Do you give your chickens a bath?

[Ec_Prokta]

Like, tub bath. If so, how?

 

[JennsPeeps]

http://www.wikihow.com/Wash-a-Chicken

 

[SangaChicken]

Quote:
I love how it says.. "Things you'll need: A dirty chicken"

Okay, I didn't read that post before bathing a Silkie last week. She was nasty, she smelled bad, and she needed a bath! I took her in the barn, squirted dish soap all over her, and soaked her with the hose. She flailed about before going limp on me. I thought I'd killed her. Seriously. She appeared to be in the worst state of shock. I figured, if she's going to die, she might as well die clean.. so I went right on bathing her. I rubbed her feathers in the direction they were growing, gently, to remove stains. I scrubbed her nasty feet, I scrubbed her nasty vent and beak.

The whole time, she's conked out with her eyes rolled back in her head. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my chickens.. but this was a bit dramatic for a bath!

Following the bath, I put her back in the run. The rooster immediately pecked her on the face. All the other hens backed away from her. She was insta-outcast. She wouldn't even stand. She just laid there like a wet, dead chicken. I figured she was just being dramatic and left her to air dry after a gentle toweling. Sure enough, a couple hours later, she was looking rather smashing with her new clean feathers.. strutting about with a somewhat sultry swagger, and flirting with the Roo.

Ever since then she's maintained her new 'do and is a MUCH happier chicken. Despite the near death experience, the bath calmed her down and gave her some self esteem!

 

[silkiechicken]

Not very often, but for a special occasion I have. However, you don't want to over do baths because it will strip their feathers of oils and make them brittle.

 

[siroiszoo]

Quote:
I love how it says.. "Things you'll need: A dirty chicken"

Despite the near death experience, the bath calmed her down and gave her some self esteem!

Thanks for the experience! That was hysterical!

 

[Sequin]

Is castile soap a good choice for general bathing? I know people can use it as a gentle cleanser. Since it is made up of cleansing oils and no chemicals I was thinking I would use it to wash one of my dirty chickens. My little d'Uccle needs a little sprucing up, so that was what I was hoping to use. Anyone have any thoughts and suggestions on using liquid castille soap for bathing?

 

[Debbienmousey]

I have only ever bathed a chicken once, and that was a chick. The chick was covered with ants so I figured the water would either kill the ants or at least get them off him.

My hens just dust bathe and generally stay very clean. But if I had a really dirty hen that could not get clean then I might bathe her.