Sponsored by the
Museum of Natural
Science, Louisiana State University
Freeze-drying
bird specimens
We have
had bad experiences after freeze-drying birds - they're
just too tasty for Anthrenus and other pests! The skins are also  difficult to use - there's little flexibility
in the wings and  legs. I would only use
a freeze drier for decaying specimens which  have feathers that are slipping so badly, that
a conventional skin  cannot be made.  One other point - remember servicing costs. No
one on our staff  could maintain the
machine efficiently and we had huge annual  servicing bills to pay!  Tony Irwin
Dr A.G.Irwin, Natural History Department,
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service,
The Shirehall, Market Avenue, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3JQ England
----- Original Message -----
From: Williams, Rod
To: AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 9:29 PM
Subject: [AVECOL-L] Freeze dryer
\I have a general question regarding freeze dryers. Several  faculty members at my university are
interested in purchasing a  freeze dryer
(Myself for perhaps preparing bird study skins  and/or herp mounts; for freeze drying plants;
for freeze drying  fish samples? just to
name a few). I have tried to work my way  through the various types of freeze dryers
myself, and I am now  thoroughly
confused. I am really looking to keep the cost below  $10,000. Do any of you have any
experience with freeze-drying  bird study
skins? Advantages? Disadvantages? Are there any  particular brands/types that you would
recommend. Any  information that
you may have would be very much appreciated.  
Thanks in advance.
Rod N.
Williams
Vertebrate Curator/Coordinator of
Laboratory Instruction
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
195 Forestry Building
Purdue University