Cleaning up for a show - can't get her white! Ideas?

[Mrs MIA]

Guys, c'mon... not everyone knows everything first time out...I think the message is loud and clear that bleach is not the way to go, and you can stop berating them now...

 

[Timmy]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Guys, c'mon... not everyone knows everything first time out...I think the message is loud and clear that bleach is not the way to go, and you can stop berating them now...

I'm with you. Some one asked for help and instead is getting a lecture. I know it's fun to jump on the band wagon and berate some one, but it's not helpful. trust me they get it and wont do it any more. So if you have something helpful to say, say it if not don't. It's like your mom use to say about the golden rule or if you don't have anything nice to say.​

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

At this point, you need to get oil back into the bird's feathers. At the pet store you can buy preen oil. Get some and liberally spray the feathers, all the way down to the skin. Give the bird extra oil seeds (sunflower, safflower, flax) for awhile. You can also give her some canned mackeral or other fatty, oily fish.

I do not know whether you can get the feathers back into shape for this show or not--you will have to judge that yourself. About the only think left that might help right now is some bluing, and with the oil-stripped feathers, that might make things worse. If you decide to try it, use a very few drops to a large warm pan of water, and I would probably add some light oil to that water (bath oil, mineral oil, or even a large amount of hte preen oil).

Good luck!

 

[redhen]

Would a dog/cat whitening shampoo work instead??

 

[jbear]

excellent show prep tips from Timmy and Ultasol

Good luck to you and your DD.. showing is a lot of fun! You will meet so many nice people, and it's really great to be able to talk chicken to other people all day and nobody rolls their eyes

**there a lot of show folks that use the Tide with Bleach Alternative in it for their white poultry.**

Ultasol~~i have used the cowboy magic.. it works 'ok'.. i noticed it attracted dirt though. I keep in my bucket o' tricks for that emergency poo-foot or whatever.

Smells good, i use it to rinse of my hands.. lol!

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Don't know about chickens but I use oxyclean on my paint horse with a white tail

 

[goddardd]

I would find it very helpful to know what
you feed your white silkies in preparation for show
and how many weeks before the show do you start?
Diane

 

[ultasol]

I feed the same stuff I feed before the show. I like 18-20% protein, preferably pellet (because they waste less), and I prefer it to have some form of animal protein- not just plant based protein. Other than that, it's what is most cost effective and palatable.

 

[calicokat]

Thanks for the input. (and Mrs. Bird brain & Timmy, thanks. Just thanks

.)

I'll crawl out of my hole and respond.

We switched feed about 2 months ago to a higher protien feed that was recommended for show birds. I was simply washing her to get ready for the show, like we usually do, and struggling this time to get her white. We try to wash early in the week so that the natural oils have time to come back and give that pretty sheen.

The Tide with bleach was reccomended by a breeder and judge who's been showing white birds for 20+ years.

Their bedding is pine shavings and the surfaces of the coop have been painted so no exposed wood there. They free range on 2 acres of grassy yard and a sandy/dirt area that used to have a pool is a favorite dust bathing spot (as well as most of the flowerbeds, but that's just chickens for ya!)

For the record: I put about a half cup of bleach in 5 gallons of rinse water, she was being swished around in it for, um, a minute or less? And I used a toothbrush to stroke/paint bleach on her tail feathers. It didn't get on her skin, it got on mine because I was holding them out to brush the toothbrush acrsos them. I did not dump a bottle of bleach on her and work it into her skin.

I went to the store and bought the expensive shampoo for white breeds, and a special (and expensive) conditioner spray. Used that last night. Didn't help with the yellowing.

Unfortunately, I think the poster who said corn was the culprit is right. I suspect that the higher protien food, had a higher corn content and that caused the problem because the yellowing wasn't as bad 2 months ago *sigh*. And the yellow is more pronounced than even at the end of summer last year, so I'd rule out the sun being the culprit. It's irritating because I limit the corn intake and sun exposure just because she's white and I know that is an issue.

I just wanted to know if there was an idea out there I could try. That's all.

 

[WallTenters]

Hrm that's too bad. Well, hard lesson learned. I have heard white chook owners saying to use tide with bleach, but I used to be an avid swine breeder and showman, and folks then said to use bleach - just brushed on. It does the same thing, just makes the hair brittle and hard to work with.

I've heard of canned cat food being a favorite to add to show bird's feed a couple of weeks ahead of time to boost protein. Makes sense. I can't wait until my cockroach colony gets bigger so I can feed all the birds the roaches