Bleach goose feathers?

[BigWapiti]

I'm wanting to make some white fletches - have goose wings - can they be bleached successfully.  So far, I'm not having much luck. Where do you guys get those white feathers?  Swans?? 

[Justin Snyder]

White turkeys.  Justin

[El Destructo]

almost all domesticated Turkey and Geese have white Feathers....you could always dye them also,,,,but this is pretty entailed....you have to strip them of all dirt and Oils first....in either a strong Detergent....or something like Acetone or Benzene....which I would stay away from myself....then bleach them with Peroxide....or use dye on them for what ever color you prefer

[BigWapiti]

Domestic turkeys ... duh ... of course, didn't even cross my mind.

But I'll tell ya, bleach eats feathers quick. 

[El Destructo]

Domestic turkeys ... duh ... of course, didn't even cross my mind.

But I'll tell ya, bleach eats feathers quick. 

Not Household Bleach .............. it is a Caustic .........you bet it will eat Feathers!!!!! Try Hydrogen Peroxide Solution.if you can get the Stuff that they use for Bleaching Hair....it is stronger...but regular Peroxide will work also!!!

[BigWapiti]

Yeah, I realized how strong that stuff is.  Hydrogen Peroxide makes sense.  But your guys' idea of domestic turkeys sounds better - if only I could find a turkey farm. 

Thanks for the help.  I made up a batch of goose feather arrows last night - black stilll looks nice, I just like to see my arrow fly and those white feathers do the trick.

Thanks!

[huntertrapper]

yeah same for me, i use wild turkey feathers for most all my arrows, but i did buy some blue dyed feather from a company just north of here a ways and they work real well, i bought them mainly for deer and turkey so i can see my arrow after the shot and see what i kind of hit and then maybe it will help me see the animal after the fletches are sticking out.

[JackCrafty]

Hmmmm.....hair coloring on feathers.  Great idea.   

Anyone tried this?

[El Destructo]

If you mean like the Punk Rocker Hair colring....yeah that would Work....but Clairol or the Others for real Hair.....I don't see them doing enough to notice.....

[chessieboy]

snow geese are another great source of white feathers and a hoot to blast.

[billy]

I got some white feathers from a guy on here many years ago.  He obtained them from a turkey farm so they are from domestic turkeys.  But the turkey farm was more interested in getting the turkeys fattened up as soon as possible so they could ship them off to market, rather than growing sturdy feathers for arrows.  The turkeys were sent to a processor while they were  young and tender, and because of this the feathers are not as sturdy or durable as wild turkey wing feathers.  But they definitely do work.  If you can locate a turkey farm or processor they may be able to help ya.  The turkey feathers I got were also covered in turkey sh$@ and a little bit of blood and when I opened up the box it sure smelled like a barnyard.

[Pat B]

Add a tracer to your arrows for visibility. I have used "rabbit zonkers" from a fly tying shop with good results. They are 1/4" strips of rabbit fur. Just cut them to length and glue them down around the shaft . I put them behind the feathers and have tried a few bright colors bu found white to be the most visible in low light shooting conditions.    I have also seen colorful feathers added to the forward end of the fletching for a more primitive look.   Pat

[BigWapiti]

Actually Pat, thats precisely what I did.   I dug into my fly tying gear and added white marabou as I would to a wooly bugger.  Tickles the nose something mad, and won't be worth much in the rain - but where I live, it hardly rains anyway.  I thought the marabou might cause less influence on the flight too.  Rabbit fur would be stronger though - might give that a go too.

Thanks for the ideas!