Preserved (2.5y.o.) squirrel hides pickling question

I’m new to hide tanning and have about 5 grey squirrel hides and 8 tails (bone-in, I neglected to remove the tailbones). I’ve been waiting for this moment for 2.5 years to tan them using the orange bottle method. I’ve read that pickling thin hides( for too long ) can ruin them and make the hair fall off. I’m going to rehydrate them in a salt/dawn bath for 2-4 hours until they are soaked through. Then re-flesh any remaining bits before doing a wash. Then I was going to do a short pickle with citric acid. Is the pickle necessary with thin hides? And if so for how long because I’m reading that too long can ruin the pelts? Then I’ll neutralize the acid with baking soda for a short time. I’d do a thorough wash and hang until is done dripping. At THIS point, do I then lay it out flat is this when I apply the tanning solution, while the skin is still damp? And then fold over on to itself for 24hours before breaking in the solution?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!