Bathing a chicken. Stinks bad!

[brandibaby23]

I have been wondering about bathing my chicken, because I have a bantam that really smells bad!!!!! I am wondering if something may be wrong with her. because none of my bird ever really had a smell. Can you bath them with dawn dish washing soap???

 

[HippieChickens]

.

 

[brandibaby23]

I thought about that, last night I kept her in the house, because I was modeling a chicken diaper on her.

 

[the Old Rebel]

I'd check to see if it is coming from her mouth. It could be a sign of sour crop. Also check her all over. If she had a tiny open sore and the green flies laid their eggs on her, the maggots will eat her alive. And, trust me, when they are around, it STINKS!!

I bathed my rooster with something called Squeaky Clean, which is a shampoo for small furry creatures. It didn't seem to hurt him any. I don't know about dawn dishwashing liquid though. Don't know what the Ph is on bird's skin. Whatever you use, be sure to rinse thoroughly.

BTW, I LOVE your chicken diaper!! Hope that's not the source of the smell. Ha!

Let us know back what you find out.

 

[brandibaby23]

Ha Ha thanks that picture was from last night. I just made the diaper last night. No she smelled when I brought her in. Tonight when my children are in bed i am bringing her in to bath her and check her out. it has been pretty cold out for flies, but it definately smells gross. I will keep you all informed of what I find, I have a mild oatmeal shampoo I was gonna use.

 

[the Old Rebel]

I think the mild oatmeal shampoo should be fine.

Anyone else know anything better??

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
Dawn dish detergent works wonders.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Thats what we use when we are forced to bathe chickens...lol

 

[PortageGirl]

They use dawn for oil spill rescues, it is relatively safe but will take away lots of the natural oil. keep it a mild solution of it and let her get throuroughly dry and keep her in so she can groom and get as much oil as possible spread from her oil gland before you put her back out. This will at least give you a great chance to search for wounds or such.

Once they get used to it, and if the water isn't too deep and comfortably warm, chickens usually calm down and like baths. If you stay calm about it, it'll help her stay calm but it may still be crazy. Good luck.

 

[brandibaby23]

I was just reading that Dawn washes away too much of their oil for their feathers. I read my bottle of oatmeal shampoo and it says.....soap free medicated with oatmeal and tea tree oil....70% organic. That sounds pretty good right???