Thread: material for bone chips?

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Hi everyone...
Does anyone know what I could use to resemble bone chips or fragments to put in a small jar. I had thought about like chicken bones but I dont want anything that would draw bugs or anything. Can you clean and bleach out real bones to not cause bugs? thanks

PS.. everyone on this forum is absolutely awesome and I so appreciate everyones talent and the time to show others the how-to's- on so many wonderful projects!!!

Crystal

yes you can use chicken bones. 1st boil them for a while and make sure all the meat etc. is off and then soak in bleach for a while. dry them in the sun and place them in a jar. they will be fine and should not draw bugs.

thanks boogy.... that will work for me and easy enough!!!

There are many options for cleaning bones I've learned over the years.

Boiling has the tendency to make bones fall apart, become brittle or melt, here are two suggestions for cleaning your bones.

1. Find a large ant hill, believe it or not if you take some bones and put them on a it the ants will eat all the flesh and morrow from them. I'd suggest putting the bones in a box with holes so no large predators {dogs, cats, racoons etc.} come along and steal your bones.

2. Professionals use flesh eating beetles called Dermestid Beetles to clean bones. You can buy them online and other places. You will not need to bleach them.

I have used chicken and turkey bones several times. I boil them until the gristle, etc falls off, 2 or so hours. Then i rinse well and scrub all the extra bits of meat and such off. Then I soak them in soapy water overnight, at least eight hours to help cut the grease. Then I soak them in peroxide for eight or so hours (I tried bleach, I like peroxide better). then i pop them outside in the sun for a bit and Voila fabulous looking bones. They have never drawn bugs. Although i did get a rogue cat on my porch, shortly after Thanksgiving, gnawing on my turkey bones...I think it gave them a little more character!