Bathe your chickens?

[mandtroof]

I have some questions. Do any of you bathe your chickens? If so, how often? What do you use? Bath? Shower? Do they enjoy it? Hot or cold water?

 

[Skye727]

I don't think you are supposed to bathe them because they clean themselves with dust to keep the mites and other pests off. If you bathe itOit will get rid of that. I bathe my Silkie though. they get so filthy! One day my no so smart silkie didn't get out of the rain so I brought her in and gave her a warm bath in the tub with Dawn. She seemed to enjoy it. She got wrapped in a towel and snuggled. She wasn't dry at bedtime so I made a nice little bed for her on my bed. My 5 year old ended up in bed with us so he brought her and the towel up to him. She stayed there all night! There was only poop on the towel! Spoiled rotten chicken!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Unless you're showing, or there's an issue like a poo caked behind, bathing is not necessary. When chickens preen, they spread oils on their feathers, which weather proofs them. If they get dirty or muddy, they'll take care of it themselves. Keep their coop and run tidy, and they should stay pretty muck free. One of my splash Silkies (we call her Pig Pen) stays pretty grungy looking. She's mostly white, so the dirt just stands out when she takes a dirt bath. She doesn't get bathed, so she only looks clean once a year...after she molts

If you do give baths, just make sure the water is warm. They like to be blow dried too