How to dye real Tky feathers?

[Matt Green]

I have a bunch of real turkey feathers (ready to glue to shafts). I'd like to have them solid white - What's the easiest way to dye them?? if there's a "how to" someone please say so and accept my apology for the post.  As always any help is appreciated.
matt Green

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Its harder to get wild turkey feathers white than it is domestic.

Try to find a snow goose if you cant find domestic Turkey.  I'm not sure theres a bleaching method for feathers.

[magnus]

I agree. I think anything you could try would actually break down the feather to the point it would be useless. I'd go with Charlie's advice.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[Grey Taylor]

Depending upon exactly what feathers you have, real turkey feathers can be at a premium. If these are natural barred turkey or wild turkey, you should be able to trade them for white turkey feathers and come out ahead on the deal. Then you won't have to mess with bleaching them and the possible poor results therein.

Guy

[Orion]

I tried bleaching some a while ago, just to lighten them.  Had no expetation of turning them white.  The bleach ate them up.  No problem dying them any color in the rainbow though.  I agree with the others.  If you want white feathers, trade for them, or sell yours and buy white.  Good luck.

[Bowwild]

I'm interested in how to dye them other colors?

[greyghost]

Matt, please don't dye real wild turkey barred feathers, they are at a premium. Leave them natural. Buy the already died ones or find a source for domestic turkey (white) ones. What Grey said.

[magnus]

Bowwild. Do a search "dyed feathers"  there are a few ways to do it from kool-aid to rit dye a few different ways. On the how to section there's a tutorial on it as well. It all works.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[acolobowhunter]

Contact 3Rivers Archery and get the dye packet from them.  They have several colors.  Each packet makes 1 gallon.  Heat the water in an enamel roaster pan and add the dye.  Place the feathers in the dye for about 1 minute and remove and let dry.  Your done and ready to start fletching.
This stuff from 3 Rivers works a lot better than Koolaid and lasts the life of the feather.  A gallon will dye a LOT of feathers.  Put in a gallon glass jug and store for future use.  Just reheat and use again.

[Bobaru]

Bowwild:

Use "Acid Dyes."  I got some from Amazon.com.  Worked great.

Most dyes are made for cotton.  Cotton is made of cellulous.  

Acid Dyes are made to dye things made of protein such as feathers or wool.

[lovethehunt]

Great Northern sells feather dye, works great.

[magnus]

I just finished dyeing some with koolaid. Drying as we speak. Koolaid is basically an acid dye they look great. Even dyed a commercial white feather to see if it worked. Looks just like the colored commercial ones of the same color. Was told it wouldn't work.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[wvtradbow]

I just did the same with orange koolaid an turned out great.I can't remember where I saw the post but I soaked them in very hot water with a bit of Dawn dish soap for about 10 min. then rinsed and soaked in Hot water again another 10min took them out and added a table spoon of vinegar and a pack of koolaid in again very hot water and the feathers will absorb just about all the color out of the water an remove an let dry.I used pie pans for this..Turned out great

[elk nailer]

do a search of Orco fly dyes. lots of colors and they have an instruction page to tell you how to dye.