How to Dry Bird Wings

Preserve wings after a successful hunt.

Bird wings which have been spread and dried are a dramatic decoration for a wall, mantel place or lintel. The feathers on bird wings retain their bright colors and their shape, and they may be used to frame another hunting trophy or as a decoration in their own right.

Things You'll Need

• Shallow plastic tub
• Borax
• Bird wings

Instructions

1. Pour ¼ inch of borax washing soda into a shallow plastic tub. The plastic tub should be wide enough to hold the wings you want to preserve. Spread the borax evenly so the bottom of the tub is covered.

2. Spread the wings flat and lay them down in the borax.

3. Cover the wings completely with more borax.

4. Place the tub in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, where it will not be disturbed.

5. Allow the wings to dry for one to two months. The borax desiccates the wings.

6. Shake the borax from the wings. They are now ready to be nailed to the wall or otherwise mounted.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray the wings with a parasite spray for domestic birds before desiccating them if you want to make sure that there are no bird mites present.

References

• Native Tech; Preserving Bird Wings, Tails, or Talons; Tara Prindle; September 1998