Does anyone know where I can get realistic Dove and Chicken heads ? I can find fake Doves but not the head and I don’t want to whole fake bird anyway. Also no source for the chicken head….except the McDonald's scandal….but that’s another story. I was thinking on looking up taxidermist but I don’t want to have to supply the bird either if you know what I mean. This is for the head off trick. Any help would be appreciated.

You have to buy a fake dove and do some editing to the body for the size that you want. For the chicken a taxidermist would proably be the way to go, but it might cost a bit more than you want to spend.

Norm Nielsen makes some mighty fine fullsizers. Since he manufactures 'em give him a call and ask if he can make heads for you. Dunno about chickens though.

http://www.nnmagic.com/magicitems/stagemagicpage_al.htm

Just an idea for the chicken head. Go to a few home furnishing stores like Home Goods, TJMaxx, or knick Knack shops. I've seen artificial birds and other animals there and I know I've seen chickens. For the amount of time the audience sees the heads, they don't have to be minutely exact.

I live in the Philippines and cockfighting is a sport here. I've seen fake half roosters on handles for sale at the veterinary shop. They use this to train the roosters for battle.

For fake dove heads, simply cut the Nielson dove. Or mould one from modelling clay and cast it with plaster of paris then use epoxy or your desired chemical.

Some years ago there was a fake dove head sold by Tannen's Magic. It was credited to a Japanese Magician. Came with rubber dove head and a silk. Don't know if still available.

Hocus pocus sells a fake dove head that I purchased about 1 year ago, it is used to remove the head and place it back on in a stage act (usually). Inside the head is a bubble that is filled with fake blood so when the head is removed it begins to drip, although I never used the blood idea. The qualityof the head was not to my satisfaction and after a while I discarded it, and quit using the effect in my act. But I would say your best bet is to find a dead dove (if you want a close match) I don't know how this will happen for you, and bring it to a taxidermist. Many magicians have done this when their doves have died. They tell the taxidermist you just want the head and he will do his magic. And yes I agree this is sickening but a perfect match!

DJ

Remember to keep it simple- why go to so much trouble for a simple effect?

Cut the head off a Norm Neilson latex dove and stuff it with some toilet paper. Remember that a dove head is small, and is not as visible as a chicken head; don't worry about the real factor.

I'd just get a fake dove from a craft shop and cut the head off. If the craft shop has them, it's a very cheap solution.

Is the effect for close up magic or stage?