Thread: Louise has a fox fur problem

Originally Posted by MissPussyCat

Just found this on ebay if its any help.
1940s fur wrap/stole on eBay (end time 19-Feb-10 20:23:21 GMT)

Thanks for that, we will watch it and see how it goes.

I can certainly give you contact details for 2 or 3 fur suppliers if you PM me, but if your client thinks £100 is too much you haven't a fox's chance in hell.
Even good quality long 'pelt' faux fur is going to come in at about 60 euros a metre ( the best manufacturer is based in Germany).
Oxfam accept real fur coat donations, but don't put them on public sale so as not to upset people, but I can tell you how to contact their warehouse ( they keep them to pass on to cold-climate disaster zones, but will also sell them directly if you have the right contacts).
Rabbit is a cheaper option, but you would need at least half-a-dozen skins, and it's still going to come within a hare's ( sic!) breath of the budget.
Don't even think about buying several assorted fox furs on ebay - the colour and age of the skins will be too different, and you'll never get a good match.

Vx

Hi Viva, thanks for the answer. Yeah, unfortunatly everyone wants lots of dosh for a fox skin that is worth not a lot really!! Two guys have answered us who shoot foxes as a job, they are most willing to spenfd 30 minutes shooting four foxes then sell us the whole fox, body as well for £125.00 EACH!!!!!!!!! They got irrate when I said I can get fresh road kill if it becomes necessary for nowt.

The client doesn't want bunnies fur which is a right pity coz I can get bunnies for nothing by shooting them myself over a chums land.

Still, it has been an eye opener about how people hate killing poor wee foxes and bun buns but are quite happy to take my money for the pelts

I think your best bet is to approach farmers directly (especially those who keep chickens). Those who humane trap their foxes still have to dispatch them by law (usually a shot to the head so no marks on the pelt), and they will probably be glad to see the back of them.

Foxes are begining to get brave at the moment, with young males showing off and mating season approaching, and soon pregnant vixens, so lots of farmers will be starting to think about having a lamping session, you should get a fair few pelts from this.

I will have a word with some people I know in your end of the country and see if I can find anything for you.

I have nothing of any use to add to this, but this whole topic makes me rarther

Instead of scooping up road kill, which frankly is disgusting....or paying people to kill the animals...just tell her it's not do-able n to get quality Faux fur instead. Better for all partys involved! (including those foxes!)

Originally Posted by Cherry CheeseCake

or paying people to kill the animals... Better for all partys involved! (including those foxes!)

The fact is the foxes will be shot anyway, a farmer will live with a few around, as long as they stay away, but inevitably when there are too many foxes and more competition for food, the foxes kill chickens, and sometimes young lambs.

Foxes get into bloodlust and will kill all chickens in sight, sometimes not even taking one to eat! I had a fox kill all 12 of my girls last year, and they were very much family pets. It only took one to eat and left the rest strewn around my garden beheaded for the children to find. They are not evil, but it is their instinct.

So as the foxes WILL be shot, is it not better that they are recycled and admired for their beauty than left somewhere to rot away?

Originally Posted by Raspberry Ripples

I will have a word with some people I know in your end of the country and see if I can find anything for you.

Herro pletty rady!!!! How wonderful to see you again Raspberry How goes things with you and the kids and the dancing and the chickens etc and so forth?

And thanks for any pelts you can get from your contacts.

this is the chap who sells to the reenactors House of De Clifford - Specialist Furriers beautiful furs of all types i've had a number from him over the years for my museum clothing work

Public Health Warning - those of a nervous/vegetarian/animal-loving disposition please read no further.





In all the excitement over road-kill and friendly local game-keepers as a source of cut-price fur, no-one appears to have mentioned the fact that the pelt of a freshly-killed animal can't actually be used : it would need to be thoroughly flensed and then tanned first. Ask your friendly local tanner/taxidermist, or just read 'Silence of the Lambs'.

Speaking for myself, as I eat meat and wear leather I have no problem working with ( Cites-approved) fur and skin, although I would obviously not be happy working with whalebone, even if it were available, but the timing of this thread does seem a tad insensitive, coming as it does just after Cariad Cwtch's thread on how cutesy Fennec foxes are. Don't mean to upset anyone or start up a whole Peta-sponsored thread, but just thought I'd mention it.

Vx

Fishing Tackle/ Game shops might be your best bet or ask Roo you should find her on here I'm sure she managed to get some real foxes tails for her costumes for her final degree show!
dx