Want to make sure we're being kind to our pets.... 4th of July safe non-toxic washable face paint

[Duck Lady1]

Just saying up front - this isn't my idea. My 3 college boys LOVE LOVE our white ducks.

They want to bring them (safely in their wire crate) with them to an outdoor social distancing neighborhood fourth of July event, and they want to use children-safe non-toxic face paints to paint red and blue strips on them to celebrate the 4th.

I can't think of any serious downside. Just want to bounce it off of you duck gurus first...

 

[EverythingDucks]

That sounds fun!
You might be able to use pet hair dye. It'll wash out and it's safe for dogs and cats so it should be fine for ducks.
If I get ducks I'll get them a stroller like the ones my dogs have to take them places like that

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Just saying up front - this isn't my idea. My 3 college boys LOVE LOVE our white ducks.

They want to bring them (safely in their wire crate) with them to an outdoor social distancing neighborhood fourth of July event, and they want to use children-safe non-toxic face paints to paint red and blue strips on them to celebrate the 4th.

I can't think of any serious downside. Just want to bounce it off of you duck gurus first...

loud fire works would scare ducks, best to just keep them home

 

[Isaac 0]

The "pet hair dye" will likely strip the oils from their feathers, which with Pekins can sometimes be hard to regain. I don't think they would appreciate loud fireworks, and lots of social interaction either. No doubt, they'd be fine, but it'd most likely cause them a great deal of stress.

Just my humble opinion...

 

[Duck Lady1]

It won't be at night with fireworks and many people. We're going to walk through the neighborhood with a great deal of distance from people in a parade in the morning. Low stress. These are all great input. Thank you guys! I'll share photos.

I was more worried about the dye. I hear the concern about oils. We will wash it out quickly - and it's water soluble which means not oil soluble. So I think we're okay. (my chem e degree is showing ha ha)

 

[MROO]

DIY face paint -
We used this for a kids' party and the animal version (no moisturizer) for Pretty Animal Contests at our County Fair. The original recipe called for a thick paste, but we thinned it with a bit more water, so it would spread more easily.

Cornstarch - I start with about a cup.
Add about a teaspoon of olive or canola oil. It won't hurt them at all, even if they eat it!
Enough water to make a thick paste - like toothpaste.

At this point you can separate what you need for different colors, while it's still thick. You don't want it to be the final consistency because if the food coloring is liquid, too, it may make the paint too runny to use.

Add a few drops of food coloring to each "batch." It may stain white feathers a bit, but won't hurt your quackers - and molts are coming! At this point, you can add more water to thin it down, if needed. A word of warning, add the water in droplets - slooooooooowly - and stir completely before adding more. Otherwise, you'll end up with brightly colored soup. The ducks would like it, but it won't work very well!

If you're making it for people, you can add a splash of facial moisturizer to it (makes it last longer and makes it more supple,) but for the ducks, no need.

Have fun! And please don't forget pictures!

 

[Duck Lady1]

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Duck Lady1]

Okay - so here are photos of the patriotic ducks! Watch how quick they made a bee line for the pond to wash it all off! ha ha

https://www.instagram.com/quackophony