Can I bathe my chick somehow?

[AllTheChickenThings]

Hi! We have a white chick with partially feathered feet. I noticed her (his?) beautiful white feathers (mostly the ones on its feet) are looking a bit dingy/dirty from digging and rolling in our Georgia clay soil. Can I bathe him or her? And how would you suggest that? Or is this just silly because they’re going to be out in the yard anyway? s(he) is 7 weeks

 

[Aunt Angus]

Beautiful bird!!@ I love all white chickens, personally.

You can absolutely dunk those feet and clean them, or use a wet cloth to clean them. But as the owner of a 4yo white Cochin, I will tell you that that is a battle you will be fighting CONSTANTLY. I suggest letting it get dirty and only stepping in when they get caked with gunk. Otherwise, you'll be bathing chicken feet all the time. Especially in winter! And those feet are probably going to get more feathery as it ages.

Unless you are one to spoil your chickens with spa day.

Please don't tell Iris here if you do go fill-in chicken day spa! I could never live up to that!

 

[AllTheChickenThings]

Beautiful bird!!@ I love all white chickens, personally.

You can absolutely dunk those feet and clean them, or use a wet cloth to clean them. But as the owner of a 4yo white Cochin, I will tell you that that is a battle you will be fighting CONSTANTLY. I suggest letting it get dirty and only stepping in when they get caked with gunk. Otherwise, you'll be bathing chicken feet all the time. Especially in winter! And those feet are probably going to get more feathery as it ages.

Unless you are one to spoil your chickens with spa day.

Please don't tell Iris here if you do go fill-in chicken day spa! I could never live up to that!


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Ooh thanks for the reply. Iris is gorgeous! This is Pearl (unless we have to change it to Paul) Yeah we have Georgia red clay under everything here so I’ll probably resign myself to once in awhile. I hope the others don’t get jealous!

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

I have black Cochin Bantams and I just let their feet get yucky. It WILL be a constant battle. Pearl's feet arent even that bad! I do bathe mine twice a year. Once in the spring when it warms up and once in September before the fair. But let me tell you, once thise feet get gunked up, it is hard to ungunk them. Good luck!

 

[AllTheChickenThings]

I have black Cochin Bantams and I just let their feet get yucky. It WILL be a constant battle. Pearl's feet arent even that bad! I do bathe mine twice a year. Once in the spring when it warms up and once in September before the fair. But let me tell you, once thise feet get gunked up, it is hard to ungunk them. Good luck!

Thank you! Maybe I will just let it go. I hope she gets fluffier like all the pictures I see. I have no idea what breed it is but I think she’sjus a mix of some sort

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh - but I do use pliers to break up clumps that get stuck in their feet. I also trim foot feathers if they get really, really long. Iris's do, as fo those on my Silkies. Like big swim flippers! My Brahma's don't get that long.

 

[AllTheChickenThings]

Oh - but I do use pliers to break up clumps that get stuck in their feet. I also trim foot feathers if they get really, really long. Iris's do, as fo those on my Silkies. Like big swim flippers! My Brahma's don't get that long.

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Seriously, I gave my roo a bath a few weeks ago and I'll get pics of his feet tommorow. I bet they are muddy. Well, maybe not terrible. We havent had a bunch of rain.

 

[3KillerBs]

My feather-footed chickens preen their own feet and keep them clean.

HOWEVER, I have sandy soil and use deep litter.

My Light Brahma, however, always seems to have rooster footprints on her back.

 

[saysfaa]

You might read this before giving very many water baths.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/why-chickens-bath-in-dust-and-not-in-water.74441/