I've seen a couple posts on here about people bathing their chickens. I can't imagine how I could get my chickens in the tub without them getting flappy. But, I was wondering if chickens like water to play in? Should I put a shallow pool in with them for the summer? I know they'll poop in it, but it might give them something new and interesting to do. Ideas?
Maybe Iv'e missed something but, what your probably reading about is dust baths. Chickens love dust baths and will do it in whatever material is available, includeing dust. Sand , wood shavings, not sure if they do it in straw or hey, I havent used that and it doesnt seem like it would work very well, but my guess is that they would try.
Chickens love to dust bathe. It's a deterrent to external parasites and keeps them clean, in the same way that dust bathing cleans a chinchillas fur. When it's really hot, some do like to wade in a shallow pan of water, to cool down. I think they get more of a fun factor out of the dust baths. They certainly spend more time in them! Submerging a chicken for a water bath is usually only done for a few reasons. Show chickens get bathed so they will look good. If a bird has mites or lice, one of the treatment options is a flea shampoo. If a hen is egg bound, people will sometimes soak her in warm water for therapeutic reasons.
When it gets hot, I make a little puddle with the water hose for my chickens. They will do the dust bath thing in there to cool down (it's more like a mud bath, obviously). They're covered with mud for a while, but it will dry and fall off, and they look as clean as ever (even my white Silkies!).
Yep, the good old dust bath is the way chickens keep clean. Free range flocks will pick and choose where they want to make the dusting holes. If your birds are locked up without any freedom you really need to provide them with a dusting area. How would you feel without the ability to take a shower? One more reason why free range hens are happy and lay more eggs without being stressed. Hens that can dust when needed, is a important part of their normal life, something that penned birds can become fiesty over...... If you ever saw happy free birds and the sounds they make while dusting, you would know your hens are missing something they would love to do. bigzio
I've read here and other places about actual chicken baths. I have no info on it other than people do it. My silkies get an occassional bath, well shower, because they like to sit under the standards on the roost. A few times the silkies were completely covered in poo so I had to get the hose and give them a good shower. They don't like it at first but get submissive and deal with it after a minute or two. I've left a little pool of water out for the chickens but they don't seem to bathe in it. They will drink it, jump over it, and try and knock it over. They really hate being sprayed with the hose and hide from any rain harder than a sprinkle.
I've seen posts here that people did bathe their chickens. I think it was when a hen is egg bound....is that right guys?!
I had to bathe a chicken once. She seemed to have alot of "stuff" stuck to her behind for some reason (the only one). So I looked up how show people bathe their chickens and gave it a try. We thought, "Oh boy, this is gonna be a nightmare!". We set up two tubs - one to wash with a gentle detergent and one to rinse. We washed her in warm water and as soon as I placed her in the water, she relaxed! I soaped her up, then put her in the clean water tub to rinse. Then I wrapped her in a towel and put her in a warm sunny place to dry. I think she loved it! She was so good for the bath and afterwards looked so nice and white!
My chickens like actual baths. My Mille Fleur didn't care for it, but everyone else loved the attention and the blow dry. I went on the side of caution when my two passed and went clean crazy...
When I gave my chickens bathes because they had poo stuck to there butt, they seemed to really enjoy it. I guess it refreashing since theyre outside all day.