Cleaning off bugs

[Harold]

I just got done getting feathers off eagle wings. There were quite a few bugs (grubs I think) on the meaty part.

I cleaned the feathers up as best I could, but I kinda get the feeling that there may be little wee bugs on them yet. Mites, maybe. I was thinking of shaking on some flea powder and letting it do it's job of killing off whatever is on there. Should I?

Does flea powder damage the feathers any?

Any help is appreciated.

[dreamwvr8]

Re: treating feathers

Use borax to treat the feathers. You should be able to find borax in the laundry section of the supermarket or Walmart.
Peace,
Traci

[Harold]

Borax. What do you do? Sprinkle on dry? Leave it for awhile?

[spottedeagle]

Sprinkle some borax on a piece of cardboard, lay your feathers on top of the borax then cover with borax. Let them sit for a few days. Pull the feathers out and shake them off. Shouldn't be anymore bugs.

[Tibiki Kinew]

Re: Cleaning off bugs

Originally posted by Harold
I just got done getting feathers off eagle wings. There were quite a few bugs (grubs I think) on the meaty part.

I cleaned the feathers up as best I could, but I kinda get the feeling that there may be little wee bugs on them yet. Mites, maybe. I was thinking of shaking on some flea powder and letting it do it's job of killing off whatever is on there. Should I?

Does flea powder damage the feathers any?

Any help is appreciated.

yoooooooooooooooh
Don't forget you can put them in a zip lock bag of methylhydrate alcohol (gas line anti freeze from the buck store has it or if you go to a paint department it comes in the gallon as paint thinner). It works great as well and doesn't smell as bad after they dry. Oh and I use a baby brush to smotthen them out after. The alcohol also takes out meat and blood stains.

The reason I don't use powder chemicals is for the reason that this stuff stays in the feathers, I don't want to breathe that sh!te either. Get that in your lungs, the borax and dead mites that is grossssssss.

The rubbing alcohol evaporates and within a while the smell is gone. The good part is the liquid shows in the bag a residue afeter a while and you know where the mites and other crap is. And it is available at the buck stores!

[Tara]

Re: Cleaning off bugs

In addition to borax, you can also try using bird/mite spray available at pet stores, for the little critters.

Tara

[Tom Iron Eagle]

A few more ways.

All the "cures" mentioned are excellent.

You can also use citric acid as mites hate citric acid.

If one does not need to use the feathers right away then pack them in lots of Cedar and just leave them for a long time. That also works well.

[Gold_toothed_dancer]

Forget all that nothing like a good smoke will clean your feathrs up. If you got a pit that work best but if not just use a grilll get a agood smoke going a thick one and smoke them out for 15 min. Give a good shake repeat smoke and shake. Then keep stored in cedar box or go get them cedar chips and a card board box and put your feathr and cedar chips in the box.