grooming a silkie?

[rodriguezpoultry]

A slicker brush, it's a brush that is used to help separate the hairs on poodles and other breeds. Here's what it looks like:

Be careful, the wires are sharp so don't go all the way to the skin with it!

 

[agnes_day]

i thought that might be what it was..
i wonder if a baby doll brush would work? i would be so scared i would hurt them. i am going to take some pictures tonight if i can remember to get batteries for this old camera i have somewhere.

 

[iluvmychicks]

I use Dawn dishwashing soap, it suds up good and get them nice and clean, for the head area and crest I use baby shampoo, that way it doesn't burn their eyes. Wrap them up in a towel for 15 minutes or so, that pulls a lot of the water off so it's easier to blow dry. I blow dry on low around the face and high for the rest of the body. If it's nice and sunny outside you can dry them a little then let them finish outside. I wish I would have taken a before photo of this male, I just washed him this after noon, what a difference a bath will make, he's not completely dry in the picture but you can see how fluffy you can get them!

Good luck!
Shari

 

[Smoky73]

Always bathe, even if you do nto think that a bird is dirty, a bathe will always make them look better! I did not bathe once for a show and my birds did poorly. I always bathe them now. I use dog shampoo. I let them air dry and do not blowdry anymore. You can fluff them later with even a plain comb.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I am not a fan of using dishwashing liquid--I feel it strips oil from their feathers too much. That said, many people who show their chickens do. I generally use baby shampoo, although my very favourite is parrot shampoo. I have used dog and horse shampoo, but generally find no added value to justify the cost when I can get a good sized bottle of baby shampoo for about a dollar. If I am concerned about mites or lice I do use dog flea/tick shampoo.

I sometimes blow dry and sometimes do not--it depends on the temperature, how many birds I am washing and the amount of time I have available. A heat lamp should be available if you don't blow dry, unless putting back into hot outdoors with plenty of time for the bird to dry before it cools off for the night.

After the bath I wrap in a towel for at least 10 minutes to absorb as much of the water as possible. While wrapped up I trim toes nails and beak as needed, clean out any gunk that has collected in the crevases of the comb and oil the comb and toes.

I generally treat with ivermectin pour-on while the feathers are still wet--absorbed into the skin, not feathers.

 

[agnes_day]

thank you so much everyone! its nice to have such knowledgeable people to turn to

*ignore the horrible grammar please!*