Hens in the hall

[Soon2BChixMom]

The vet asked us to bathe the chickens to remove the excess cream. I’d like some advice please on how to go about this.
At the moment we figuring on putting each one in the car carrier ( they’re used to this from trips to the vet) to get them upstairs, using lukewarm water and an antibacterial hand wash on the feathers and skin ( that was vets recommendation) using a plastic jug to rinse the soap off. Finally wrapping them in a soft towel to take some of the water off and for transportation back downstairs. We think husband will need to carefully hold chicken in place in the bath while I do the soap and rinse bit. We will have to be very carefully as wounds and new skin is still very delicate. We will lock our cat in another bedroom( with food, water and litter tray) and let the birds shake themselves in the hall and kitchen. Does this make sense.

You can wash them in Epsom salt bath it will help the skin to heal. Also, blow drying them on a light heat setting with the blow dryer not too close is recommended.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Here is the thread with the OP's coop and set up.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/omlet-go-v-omlet-cube.1218328/

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I must be honest I’m a bit confused. I’ve recently read an article that mentioned that pellets are best only for birds who are laying but for non laying birds, such as my injured hens, these birds need more protein as pellets contain only approx. 16%. My current pellets are 16%. My neighbours recommended the cheese. I have been reducing the cheese by adding in some museli thinned out with porridge.

For the laying birds, I normally leave giving any treats until the afternoon to give them time to eat the pellets first, which they do.

I’ve just given the injured birds some cooked beef mincemeat with a little chopped ham, museli mixture and a very small amount of cheese. They’ve gone berserk for the mincemeat and couldn’t care less about the rest. I also cut some fresh grass and dandelion leaves which they’ve enjoyed. I’ll get some fish in oil as we have a very good selection here.
I’m taking them back to our original vet tomorrow so will mention the possibility of a yeast infection. She may contact a specialist vet in Toulouse for more advice again.

Which article are you reading? Is mincemeat like the stuff they make mincemeat pie with? Or does it mean something different?
Because that is full of sugary foods and could be attributing if they have a yeast problem. Maybe cut out the treats (no muselli and no cheese as well as no mincemeat if it is what I think it is) and if needed increase their protein with mealworms, tuna, scrambled eggs, etc.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The vet asked us to bathe the chickens to remove the excess cream. I’d like some advice please on how to go about this.
At the moment we figuring on putting each one in the car carrier ( they’re used to this from trips to the vet) to get them upstairs, using lukewarm water and an antibacterial hand wash on the feathers and skin ( that was vets recommendation) using a plastic jug to rinse the soap off. Finally wrapping them in a soft towel to take some of the water off and for transportation back downstairs. We think husband will need to carefully hold chicken in place in the bath while I do the soap and rinse bit. We will have to be very carefully as wounds and new skin is still very delicate. We will lock our cat in another bedroom( with food, water and litter tray) and let the birds shake themselves in the hall and kitchen. Does this make sense.

It sounds like you have a good plan there!
Yes, you can put them in the tub - I find a plastic dishpan works well too. If I understand correctly, your wanting to remove the excess cream which is mainly around the vent? If that's the case, let your hen stand comfortably and wash the cream from her rear end.

Towel dry. If you have a hair dryer, give her a thorough drying if you can since you don't want them to get chilled.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/02/how-to-give-chicken-bath.html

 

[SW31]

Many thanks for advice.

 

[SW31]

No, fortunately the mincemeat here in France is just good quality beef, likewise hamburgers are just the same mincemeat but compressed. You can get lower quality but the French mainly prefer it unadulterated.

 

[SW31]

Well, this is the two of them after the bath. They were not happy bunnies. We wrapped fluffy towels around them but they continued to struggle. As it’s a lovely sunny day we let them stay outside the run and they spent some time close to it but in the sun. With the sun and the central heating they are now almost dry. We got a lot of the cream out of their feathers but I doubt we managed to get all of it out. While OH held onto each bird I gently washed their feathers and then their bottoms to see if we could ease their red bottoms. I then kept rinsing them with a jug. I went outside and cut some dandelions and grass which made them happy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

 

[SW31]

Hens looking a lot happier now. The smaller, less injured hen is cucuing, noisily, all the time. If she gets a chance for her favourite treat of pure cooked beef hamburger, chopped into little pieces, she squeals with delight and will even take it out of the other birds beak. She only gets a little. I cook the hamburgers, chop them up, make up little pouches and pop them in the freezer.
The larger bird however is causing me more concern. I think her stomach hasn’t recovered from all the antibiotics she had. It’s very much a liquid squirt. She’s also making some of the brown foul smelling stuff now. I tried to mix the treats she likes with some yogurt but she refused to touch it. She does eat the pellets but only from the floor, not the container. What she does like is new season grass and small dandelion leaves. So far I cut three small bowls worth and she’s cleared the lot. I’m hoping that she’s eating what she thinks will be good for her. Is this ok?

 

[SW31]

I forget to say that yesterday we started to see new feather growth. One day nothing then a good covering. Not all over, I think only the areas the vet had to shave of.