I'd pluck them and maybe cut off the tips to get rid of any rotting material. There sholdn't be anything left in the feather that will rot, but it should dry pretty quickly. A mixture of 50% borox and 50% salt (recommended by list members last fall) will do a good job of drying any remaining fleshy matter. I've used it on rabbit, squirrel, deer and phesant skins this year with great results. After a light wash in dish soap and rinsing it dries them in a matter of days with no noticeable bad smell. I would be gentle with the wash and rinse to keep the fibers married.
The microwave will kill bugs that might eat them and infect all of the rest of your materials, but be careful if you use this method. From my own personal experience if you microwave them for more than about 30 seconds they are likely to catch fire - and I assure you that you or your wife don't want to experience that smell first-hand - unless you'd enjoy the smell of lighting a dog on fire. :)
Kev
Disclaimer - No dogs were harmed in my preperation of tying materials. Described smell is speculation.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [VFB] How do you clean turkey feathers??
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 22:56:59 EST
I received a "gift" of turkey tail feathers mostly attached to some of the
birds skin and a separate bag of the the smaller downey feathers. They have
been around for a while so they are a bit "ripe". I know better than to
bring them into the house before they are cleaned, but just how do you clean
them. Is plucking them off the skin ( I'm now a registered Whiting plucker)
and washing them in a soapy solution all thats needed or should they be
disinfected somehow. I've seen previous posts about microwaveing stuff but
didn't save them never realizing I'd be the recipiant of raw material. Any
input appreciated.
Thanks
John
P.S. How do I convince my wife that I need the microwave.
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