Gathering the Fur

There are three main ways to get the fur off the skin the first two are plucking; either by hand or by using a special machine, and the third is sliping, which uses a chemical to strip the fur from the skin after it is removed from the possum.

Plucking

This method is only suitable for possums that have been live-trapped or shot. The possum must be plucked within a few minutes of death or the fur becomes too difficult to be removed.

Fur is best dry. If you end up with wet fur, dry it before offering it for sale. We do not buy water!!

Plucking can be done by either laying the possum down on clean ground, or by holding the possum up by a back leg. Firstly make sure there are no twigs or dirt on the fur. A little bit of blood is acceptable, but large clots
should be wiped off.



Check the length of the fur. Short fibres do not blend into the finished yarn. Fur must be at least 2cm long, with an average of 2.5cm. This is about the length of your first thumb joint. This means that fur from the belly and head will not be long enough. Sometimes there will be patches that are too short - leave these. Fur on the tail is too coarse so do not harvest that either. You can usually take from the outside thigh of each leg, all the back, the sides to about where the fur changes colour, the neck and the back of the head.

Have your clean bag ready - a plastic supermarket bag is ideal.

Gather the fur by gently pulling with your fingers, working from the back legs toward the front. As you gather a handful, flick it off into the bag.

Be careful not to get rubbish into the bag, and that you don't end up dropping bullets or spent shells in.

Debris can severely damage the yarn processing machinery and will also give a false weight.

Storing Fur

Do not keep fur for too long. Often moths and bugs will get in and destroy it. Ensure it is stored in a cool dry place, in a clean bag such as a woven plastic sack such as fertilizer or maize comes in. Do not use an onion bag as the fur sticks to the weave.

Machine Plucking

This method is for cold carcasses and is mainly used after poisoning the possums. It is best undertaken by experienced operators. There are a range of plucking machines available. For more detailed information contact Steve.

Sliping

This process uses a chemical to take the fur off a skin. The skin is removed from the possum then prepared for the sliping process. The chemical will destroy any fur (or your fingernails) it comes in contact with and is a difficult process to do well. It is best left to the professionals.