Duck skulls

J

Joe Sink

Member
Strange question maybe, but other forum searches came up that it's actually "a thing"
I have some spoonbills from opening day and I really wanted to save the skull of a Drake I shot. My searches came up with "duck caping" where people skin the duck and tan the skin to retain color ect.
What I'm trying to do is more of a "euro" mount that you'd see on a deer skull. I skinned the drake and put it in a tupaware full of Borax which is what people swear by for deer skulls. Anyone else ever try this? Anything else I can try on the other Drake skulls?
I'd like to do a few different ways so I can see what works best, kinda strange I know but the spoonbills head is unique and rather then spend the money on a mount I figured I'd try a DIY project to show off the duck.
Thanks
 
I have seen duck skulls euro mounted before alough they were for educational purposes. I think borax may have been a poor choice as it will preserve the flesh which is the opposite of what you want. Taxidermists use beatles to eat all the flesh then they boil the skulls and bleach them. You most likely will have to paint the bill to return it to its natural color. You may want to check with a taxidermist to see if the bill would be edible to the beetles.
 
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I've got a couple of waterfowl skulls cleaned that I use for educational purposes. They are very delicate, but it can be done. After cleaning the best I can either boil them or leave them in the summer sun for the bugs to work on. Once clean a short time in a 3-6% peroxide solution will whiten them up. Dermistid beetles is bar far the best method if you can find someone who has them. Even then you have to watch the progress as the beetles can damage delicate bird skulls. Check around for someone doing European mounts, they may have beetles.
 
I've boiled a few and picked them clean, then hit them with kilz. Ill try to remember to post some pics tonight, might be fun for member to try and ID them!
 
Cool idea, never thought about doing that. Might try it this year.
 
Joe where are you in jersey? There are a few taxidermists in NJ with beetles
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I'm in New Egypt. I picked one skull clean and have it in Borax but the others are just hanging out stinking up my garage. Beetles are probably my best bet, wouldn't mind starting a beetle colony if that makes sense and is possible.
Thanks for the replies. Glad it didn't seem too far fetched of an idea.
 
Charlie Sahanas in Ringwood has beetles. He's about an hour north of you. Although shipping might be an easy option.
 
I've done it by boiling the skulls and then using hydrogen peroxide to bleach them. They a delicate and have a few bones that are only connected by soft tissue (eye ring) so you'll end up with some spare parts.
 
About 10 years ago I left a bear skull out behind my house to let the bugs work on it. It stunk up the whole neighborhood and it was very bad. I finally dug a hole and buried it. It is still there.
 
Charlie Sahanas in Ringwood has beetles. He's about an hour north of you. Although shipping might be an easy option.
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Might look into ordering some and making my own beetle colony.
Boiling may be what I'll do to the one I plucked clean and is in Borax right now.
 
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