Filthy baby chicks

[sinistershelly]

I went on Craigslist and found a person selling and wanting to trade some chicks. I ended up bring home 5 lil ones. 2 blue silkies, 1 splash silkie, and 2 splash frizzle cochins. When I went to pick them up, I noticed the cages they were in were really really crowded. They didn't look very dirty surprisingly, but when I brought them home and started handling them, I noticed they are COVERED in crap. My husband had cut one HUGE chunk off one of the silkies legs but there are more, huge chunks like stuck to their legs, feet, wings. What should I do to help clean em up? Its just huge hard balls of poop all over them.

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

Put them in a tub of some warm water, about an inch and stay right with them. Splash the water up on the areas that have stuck poop and it will melt. Then you can get some clean water and soap them up clean if you want. Just make sure they don't stick their heads in for a drink, as chicks can drown easily. I would do one at a time, so you can hold it's head up.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

Lil'ChickFarm :

Put them in a tub of some warm water, about an inch and stay right with them. Splash the water up on the areas that have stuck poop and it will melt. Then you can get some clean water and soap them up clean if you want. Just make sure they don't stick their heads in for a drink, as chicks can drown easily. I would do one at a time, so you can hold it's head up.

X2. Also you can use a toothpick to scrape the softened poop off. Be careful of the stuff that's really close to the skin - don't try to get that stuff off until it's really soft and easily comes off. If they're that dirty, I'd be concerned about disease, so keep them separated from your others (if you have others).
Good luck! Love those silkies...​

 

[cmom]

Lil'ChickFarm :

Put them in a tub of some warm water, about an inch and stay right with them. Splash the water up on the areas that have stuck poop and it will melt. Then you can get some clean water and soap them up clean if you want. Just make sure they don't stick their heads in for a drink, as chicks can drown easily. I would do one at a time, so you can hold it's head up.

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[ALRwild]

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[lvchicken]

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[Impress]

I keep hearing the name of this thread in Gollum's voice, "Filthy little chickenses!"

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh, poor little bug hunters! Aren't they lucky to have you.

 

[teach1rusl]

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Gotta' love Gollum...

Yeah OP - I'd be giving some warm sudsy baths...I'd use the bathroom so you can keep things warmer with the door shut. The sink is fine, but it'll take time, since you've got several to do, and they may require some soaking to soften up the hardened stuff. You'll have to work at it with your fingers once it's had time to soften a bit. Then towel and blow dry to make sure they don't get cold, and then under the brooder lamp. Use your bath/handling time to look closely at their skin to make sure they have no lice/mites. Most chickens I've bathed settled down and enjoyed their warm bath after the first 30 seconds or so of holding and soothing talk.