how do i "wash" a chook and how often

[random]

im guessing u shouldnt really wash chooks often cuz of oils and things like that...but i was just curious as to how u do it...
what products...if u should use products to clean them?
what does washing do for them?
what about their natural oils?
how often can u do it?
can u give them a quick once over with a damp cloth? and use product to improve this if yes?
how do i get my chooks to have lovely soft shiny feathers generally?
is it mostly diet related?
when they roll in the dirt...some very occasionally gets stuck right in their feathers...is this bad for them? i guess thats what beaks r for though...grooming in all them spots...
ta

 

[SpottedCrow]

Hello and Welcome!
People wash their birds for shows and I've washed my birds too.
Usually if they've got caked on crud on them, would be when I wash them.
I tossed Slifer and Obelisk in the bathtub, wetted them with the shower head, added baby shampoo, rinsed, towel dried, and blow dried.

 

[random]

wow blow drying thats awesome! seems kinda dodgy though how do they cope with that? wouldnt they hate the noise? how do u blow dry a chook?

 

[birdlover]

You would think so, wouldn't you?! Of the ones I've done, they LOVED it. Kicked back and just ate it up...sort of like I do when I'm at the hair dressers.

Forgot to say, you wrap them in a towel after their bath, find a place to sit and blow dry the chook, let her sit on the towel and blow away. Mine never really were bothered by the noise. Careful you don't use hot or you can burn her.

 

[random]

k cool thanks for that...u wouldnt think but my partner used to show chooks and won quite often...but hes too interested in his car right now and my silly q's annoy him abit so i thot id research for myself! but thanks...dunno if ill go that for but i maybe one day cuz it sounds really interesting...ta mate!

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Oh yah, I throw mine in the washer all the time.

























Just kidding.

I'm over tired and think I'm funny this evening.
I have only washed one of my BO roos. I think the biggest thing to watch for is to make sure they are ALL dried out before you put them back out. My guy took all day and then some to dry. Then I took the blow dryer to him and that even took some time.

 

[gritsar]

The only time I have washed my chickens was when they got into blue paint. They were not amused. One hen put up a big fuss about it and she wears a little blue paint to this day. Her name is Bluey - go figure.

Guess she'll lose the last traces when she goes thru a full moult.
If they lived in the house, then yeah maybe I'd wash them but they don't live in the house and I don't wash them. They seem to do just fine with their dust baths.
Black oil sunflower seeds are said to go along way towards giving them the pretty sheen to their feathers.

 

[Catalina]

My bathing ladies-

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=123671