How do you do it? Need a game plan.

I just had this problem a few days ago with a BR hen. Bringing her inside was not an option, so I couldn't get he wet either. Basically I held under my arm and tried to pick away what I could. Believe it or not, I got quite a bit of it that way. The really dried up stuff anyway. There was a main clump (softer) left after that. I trimmed it away with shears, trying not to cut too much feathering away. She's cleaned up pretty good now and doesn't seem to have any ill effects from the ordeal.

 

We only cleaned the bum when they were younger and it appeared to be blocking the path. Otherwise my advise to you would be to wait until you think she won't freeze. It's easy enough to clean a dirty egg.

 

I am relatively new to chickens, so factor that in w/ this advice; I'm sure you'll get suggestions from the experts too. I have read (on here) of people bathing & using a blow dryer, if you could keep her inside for a little while; also seems like someone said a dry paper towel would work. I had one poor hen that got bombed (very bad roost design on my part--to be fixed when the weather improves). Her entire body (of course she's white) was literally covered in poop. '' I rinsed her in the utility sink, towel dried her, then used the hair dryer set on medium. She tolerated everything, the dryer part she loved! She just stood there, tilting her head from side to side & making little cooing noises as the warm air ruffled her feathers. Afterwards, I left her in the basement for a couple hours to make sure she was completely dry, then returned her to the flock, none the worse for the wear. She met me at the basement door the next morning--ready of another bath, I assume. (Guess she enjoyed it!) '', ''

 

I'm not above giving my chickens a bath on occasion. I fill my sink half-way with warm water (like for a baby's bath) and gently/firmly hold the chicken there - their feet resting on the bottom. Once they're settled in, most really seem to enjoy it. You can use dishwashing liquid to work into the poopy area. It's best if you have someone available to help you. You can even trim away some of the butt area fuzz/feathers to help (afterward). You will either need to towel dry really well and then let air dry in the house, or blow dry your chicken afterward though. Because you don't want to put one outside wet in this weather of course.

 

There's a thread somewhere on BYC about bathing your silky. I've given mine baths before and then dried them in the house. They actually really enjoy the bath but not the blow dryer so much.