Tanning bird skins?
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the answer is probably, but it im doubtful the finished product would be of much use for anything, rabbit skin is very thin and when the fur is removed its not much good for anything except small bags etc.. if you really wanted to do it you could look at the principals used for tanning ostrich skin, which is often turned to leather, and apply them to chicken..
if you do it let us know how you get on
(you will probably get more out of it if you fry it up and eat it, YUM!)
if you do it let us know how you get on
(you will probably get more out of it if you fry it up and eat it, YUM!)
Since posting the question I have done a little search. The leather made from the legs appear to be a useful commodity with a unique texture.
http://www.kidscastle.si.edu/channels/science/articles/sciencearticle27.html
http://www.exoticleather.biz/chicken_leather.htm
http://www.indiamart.com/indobest/
http://www.kidscastle.si.edu/channels/science/articles/sciencearticle27.html
http://www.exoticleather.biz/chicken_leather.htm
http://www.indiamart.com/indobest/
http://www.mckenziesp.com/new_prod_Mckenzie_Tan.asp
Seems to be done a lot in taxidermy, I don't know how trad or bushcrafty ways of tanning would work, but I guess they should
Seems to be done a lot in taxidermy, I don't know how trad or bushcrafty ways of tanning would work, but I guess they should
Hi there
I've tanned chicken skin quite effectively with mimosa bark. It comes out much thicker than you would expect and is pretty tough. It does have a unique texture and the skins are a rather strange shape, but I reckon they could be made into something useable. If you can't get hold of mimosa (the extract is imported, usually from Africa) then I imagine our native barks could be used. Although oak is traditional, I find willow is easier to get hold of in sufficient quantities and works as well.
(tip:- the skin is fragile before its tanned, so don't be too particular about getting all the membrane off. Wait until it's partially tanned and then finish cleaning when it is a bit tougher or you end up with holes)
Incidentally, I found the chicken skin was quite a bit tougher than rabbit when tanned.
Willowbark
I've tanned chicken skin quite effectively with mimosa bark. It comes out much thicker than you would expect and is pretty tough. It does have a unique texture and the skins are a rather strange shape, but I reckon they could be made into something useable. If you can't get hold of mimosa (the extract is imported, usually from Africa) then I imagine our native barks could be used. Although oak is traditional, I find willow is easier to get hold of in sufficient quantities and works as well.
(tip:- the skin is fragile before its tanned, so don't be too particular about getting all the membrane off. Wait until it's partially tanned and then finish cleaning when it is a bit tougher or you end up with holes)
Incidentally, I found the chicken skin was quite a bit tougher than rabbit when tanned.
Willowbark
Thanks Willowbark,
Did you tan chicken leg or chicken body skin?
I have never tanned anything before. Could someone lay out the steps you would do to get a piece of skin into leather? I once followed thread on "brain tanning". Is the bark used instead of brain?
Did you tan chicken leg or chicken body skin?
I have never tanned anything before. Could someone lay out the steps you would do to get a piece of skin into leather? I once followed thread on "brain tanning". Is the bark used instead of brain?
I tanned the whole skin, down to the "knee" joint. I reckon the leg skin alone would be so small it wouldn't be worth the hassle.
Oops - just answered the first part of your question there sorry.
The way I tanned the chicken skin is a form of vegetable tanning. Large tannin molecules from plant material (ie bark from trees such as mimosa, oak, chesnut or willow) bind with the proteins of the skin and because the tannins are very stable, they prevent rotting.
Brain tanning is a bit different. Basically it is a form of "fat liquoring", where fats from the brain surround the protein fibres and preserve them. With brain tanning however, if the finished leather gets wet, it will go stiff. To help prevent this the skin can be smoked. Chemicals in the smoke react with the brain fats and add a further stabilising effect. Brain tanning produces beautiful soft buckskin leather (after a lot of work). Vegetable tanning produces a harder leather, such as might be used for belts, knife sheathes etc. Most modern leather is chrome tanned. This can get wet and be dried again with no ill effects, but the leather cannot be moulded or tooled and blunts your tools very quickly. Chrome salts are also toxic, so its not a method to try at home.
Thin skins like chicken and rabbit can also be preserved by rubbing alum into them. Alum can be got hold of quite easily as it is used as a mordant in dying cloth.
In short, there's a lot of options depending on what you want the leather for. Possibly your easiest bet if you want to try a chicken skin is to use willow or alder bark. Strip off about a carrier bag full of bark in March/April time, break into small pieces and boil up in water for about two hours at a slow simmer. Put a dab of the cooled liquid on your tongue. If it feels like drinking really strong tea it should be OK. Strain off the liquid and put it in a plastic bucket with your chicken skin. Stir daily. After a week, cut a small slit an edge of the skin to see if the skin is evenly tanned. If there is still a pale line in the centre, put back in the tanning solution (timing depends on the strength of the liquid, thickness of the skin and the temperature ~ slower if very cold). If it is done, take out the skin and wash it well, put in water with a little vinegar in over night to "fix" the tannins. Allow to dry until just still damp and rub in oil ( fish oil is traditional, but neatsfoot will do or even olive oil at a pinch). The skin should now be ready to use.
Hope this hasn't bored you rigid and good luck.
Willowbark.
The way I tanned the chicken skin is a form of vegetable tanning. Large tannin molecules from plant material (ie bark from trees such as mimosa, oak, chesnut or willow) bind with the proteins of the skin and because the tannins are very stable, they prevent rotting.
Brain tanning is a bit different. Basically it is a form of "fat liquoring", where fats from the brain surround the protein fibres and preserve them. With brain tanning however, if the finished leather gets wet, it will go stiff. To help prevent this the skin can be smoked. Chemicals in the smoke react with the brain fats and add a further stabilising effect. Brain tanning produces beautiful soft buckskin leather (after a lot of work). Vegetable tanning produces a harder leather, such as might be used for belts, knife sheathes etc. Most modern leather is chrome tanned. This can get wet and be dried again with no ill effects, but the leather cannot be moulded or tooled and blunts your tools very quickly. Chrome salts are also toxic, so its not a method to try at home.
Thin skins like chicken and rabbit can also be preserved by rubbing alum into them. Alum can be got hold of quite easily as it is used as a mordant in dying cloth.
In short, there's a lot of options depending on what you want the leather for. Possibly your easiest bet if you want to try a chicken skin is to use willow or alder bark. Strip off about a carrier bag full of bark in March/April time, break into small pieces and boil up in water for about two hours at a slow simmer. Put a dab of the cooled liquid on your tongue. If it feels like drinking really strong tea it should be OK. Strain off the liquid and put it in a plastic bucket with your chicken skin. Stir daily. After a week, cut a small slit an edge of the skin to see if the skin is evenly tanned. If there is still a pale line in the centre, put back in the tanning solution (timing depends on the strength of the liquid, thickness of the skin and the temperature ~ slower if very cold). If it is done, take out the skin and wash it well, put in water with a little vinegar in over night to "fix" the tannins. Allow to dry until just still damp and rub in oil ( fish oil is traditional, but neatsfoot will do or even olive oil at a pinch). The skin should now be ready to use.
Hope this hasn't bored you rigid and good luck.
Willowbark.
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