mybadhabit 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 I went looking for some turkey feathers the other day and got a huge surprise, I'd been infested with bugs!!!! I had most of my feathers in a plastic tub that I keep closed for just this reason. I'd purchased some feathers at an auction from another tyer and I think they came with the saddles. I lost 2 full saddles, part of a Whiting ginger saddle and some turkey feathers. In other words, I got very lucky that it didn't take the whole 18"x24"15" tub of feathers. It is now loaded with moth balls and has been nuked to take care of any leftovers. One would think after reading this forum every day for a couple of years that I would have learned to not take chances with feathers and skins, BUT NOOOOOOO, I HAVE TO LEARN THE HARD WAY. Now fur and feather boxes and drawers are moth balled and I won't let it happen again, hopefully. Blane Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
atxdiscgolfer 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 Bummer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 Its a constant worry, open up a bag and WHAM! Touch wood, not had an issue yet but found some dead moths last year that I thought may have laid eggs but no sign thankfully Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J-Kno 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 I have been keeping my furs and feather in separate plastic bags (original packaging). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 I lost a JC cape that way last fall some goofy looking millipedes must have come in from the seller as it hadn't been opened I had bought the cape from an estate auction for $5 so I wasn't to upset Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtrout58 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2013 I once purchased someone's entire fly tying material stash. I put it away for about six months and when I decided to organize the stash it was all chewed up and infested. Thankfully, I kept it separated from my materials or I would have faced disaster. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockworm 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2013 Our best friend in this regard is the Zip Loc bag. I keep every skin in its own bag and add a few crystals of para-dichloro-benzene every time I put it away. If I get an infestation it will take out, at most, a single skin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LP ID 66 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2013 I don't know what i would do if this happened to me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Fisher 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2013 I have periodically rotated skin and feathers through the freezer, and so far, my infestations have been limited to inconsequential stuff, but I have always wondered if the freezer is really effective in killing eggs/larvae, or if it just keeps them dormant for a while and I've been lucky. Any freezer experiences to share? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted November 27, 2013 Hi Andy, if you freeze a fresh skin/feathers you freeze living crawling bugs and that should kill them. But eggs may well lie dormant and hatch later when materials are at room temp. If you freeze, warm up and zap in microwave and freeze again you hopefully break the cycle. But I don't normally bother with second freezing and haven't had problems yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
essequamvideri 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2013 I this is an on going discussion through out this forum. The one thing I have not read yet is the use of aromatic cedar. I have used it for many years. Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mybadhabit 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2013 It is a topic that comes around about once or twice a year. It comes up about each time someone get the bugs. Blane Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites