Where do I get "bluing" from?

[Pathfinders]

A much easier method for getting white birds really stunningly white than using Blueing is to use Tide with Bleach Alternative. http://tide.com/en-US/product/tide-with-bleach-alternative.jspx

Yes, you read that right, Tide. I have a friend who works for P&G who is also a judge, and he says there's a specific chemical (not blueing) in Tide that makes white birds just pop. He says he can always tell when judging who has used it, and it makes the birds just SHINE.

That being said, if your bird has yellowed feathers from corn or sun bleaching, I don't think even Tide is going to fix that, you'll have to wait for a molt. But for dirt and most stains, Tide is the way to go. Use it as you would a show shampoo, work it in well, and leaving it on the bird for several minutes to really soak in. Then rinse as always, and dry.

Try it, I think you'll be amazed.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How badly does the Tide dry out the feathers?

 

[LilPeeps]

I'm curious too.

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
I can't say, as I don't have any more white birds. But I do know a number of big breeders use it for shows, so presume it's not too bad. I think you could add glycerine to your rinse water if you were worried about dryness.

 

[Krys109uk]

apparently the purple people were Phoenecians...

Rather like the ancient Britons painting their skin blue & tattooing themselves with blue dye said to be made from woad.​

 

[onthespot]

I didn't read all the posts, so sorry for the duplicate if it is already posted, but do chicken people use Wonder Blue Shampoo? It is what horse people use on white socks, blazes, manes, tails, and whole bodies for grey and/or white marked horses.
http://www.animalworldnetwork.com/woblsh.html

 

[LarryPQ]

All this is very interesting...but unfortunately it makes me want to dye my boring white chickens a BEAUTIFUL blue or purple.

And yes, I am smack dab in the middle of Phoenix. Bring it!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I was going to dye my white silkies purple but a coon or something else took off with them before I could do it...

 

[Beccatrix]

I know this is an old topic. Any current thoughts? What happens to my BEI if they're currently with my white Calls?

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I used mild ivory soap on my rabbits when I showed them, it doesn't have any blueing in it that I know of but it worked pretty well. If anyone needs an alternative and can't find blueing, this is what I'd try.

Have a warm bucket of water
Shave about 1 tablespoon of soap shreds per quart into the bucket. Agitate the water until the soap dissolves. This is the shampoo.

For the rabbits I would pour the soapy water onto wet fur, and work it in. and I would bathe my rabbits in a shallow washtub inside a bathtub. Inside the washtub I had a nonslip shelf mat for traction.

I'd try the same for chickens but if anyone would recommend differently let me know.