to the shortest spin cycle. Turn the machine on and wait until it completes the cycle.

6. Remove the feathers from the washing machine and dry them using a hair dryer set to the lowest setting.

Tips & Warnings

• If the feathers are still dirty after the first washing, drain the sink and refill it with water and more liquid dish soap. Wash the turkey feathers a second time in the soapy water.

• You do not need any additional preserving chemicals for feathers because you have removed all of the bacteria and dirt that causes it to decompose.

• If skin is still attached to the turkey, perform the same steps and then rub the skin with powdered Borax to preserve the skin.

References

• Hide Tanning and Taxidermy: Wild Turkey Taxidermy Tips
• The Wild Turkey Zone: How to Make a Cape Mount