Can you bleach natural turkey feathers?

[rybohunter]

Maybe this goes against some sort of unwritten rule, I don’t know. I’d like to use my own fletchings made from turkeys I’ve killed, BUT I also like to have bright fletchings. Can I use anything to bleach them white?

[Charlie Lamb]

Nothing that I know of that wouldn't destroy the feather.

[Tom Leemans]

Not sure, but keep in mind that you'll remove the natural oils if you do. It'd probably be both easier, and cheaper, if you just buy some white ones and dye them. Either that, or start breeding domestic turkeys.  

[Orion]

I dye them various colors and that works fine.  Have always wanted to try to lighten up the gray barred.  Haven't figured a way to do it.  Tried straight bleach.  It dissolved the quills.  Maybe diluted a little it would work, but I doubt it.

[BodarkOkie]

Ryan,

You have a PM.

[ThePushArchery]

I don't know if it'd work, and it would be time consuming... But if you have a window that gets a lot of sunlight in your house, try letting them lay in the sunlight for a month or so. I don't know if the constant heat would warp them or not, but its an idea.

[2fletch]

I'lm pretty sure that the white feathers that you buy have been cleaned and bleached. I just don't know what was used or in what concentration. Try calling Gateway or Truflight. Maybe they will tell you.

[outbackbob48]

2fletch, white feathers that you buy are from domestic white turkeys, natural barred feathers can be dyed but not as brite as reg. dyed feathers. I don,t think sunlite will lighten very much. just my .02 worth.  Bob

[Titan_Bow]

I wonder if Hydrogen Peroxide would work?

[2fletch]

Feathers from a domestic white turkeys are a dirty white like those sold by Raven Arrows. The ones sold by Truflight and Gateway are pristine white. I'm pretty sure that they have been bleached with a mild bleaching agent.

[Dirty Bill]

I know that crow feathers can be bleached.  

[Orion]

Just soaked a feather in peroxide for about three hours.  No effect that I could tell.  Also soaked a feather in a diluted bleach solution.  Same effect as before, though not quite as serious.  Did show some bleaching effect, but the quills are falling out.  

There's no doubt that the commercial folks do something to get the white feathers whiter and their colors fairly brilliant, but I don't know what it is.

[rybohunter]

Yea I tried the peroxide thing last night too.

They make a much stronger peroxide gel that is used in hair salons and works fantastic for whitening skull mounts. I'm wondering to give that a shot. If nothing else I can use it to freshen up my euro mounts.

[Focusource]

I took six barred feathers (true flights) that had already been on and off arrows.  Placed them in a bowl and poured bleach directly on them.  Used an old toothbrush to stir them around for about ten seconds.  Rinsed them thoroughly under running water.  Dried with paper towels and hair dryer on low.  Separated some of the quills that were stuck together with a toothpick.

I like the results.  I hope they perform well.  If not, no big deal.

[Orion]

Focusource.  Those feathers were colored in some way at the factory.  May be easier to get out that color than the natural pigments of wild turkey feathers.  Regardless, at least the bleach didn't dissolve the feathers.  Guess I've been leaving mine in the bath too long.  Iwas hoping for a white/lighter color that would pop out a little more.  Bleach doesn't seem to do that.