Natural feather question

[Jake Diebolt]

I tend to be pretty rough on my arrow fletching and end up re-fletching a lot of arrows due to wear. This can get expensive, however every spring and fall about a hundred Canada Geese gather in a park nearby and leave hundreds of feathers just lying around. I'm thinking about using these for fletching rather than buying feathers...but is it possible to dye them or paint them? I know goose feathers are naturally waterproof. Does that repel any paint or dye?

PS: I don't want to use natural-coloured feathers because I like a highly visible fletching.

[Prairie Drifter]

Being dark grey they don't dye well. I would use them and add a fur tracer.

[Orion]

They're black and really can't dye them. they make good fletching.  They're more waterproof than turkey feathers, but less durable.  On the other hand, if they're free, have at it.

[magnus]

As said above they won't take a dye. Only the quill and the very tips of the barbs will take any color and that is minimal. Don't waste your time trying to bleach them. That won't work either. Like prairie drifter said add a fur tracer.