bathing

[Mr Gamecock]

I am getting into shows and sometimes I want clean them.what is the best way to bath chickens?

 

[Veer67]

Here are some pages from Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens on how to bath a chicken.

 

[BantamLover21]

This is the way that I do it:

First, get three tubs/buckets of water: the 1st one with water with some mild shampoo in it, the 2nd one with plain water for rinsing, and the 3rd tub with water that has 1/4 cup of vinegar in it (this will help strip any excess soap from the feathers). You can just use baby shampoo, or, if you are washing white birds, you can use a whitening shampoo made for dogs. The water should be 90-95 degrees F, and should be deep enough that you can almost submerge the bird in it.

Next, line the tubs up in a row. Grab the chicken you are washing, and place it in the first tub (the one with the soapy water).Start in the first tub. Thoroughly rub the soapy water into her feathers, paying special attention the the legs and vent area. Then, move the bird to the plain water rinse tub. Swish the bird around in the water until you think she is well rinsed. Finally, put the bird being washed in the vinegar rise tub. Let it sit in the tub for a few minutes, and then take it out and dry it the best you can with a towel.

Once you have dried the bird with a towel, put it in a clean cage/other area. Provide feed and water, but don't give any messy foods, like strawberries or other fruit. If it is cold out, put the bird under a heat lamp if you want, but be careful not to overheat it. Most birds dry within 24 hours. Wash your birds 2-3 days before a show to ensure that the natural oils in their feathers have time to be distributed again.

 

[Mr Gamecock]

How do you keep them from struggling?most of my hens won't move but my rooster and a few of the hens will fight me

 

[BantamLover21]

How do you keep them from struggling?most of my hens won't move but my rooster and a few of the hens will fight me

Hold them tight if they start to struggle. Despite this, though, when I wash my chickens, one or two always flap out of my hands. When this happens, just grab them again and put them back in the tub. Eventually, they'll get the idea.

 

[Veer67]

Hold them tight if they start to struggle. Despite this, though, when I wash my chickens, one or two always flap out of my hands. When this happens, just grab them again and put them back in the tub. Eventually, they'll get the idea.

x2

 

[Mr Gamecock]

O OK that sounds straightforward. I might give my babies their bath tomorrow