Bathing a chicken

[ccrow]

I have a hen who has been sick for a few days; she seems to be perking up but she has poop caked on her. She is trying to clean it, but I think she needs help! I've looked through the archives and I'm comfortable with how to do it, what to use, etc but is there any way to easily loosen the stuck droppings? I don't want to put her through any more than necessary, poor girl.

 

[devora]

I use scissors to snip the pantaloons w/ the dried mess. After that I try to get the bird to soak to soften up what's left.

Lordie, why do I even know about this? Is this the dream life I had as a young girl?

 

[ccrow]

Ugh... I don't want to get close to the stink, lol! How much do you cut off? I mean, how close to the skin?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

As close as possible with out cutting the skin. You can hold warm wet towels to it and mush the poop with your fingers to soften it up somewhat.

 

[RedDrgn]

I use scissors to snip the pantaloons w/ the dried mess. After that I try to get the bird to soak to soften up what's left.

Lordie, why do I even know about this? Is this the dream life I had as a young girl?

Pantaloons...

I always called ours their "busy pants", but I love pantaloons and will have to use that! My DH will think I lost it....oh well!

But to the OP: Put on some rubber gloves and prepare to get a little dirty. If you're concerned about the snipping part, they get a large bucket or other vessel that can hold deep enough water for it to reach your chicken's rump when she stands in it. Avoid shocking her with cold water; tepid would be better. Put her in and periodically swoosh the water over the messy area and be patient. The gunk will soften up and start coming off after a few minutes. What you can't get off after about 10 minutes in the water can then be trimmed with a very sharp pair of scissors/shears/etc. Just don't cut the skin (or get within 0.25 inch of it if you can help it).