Quote:
I don't remember where the post is or who it is from, but I copied and saved it, so here it is. Maybe the original creator will speak up and take credit! Thank you, whoever you are!
For Washing I use three tubs, sometimes four. For White birds the prodecure is a little different than non-white birds so I'll address how I wash White birds.
For Bantams I use 5 gallon bucket filled about 2/3 with warm water. Not too hot.
Bucket 1: I add soap and bluing. I use a combination of Adams Flea and Tick shampoo and Tide with bleach alternative. Don't get it in their eyes or let them swallow it if you can help it. I will also add some bluing to this bucket, but you need to be careful with bluing. Too much and you'll wind up with a nice purplish blue cast to your finished product. You want a nice sky blue color to your water.
Bucket 2: 3/4 to 1 cup white vinegar added to the water.
Bucket 3: Plain water
Bucket 4: Plain water
Spend some time getting all the dirt off the feathers around the vent and on their feet/foot feathers. Soak them in bucket 1, and then work out the dirt. Let all the soapy water drain off the feathers and then proceed to bucket two. Again, don't dunk them completely, but work the suds thoroughly off the feathers. The vinegar helps cut the suds. Buckets 3 and 4 are for additional rinses. It's important to get the suds out or you'll wind up with stringy feathers.
If you are going to blow dry, do so carefully, because you can ruin a bird with poor drying techniques. First towel dry as much of the water off as you can. Then use a maximum of medium heat at medium to low speed, working through the feathers and dry the bird. The back and cushion are the easiest areas to mess up feathers by drying them in the wrong direction. Practice on a bird that you aren't showing.
I usually don't dry the birds, but wash them, towel them dry (towel dry by blotting not by rubbing the feathers), and then let them dry on their own. If washed in the morning, they will be pretty well dry by evening. If it's cold, you'll need to do this indoors or in a basement. You can add some heat lamps but don't get them too close. If the bird has been out doors and used to the cold, getting them wet and then adding a bunch of heat could make them sick. Practice on a bird that you aren't showing. Yup, I mentioned this twice.
Thank you so much Now I have something to go on and maybe it will work Never done this before so I may be in for a battle
Mike