I am looking for the best way to remove the individual feathers from a pair of mallard wings. Each time I try to do this I wind up butchering the wings. I want to be able to match the primaries, secondaries, etc from each wing so I will have matching sets to use in the future.
So, what is the ‘secret’ to getting those feathers off the wings in decent shape?
Robert,
I use cutters. Then team up the feather pairs by taping them together as matched sets.
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
Robert,
Like Hans I simply cut them from the wing whenI need them.
I never really understood the rationale behind removing feathers form a skin prior to needing them. On the skin they are protected, sorted, and stored.
So, I leave them on the wings until I need a pair. Then I snip off a lefty and a righty.
Robert,
If you’re talking about the ‘primaries’, here’s what I do coincides with above responses. Get some type of tape (scotch, masking, duct). Get a pair of wire cutters. Spread both wings. Clip the 1st primary from one side then the other side. Tape and label. Clip the 2nd from one side then the other and so on. Make the cuts as close to the base of the feathers as you can. You’ll end up with identified pairs of wing feathers.
For other feathers used for soft hackles, etc, I find it easier to leave these feathers on the skin. Just make sure the skin is clean, dry and free from any insects.
Allan
A large pair of side cuts works great. I just take off a pair of wings at a time.
Eric
Thanks Guys
I was trying to pull them out like hackle feathers and since the wings I get are rock hard, a lot of the feathers got mangled.
Tried the cutters tonight and that works out great.
Now… If I could get a ‘matched’ set of wings it would help a lot. The last two ‘matched’ wing sets I got must have come from lopsided ducks as the lefts and rights where not even close. I make up for it by using other mallard quills to get as close a match as I can.
It would be VERY nice if they came matched in the first place, but I/we are at the mercy of the mail order houses. My local shops don’t even carry mallard wings as most of them are saltwater/bass oriented shops here in Central Florida.
Thanks again for the help.
Bob
The problem is, even wings from the same bird won’t match much of the time. I’ve bought several teal, wood duck, mallard, a coot, goose, and the wings never quite matched. You just have to make do. If you’re doing no-hackles, you’ll be buying so many pairs of wings, after awhile they’ll all be just a blurr.
Eric
You can repair almost amy damage to the feathers fibers by steaming over a tea kettle. A little wet heat and some preening and even the most mangled feather will look like new…
Robert,
I’m with Eric, it’s vital to match a left with a right. It’s best to match primaries and secondaries and it’s good to match color and curve. But, that all can be done with wings from different ducks.
I don’t get too worried about what feather came from what wing.
Eric,
When buying pairs of wings from a flyshop outlet, chances are they are not from a single bird maybe? 
Best find yourself a hunter and barter your way into fresh materials…
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
I’m afraid that I just don’t understand the trouble that you guys are having getting the feathers loose from duck wings. I have a black lab and a chocolat lab who have demonstrated several times how easily and quickly this can be done without tools or any major effort at all. Some of the quills could even be repaired for fly tying purposes. 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
I did find using the nippers most helpful and the last set of wings I did the other night came out very nice. One thing that seemed to help, even using the nippers, was to separate the ‘blues’ and other small gray feathers from the primaries and secondaries group. They split apart fairly easily and then it was a lot easier to get the individual feather cut off from the two main clumps. I save all the usable feathers not just the quills and have use them on various flies at times, but find little call for them in the pattern recipes.
Bob