Am I supposed to clean her beard?

[My Three Chicks]

I've noticed my Easter Egger's (Finn) beard has been extra dirty lately. I think just from getting her beard wet when drinking, followed by dragging it on the ground while pecking around and dust bathing. And she obviously can't reach it to clean it (or her cheeks for that matter!).

Am I supposed to help her clean it? And how??

I try to dry and wipe her beard with a towel before she goes to bed. But it doesn't help much because its so thick.
And I roll her cheek feathers between my fingers a bit to loosen the debris.

 

[cavemanrich]

I would just allow chicken to Dust Bathe,,, and all will be normal.
Beautiful chicken.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[rosemarythyme]

Surprised her flockmates haven't started grooming it bare!

 

[aart]

Am I supposed to help her clean it?

No need really.

 

[swamphiker]

What a pretty girl!

I have one Easter egger who somehow always gets her beard and muff wet when she drinks (the others don't have this issue). Eventually she dust bathes and it dries out, I haven't seen the need to clean it.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Surprised her flockmates haven't started grooming it bare!

Funny you should say that because SHE'S the groomer! She has an Ameraucana buddy who has a smaller beard but it's pretty much bare from Finn grooming her constantly!

 

[K0k0shka]

Chickens aren't supposed to have beards (or crests, or feathered feet etc.) It's something people have bred into them for looks alone. So the chickens haven't evolved to be able to groom those areas or to do the necessary upkeep, or even to live with them fully, like in the case of crests - often the chicken is blinded by the feathers being in their eyes, and their vision and quality of life is impaired. It's a common problem in domestic animals. Just like how sheep can't groom and maintain their own wool and need people to shear them ever year, as it grows continuously (wild sheep's wool does not grow continuously or mat like domestic sheep's does), or curly haired dogs that need regular grooming or else they get painful mats and skin sores etc. So, being that it's people who have created this situation, often it's people who have to help the animal with the upkeep, whether that's trimming, or washing, or otherwise compensating for the impractical and problematic nature of the aesthetic feature.

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

I've noticed my Easter Egger's (Finn) beard has been extra dirty lately. I think just from getting her beard wet when drinking, followed by dragging it on the ground while pecking around and dust bathing. And she obviously can't reach it to clean it (or her cheeks for that matter!).

Am I supposed to help her clean it? And how??

I try to dry and wipe her beard with a towel before she goes to bed. But it doesn't help much because its so thick.
And I roll her cheek feathers between my fingers a bit to loosen the debris.

I have chickens with beards too. (I love the beards lol I named one Bearded Lady lol) but normally the other hens will gently peck it out of her beard. She should be fine it shouldn't be bothering her you don't necessarily have to clean it I don't and I've seen my other hens gently peck it out for her so it's up to you!