Bathing A Silkie Tutorial (Pic HEAVY!)

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
This is going to SOUND worse than it is. Of course the utmost caution should be used.

For a naturally rounded top knot:

-Get a pair of scissors, mens mustache scissors work GREAT!
-Hold the bird at eye level, or put them on a table and squat down until your eyes are even with theirs.
-With the scissors point TOWARDS the eye of the bird, gently nip at the ends of the top knot that are covering the eyes. By cutting the top knot in this manner you will avoid very blunt line, and will only remove what is needed to allow them to see.


You can, of course, just grab a finger full of feathers and hack them off, but you'll end up with a very blunt line over the birds eye, and a funny looking bird!

 

[RocketDad]

My buff orp needs a bath. She's -um- icky. In the back.

I'm inspired now. I wonder if I have a fresh box of bandaids?

 

[SilkieTime]

How do you hold the head still. The point towards the eye. What? I'm scared I'll poke the eye out. Why not in the middle of the scissors? Why'll I was waiting for you to reply I tryed with three if them. Just was able to get some fuzz under the eye. They kept shaking there head.
I think I understand what to cut. But holding the head still I'm having a hard time. Most of all the point in towards the eye. That's the hards part. Why?

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
Once a bird gets used to it, they will tend to sit still. Get someone to help you the first few times. And the simple answer to your question is, just grab the head and hold it still. You are stronger than the chicken, and the chicken wont know that you are trying to help it, so of course its going to move. When I am dealing with a matter on a chickens head, I typically tuck the body under my arm and then grab the head with that same hand. I'll put the back of the chickens head against the fold of my thumb and then open the beak and stick my index finger through the mouth (kinda like a football player would hold a footbal. This ensures that the chickens head cannot move while I am grooming it, ensuring that it (nor I) get injured.

And the reason that I described cutting the feathers with the point of the scissors towards the eye, is so that you dont have blunt lines that make it obvious that you've trimmed. Have you ever been to the hair stylist and watched them cut someones bangs? If they cut the bangs straight across and parallel to the forehead, you have a very blunt line of hair across your face. Very obvious that a cut has been made right? Whereas, if they point the scissors toward your forehead and 'point cut', you end up with a more natural looking style. Its the same concept with the birds top knot.

You can of course, simply grab a finger full of feathers and hack them off if its easier for you. You'll just end up with very blunt lines and a bird with a funny looking top knot.

 

[SilkieTime]

My husband helped me so all but two look a lot better. Still need a little more work. Thank you I can see eyes and they can see me. Love my fuzzy butts

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Like OMG...

This is priceless...

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Thanks Chris for this thread very informative !


I have been wondering how its done for sometime now , but now i know.

Hopefully its as simple as it looks and sounds.My DH and my 10 year old son is wanting to get into showing chickens so this thread will come in very handy !

Fay

 

[ginbart]

I would like to say thanks also. My beautiful white silkies were out in the rain today and now their brown. It looks like it's going to be bath day on Friday.

I added this to my Favorites I hope you never remove the pics. Thanks again.

And thanks PurpleChicken for showing me this.

Sorry I had to correct my spelling.

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
I couldn't accurately tell you, since I've never washed a hard feathered bird. I would assume that its basically the same, only you have to use more caution so as not to break the feathers..... although I've not heard of anyone bathing hard feathered birds either..... Good Question!

Washing a hard feathered bird is similar. The Tyson Plant sponsors the chicken show here at our county fair every year and they show the kids how to feed, handle, care and wash the birds for the show. They aren't as meticulous as shown here. They suggested the shampoo that whitens the coat of dogs and horses or to use the laundry stain remover or just Dawn dish liquid. Instead of blow drying they say to put them in a clean cage and set in the sun to dry. Of course make sure they don't get too hot but I figure since it's mainly for kids to learn how to take care of farm animals and they are slaughtered afterward they aren't so picky. I've seen chickens get auctioned off for as much as $500 in these shows.

I've got a couple of silkies that walked under the truck when DH was replacing gaskets and they now have transmission oil on them. I'm glad somebody posted this link because they are getting a bath today and this came in handy.

 

[TrystInn]

Thank you so much for the tutorial - we just nabbed three black Silkie chicks and I'm still reading up on them! We live in Western Washington, so I figure they will get used to being wet and getting muddy, now I can get them clean again!