Polish Breeders Club

Hello,

My son is breeding WCB's. We recently noticed the crest feathers were starting to yellow. We've cut back on direct sunlight and trying to find feed with less corn, any other suggestions? 

I wash their crests with baby shampoo cut half with water.

Thanks Paris, I'll have him try this 

Andrew Hamilton at January 9, 2012 at 2:50 PM

Hello,

My son is breeding WCB's. We recently noticed the crest feathers were starting to yellow. We've cut back on direct sunlight and trying to find feed with less corn, any other suggestions? 

Unfortunately, washing the crest will no more take off the yellow than bathing will take off your suntan.  You can pluck out the worst  feathers, but most of it is there till the next molt.  Some birds get brassy with just a little sun- others take a lot more.  When I can, I run my young males out in pure sun all day (not that there is much of that here in Washington State) and try to breed from the ones who don't get brassy.  Corn is mainly a problem when feathers are growing in.  Once the mature feather is there, a little corn won't yellow them.  I feed quite a bit during the cold winters. What will do you in is the marigold in Purina Layena.  Feed it 4 weeks and you'll see a brassy tint in your white birds.  I feed the other Purina feeds- just not layena to my whites or white crested birds.