Am I supposed to be giving them baths?

[Barry Natchitoches]

Neither my wife nor I have ever given a chicken a bath.


HOWEVER, in this soaring summer heat, we keep a few cheap kitty litter pans out in their run with water in it. We change the water during the peak heating hours of 2 to 4 pm, so that they will have cool, clean water available when they most need it.


If a bird seems like she is really struggling with the heat, I'll pick her up and bring her over to one of the water pans right after we've brought out fresh, cool water. I'll put her into the water, then gently hold her in it with one hand while I scoop up water and pour the cool water over her back. I get the bird good and wet before I let it go.


Most birds will run out the minute I no longer hold them in, and will shake the water off.


However, after a few times of doing this, they figure out how to cool themselves off in the water pans.

 

[Marshchick]

My flock seemed interested in a shower yesterday while watering the garden but once they felt the water, the ran! My cockatiel however enjoyed her shower yesterday. I gave her a shower out in the yard, and the girls ignored what was going on. They were too busy rolling in the dirt under my bushes.

 

[stilldeb]

I have a rooster who has some skin and pecking issues and I bathed him in some germicidal/antifungal type soothing shampoo. He liked it. He's a sweetie anyway. I just carried him around in a towel til he was nearly dry, and it was hot day anyway. My chickens like a very light misting spray on a hot day when I am out watering the plants, too.

deb g