What do you use to get your white show chickens clean for shows??

[AnnikaLF]

I have white bantams that my son shows i was wondering what people with white birds use to get them clean?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Gotta keep them clean, is the advice normally given. Google will provide many, many discussions on many sites on this topic, but the bottom line is that if you use shampoos designed for white dogs or use a Tide,w/ bleach substitute, etc, bluing helps a bit. The warning I use is that a drop of two of bluing goes a long way. DO NOT make blue birds, LOL. Easy enough to re-create that disaster.

Washed my White Rocks last year for the National Show and they came out fine. There are some realities with white feathered birds that you just have a) prevent completely in the first place or b) just do the best you can in cleaning them up and living with the results.

 

[AnnikaLF]

We clean cages every other day and keep baby wipes on hand to clean off any messes they may get into.I just would them to be their brightest white.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
A while back on the old Heritage Large Fowl original thread we discussed this. One poster sent in a pic of her bird she had bathed in a dog shampoo esp. made for white dogs. Wow! The before and after pics were amazing. The bird got sooo white. I looked around and (being formerly from the dog breeder world) checked out Chris Christensen's website. They do have a real nice shampoo called White On White which makes the whites clean and sparkle. Might try them.
White On White shampoo : http://www.chrissystems.com/whitening-shampoo-show-dogs-groomers-dogs-cats.aspx
excerpt from that webpage:
"Dear Lisa & Chris; I had a funny thing happen recently and wanted to share with you. I have 10 purebred chickens. I keep them for pleasure and for the yummy eggs they lay. I recently attended a "chicken swap." The swap advertised that there would be a chicken grooming seminar. Of course, I HAD to attend a chicken grooming class!!! The class a surprise. It was given by a young lady, 12 or 13 years old. She was at that awkward age, and had a fairly significant speech impediment. Yet, this young lady had more confidence than any 12 adults put together. I was wowed. This young lady shows her chickens at fairs and shows around the state. She described in detail how she bathes the chickens, trims their beaks and nails, rubs sweet oil into their combs and wattles. I asked what the best shampoo for chickens was. Her answer tickled me...it was swift and without hesitation. "White on White" is the BEST shampoo for chickens." So, you obviously have an untapped potential market here! You need to be pushing the White on White to the chicken showing world! Hope this finds you both well and happy. Love you both! Daryl"
Best,
Karen
P.S. Chris Christensen also makes special shampoos for red, blue, and black colored dogs,
Black On Black : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog-and-cat-color-shampoo.aspx
Red On Red : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog--cat-red-on-red-shampoo-.aspx
Gold On Gold : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog-and-cat-color-enhancing-.aspx
More ideas for chicken owners of other colors!
Multi-color kit with instructions on how to mix shampoo for intermediate shades like Mahogany :
http://www.chrissystems.com/color-shampoo-kit.aspx

 

[3riverschick]

Chris Christensen also has shampoos for red, gold, and black dogs,
Black On Black : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog-and-cat-color-shampoo.aspx
Red On Red : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog--cat-red-on-red-shampoo-.aspx
Gold On Gold : http://www.chrissystems.com/pet-grooming-show-dog-and-cat-color-enhancing-.aspx
More ideas for chicken owners of other colors!
Multi-color kit with instructions on how to mix shampoo for intermediate shades like Mahogany :
http://www.chrissystems.com/color-shampoo-kit.aspx
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Bumping This Thread forward for Fancifeathers who just asked how to make their chickens look shiny for shows. read posts 4 & 5.
Thank you,
Karen