Help with feathers Please :)

[tessybear]

So after putting the thread up here and many saying Tess looks better hairy we have decided to grow her feathers out, at the moment they are quite long and getting past the furry leg warmer look when we got her they were like dread locks so to keep on top of them every day i have been brushing them free from mud before combing through them with a metal mane type comb.

As well as pig oiling them to keep them soft and free of mud, also helps clear up any nasty bugs or scabs that may develop as certainly do not want them to return to the state when we got the poor girl.

Just wondering what brushes or techniques people have found are best for keeping silky feathers


*token photo*

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Token feather pic:

I use a big garden spray bottle to spray on, then a mane and tail brush to comb the feathers upwards, spray all the layers every fortnight. I bought a handy brush the other day with hollow bristles: you fill with whatever oil you want, very handy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250966049781?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[tessybear]

Token feather pic:

I use a big garden spray bottle to spray on, then a mane and tail brush to comb the feathers upwards, spray all the layers every fortnight. I bought a handy brush the other day with hollow bristles: you fill with whatever oil you want, very handy.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250966049781?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Wow they look lovely very well kept, thank you, what do you put in the spray bottle ? Thank you for the link buying one now We will beat the dread locks this year

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Dreadlocks in feathers?!

My spray bottle has pig oil in it. If you have an Avon lady, get the Skin so Soft. It's brilliant, does the same as pig oil but smells nice! I also use it for fly spray basic carrier oil (recipe on here somewhere, massive mosquitoes already yesterday and today at my yard)

The pic is getting ready for a show so washed and chalked up.

 

[russianhorse]

My friends cob, who I may be taking on has awful dreadlocks in his feathers (and from what I could see, there's a cut underneath

So, you spray with oil and then brush away?? (have never owned a hairy )

 

[tessybear]

Dreadlocks in feathers?!

My spray bottle has pig oil in it. If you have an Avon lady, get the Skin so Soft. It's brilliant, does the same as pig oil but smells nice! I also use it for fly spray basic carrier oil (recipe on here somewhere, massive mosquitoes already yesterday and today at my yard)

The pic is getting ready for a show so washed and chalked up.

Yes when we got her her feathers had not been brushed since the woman had owned her and i mean proper dread locks that had to be cut out and her legs clipped, ah we have been putting it on with gloves and a soft paint brush but bottle sounds a million times easier so will invest in one of them.

They really do look lovely cannot beat well kept feathers on a cob

 

[tessybear]

My friends cob, who I may be taking on has awful dreadlocks in his feathers (and from what I could see, there's a cut underneath

So, you spray with oil and then brush away?? (have never owned a hairy )

Oh dear hope she sees to them soon Tess had horrible cuts and cracks on her legs that are still healing from the hair growing very tight and cracking her skin

 

[nostromo70]

I have found a bit of mane and tail conditioner, a good brush through on a regular basis to stop any matting and if it's muddy, a wash with plain water once or twice a week.

 

[russianhorse]

I don't think she will - her other pony also has weeping legs - she thought from mudfever but I suspect from mites

With the hairy, I noticed that the dreadlocks are extremely tight and when trying to pick his hooves out, it seemed rather uncomfortable for him and then I saw a few cuts

Will get some oil to try to de-dreadlock

 

[russianhorse]

Sorry to be clear, my response is in reply to tessiebear (but couldn't quote as on phone )

 

[tessybear]

I have found a bit of mane and tail conditioner, a good brush through on a regular basis to stop any matting and if it's muddy, a wash with plain water once or twice a week.

Beautiful should be on a hair advert , thank you we have not got conditioner so looks like a trip to the tack shop tomorrow to gather everything

I don't think she will - her other pony also has weeping legs - she thought from mudfever but I suspect from mites

With the hairy, I noticed that the dreadlocks are extremely tight and when trying to pick his hooves out, it seemed rather uncomfortable for him and then I saw a few cuts

Will get some oil to try to de-dreadlock

Ah no poor ******s, sounds like the state Tess was in, they do eventually fall out i was told by previous owner but wasn't waiting for that to happen if they dont brush out if i was you i would chop them out Looks horrible when you expose the legs but we found getting air to the cuts and pig oil (test before use) helped soooo much.

 

[russianhorse]

Thank you tessybear. Am going to see what I can do .

 

[tessybear]

Thank you tessybear. Am going to see what I can do .

Good luck sounds like he is lucky to have found you x

 

[tiga71]

These is Izzy's feather. I squirt cob oil (like pig oil and sulphur but less harsh) with old fairy liquid bottle. Do it about every 4 weeks. Should do it a bit more often but am a bit slack

I tend not to do too much brushing. Use a stiff grooming brush to get the mud off in the winter. Comb them through every now and then. They seem to take care of themselves with the cob oil tbh.

 

[tessybear]

These is Izzy's feather. I squirt cob oil (like pig oil and sulphur but less harsh) with old fairy liquid bottle. Do it about every 4 weeks. Should do it a bit more often but am a bit slack

I tend not to do too much brushing. Use a stiff grooming brush to get the mud off in the winter. Comb them through every now and then. They seem to take care of themselves with the cob oil tbh.

I love Izzy i think i have told you this before we use pig oil and sulphur at the moment and it works wonders for her is there much difference apart from the harshness ? Lucky if we leave hers without combing through they start to go matty

 

[tiga71]

That should say 'This is Izzy's feather' - bad grammar as I changed my mind of what to say!

Izzy used to hate having the pig oil and sulphur on, no reaction in terms of patch test, but made a right fuss. So found this cob oil from place in the Midlands and it is just a different mix. Izzy doesn't mind it at all now so am sticking with it. When I spoke to the lady she said the pig oil is slightly less processed than the stuff they use for the cob oil and the amount of sulphur to the oil is different. Will have to check to get details of place I got it. Will PM you with details. I also have a soft soap that I now use to wash the feather with.

Yes, you have said you like Izzy. Thank you I do think he is quite lovely too.

Not much difference in terms of results - it is a bit more expensive. BUt worth it for me as I don't have to chase Izzy round with the flipping bottle.

 

[tiga71]

Also, I think you may find that with time and consistent use of the oil, her feather will improve and won't matt as much. So you won't need to comb through a lot.

 

[Adopter]

Love the pictures of hairy legs.

Both my youngsters have wonderful feathers and I have found the mane and tail brush does a good job of keeping them clean and free of tangles. I had also wondered about using the mane and tail shine on them, may give it a go!

If there is a need to cut out the real tangles, vet advised me to cut into tangle vertically, towards skin, rather than across the tangle, and then tangle will fall out without making skin bare. Have used this on dogs and cats as well and seems to work well. I do use rounded end sissors just to be on safe side and avoid risk of accidental cuts.

 

[ShadowFlame]

I only brush out when they're completely dry, this winter it's been once every few weeks. Plenty of mane and tail for brushing, brush in sections with a tail / hair brush, stick pig oil and sulpher through once brushed. I'll give them a wash through once the ground dries up a bit and the weather warms up, always with Skin So Soft bath oil. Brings them up a treat!

Bit of a cheating pic, as this was while we had snow, so they're clean Bog burn has started hitting them lately though, so they don't look quite so good