We keep feathers from grouse for craft projects. Mainly it is the tail fans and wings. I have just been salting and drying them, but have had some trouble with beetles. What is a better option? If I just painted the meaty portions of the tail fan with tanning formula would that preserve it and keep the bugs out? Wings seem like they would be more difficult to do this with.

Interesting ! I have never had an issue keeping those things for YEARS !! What sort of beetle ??

Borax is much better but better yet,clean all meat off first.Freezing is a good idea for storage,either way.You either have dermestid beetles or clothing moth larvae.

Yep, what Taximan said. Borax is better than salt.

If you don't have to keep the feathers together for your projects I would suggest pulling them out individually and throw away the meat and fatty bits. If you really want to keep them together you'll still have to take time to clean off all meat and as much fat as possible. You can carefully peel the skin off the tail sections. Be sure to remove the uropygial gland at the base of the tail, dorsal side, and the tiny bones that extend between the two center tail feathers. On the arms I actually remove the bones and meat and then borax heavily. The wing feathers will still be all attached with the skin. Borax and keep in a dry place.

I agree with using borax. And storing in a freezer when not needed.

Any time you have dried flesh around, it seems like you will attract beetles. Especially in warmer weather.

Beetles are likely called Dermestids

Like stated use Borax on it, also as for the wings cut open the underside of the wings where the space between the bones and clean the meat out of the big wings and put borax in it and let dry.Cover the inside of the feathers and the skin side with borax after it dry it will last for years. I have some I done over 20 years go and no bugs or rot .Borax is also use with taxidermy of birds. also other parts of taxidermy .

We do keep the feather intact so it is difficult to remove all the flesh. Thanks for the input! I will go with borax. The beetles are black with a brown gray on them if I remember correct.

I keep a lot of feathers from different wildlife birds also. For turkey wings I actually will hang them and let the beetles eat them clean. I have done it a few times I just hang them in the woods and they clean up nice. If you have one of those onion sacks works the best the feathers will stay right in the bag instead of dropping off. I have never had a problem with storing feather but of course there isn't any meat etc. on them. Turkey fans I just fold fan and place in a plastic glass of water and salt for a few days and fan it out and pin. I then pour some salt on the bunt end and good to go, no bugs no beetles. Salt is cheap and does the same thing.

That is a dermestid beetle,the same beetles that are used for skull cleaning.

^ thanks Taximan, no wonder they clean up those feather ends so nice. WOW had no idea they where the same kind of beetle for skull cleaning.

They'll also move on to any mounts you have in the house if they get hungry.

What can they eat off a mount when the hide has been tanned?

I f you are talking about preserving the feathers and barbs themselves, I spray them until damp with Raid flying insect spray and let that dry. I do turkey tails this way when I save one. Borax on the tail stub and raid on the feathers.

Everthing except antlers.Taxidermists used to put arsenic in mounts to kill bugs but those guys are al dead now.There is nothing in modern tanning that kills or repels bugs.Thats why you should never invite them in your home by leaving dead matter around like uncleaned skulls,antlers with old,dead skin on the skul caps,etc..

They will also move on to wool clothes and carpet.

Carpet Beatles, and they eat the skin around the base of feathers or hair.