Turning Heron Into Bones

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 01:02 PM

So since so many of you were interested in this I will make a thread and update everyone from time to time on progress. The process I do is something I came up with myself after reading a bunch of other processes. It has both worked and not worked in the past as I am still 100% refining the process overall. Preperation of the skull depends on how fresh it is. Keep in mind I normally go for "mummified" or long dead animals and have not met with success for really fresh animals.

Also pictures of my fox skull and the heron I plan on doing will be coming in the next post.

First off the process:
I am not sure if there is any real name for what I do, the closest thing could be called "Cold Maceration". Anyways you take the animal you wish to get the skull of (haven't tried it with any other parts) and firstly remove the head from the body itself. Usually I remove part of the neck along with the skull to make sure I don't damage said skull. Depending on the freshness of the animal depends on fur/feather removal. Since I normally go for rather unfresh kills normally I do not remove anything. However, with the heron I am probably going to cut away feathers on the head as much as possible. With my fox I didn't remove anything. With fresh kills it may be needed to remove skin as it will constrict during the process thus ruining skull.

Once head is removed and if you wish any fur/feathers you need to find a bucket with a lid that fits securely. In the past I have used old cat litter buckets, but anything that has a secure lid will do. Fill up the bucket with normal luke warm tap water and put in the head. The water needs to pretty much fill up the entire bucket and cover the head (though in some cases the head might float). We need plenty of bacteria and the more water the more bacteria. Thus larger buckets are better. Secure lid, and make SURE it will not leak in any shape form or fashion. Leave the bucket outside where it can get ample sunlight for most of the day.

It is suggested to check on your water level from time to time. Clear/opaque buckets may lead to water being evaporated. If you notice your water level dropping gently adding in new luke warm water will be needed. Simply take a small glass and fill bucket a glass full at a time. To much disturbance in the water will ruin the habitat of the bacteria. PLEASE BE AWARE THE WATER WILL STINK! This is of course a good thing for the process but bad for your nose.

I wish I could give you a time frame on how long it will take. For my fox skull I waited nearly a month before checking on it to see if ready. It was in Kansas and mid Spring. In hotter/colder environments it will take shorter/longer periods of time. I would suggest using a netted strainer with a long handle (no hands in the water...will stain your hands with stink) to check. If ANY flesh remains on skull do not take out. Simply allow more time for bacteria to eat flesh. For my fox skull it did take a month to completely get cleaned. Smaller skulls probably won't take as long, larger will.

Also know the structure of your skull! If it seems to have lots of small parts that by themselves won't "fit" together then understand that it will fall apart in this process. I believe some lizards have boney pieces that are part of the skull but not directly attached to it. Bottom jaws also usually come apart into at least two pieces and of course will not be attached to the skull itself.

Once all the flesh has been removed from the skull simply gently GENTLY dump the water. Use a strainer if you think there are other pieces you wish to save (teeth can sometimes fall out if damaged). THE STENCH CAN KNOCK YOU OVER, so if you live in a neighborhood keep your neighbors in mind! Once skull is removed simply place outside in a nice sunny place for a few days to remove smell and completely dry out. Any flesh that might remain on the inside will also dry out and flake away. Keep in mind the nasal passage could be filled with fine bones. These are part of the skull and should be treated with care!

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 01:10 PM

I am choosing to post links to the heron since it might not be for everyone

Heron
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5389/p1030562t.jpg
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5450/p1030563y.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/5300/p1030564o.jpg
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/9324/p1030579j.jpg

Fox Skull

stephanbakir · 07-20-11, 01:16 PM

Herron pics are links.
Nice guide though, gona finish reading it after I eat.

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Herron pics are links.
Nice guide though, gona finish reading it after I eat.

Made them links on purpose so not everyone would automatically see them if they didn't want to.

Jenn_06 · 07-20-11, 01:28 PM

wish i know all this when i cleaned out a deers skull.

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 03:01 PM

What happened Jenn? Did you boil them out or something?

Jenn_06 · 07-20-11, 04:00 PM

i got all the meat off that i could and boil the skull to get the brain out and the other meat. it turned out good just a lot of work and the house smelled like deers brain for 2 days lol.

marionsclan · 07-20-11, 04:36 PM

Great pics of the fox and as for the Heron, what is so gross about it? I don't see any blood and guts and anyone owning a reptile should be able to handle this. IMHO.

stephanbakir · 07-20-11, 05:11 PM

Great guide, just finished reading.

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 06:18 PM

I haven't started doing anything to the Heron yet because I haven't gotten my bucket. I a hoping my husband will snag something from his work. Once I get it then I will trim feathers on the head, separate the head from the rest of the bird, and take more photos. Hopefully that skull is okay. At this point it is impossible to tell. The entire bird is stiff as a plank.

NennaMeerkat · 07-20-11, 07:56 PM

Going ahead and nudging this since there were so many people wanting to read my process. Hopefully soon I will have more pics of the actual process as well.