Game cocks

[BUDMAN]

I have some friends who fight chickens and have offered to lets me have the skins from the dead birds. Anybody know of a use for these skins and if so does anybody know how to preserve them? I have heard that soaking them (after removing all meat) in a strong solution of borax will preserve them.

[HNeal]

1. Remove all fat and meat from skin.
2. Stake in out on a piece of plywood, feather-side down.
3. Sprinkle a mixture of salt and borax on the hide
4. Let dry out several days and take off board.
5. Sprinkle both sides again with borax.
6. Place in ziplock bag and place in freezer for about 1 week.
7. Take out of freezer for a few days
8. Repeat freezing (Freezing is remove any insects or similar pests)

BTW, don't expect much in the way of dry fly hackle. Could be good for streamer wings, palmering, etc.

[BUDMAN]

Thanks HNeal i'll give it a try.

[Mr T1]

Budman -- Be sure to follow his instructions. A friend gave me a fresh pheasant skin one time. I put salt on it and left it outside until it was dry and quit stinking (about 10 days) then put it under my bed where my tying kit was. Bout a month later I pulled it out to start removing feathers and it was crawling with bugs and maggots. Boy was my wife PO'd. I didn't get a single feather off if it. Wish I had had HNeals advice then.

Mr. T