I just received my fresh load of Merriams wings. I'm out on the band saw ripping the feathers off the wings and notice all the ones from last year have severe mite damage :scared:
I have about 60 sets of wings and really don't want these to go bad. Any suggestions on storage that won't cost an arm & a leg ????
I put mine in the freezer until I need them. Then I dry them out and put them in baggies with moth crystals in with them. No bugs.
I have been chopping feathers for years. An save my turkey feathers an those of my friends. The best thing i have ever tried an i have never lost a feather to bugs is a popcorn can. The kind that has 3 different kinds of corn. I cut the feathers off the wing as soon as i get them an in the can they go.
We always used a couple of moth balls and put the feathers in a box.
Thanks Guys!
If ya don't want your feathers smelling like mothballs,raid your wifes' spice cabinet & drop a Bay leaf or two in a zip lock with the feathers.
The freezer works the best for me. I have a "dead" freeze just for non-edible animal parts.
i put my feathers in a plastic air tight storage container, and sprinkle a little 20 mule team BORAX in them, keep them bug free, and no bad smell
Ditto what W.Tim says on the 20 Mule Team BORAX. I dust feathers with them and you can also use it to treat a turkey skin with fan and feathers for a nice hanging. Have had this one in my garage for 10 years with no bugs in the lovely and buggy south. You can see the fan behind these arrows.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/SOS_321/101_1966-1.jpg)