How to give Silkie a bath?

[ThePigeonKid]

I was wondering how to give Silkie a bath. I realize someone has probably already posted something on this but I am under time constraints and wondered if someone could post a link or just post how here. My first show is in a couple of days.

 

[4hchickmama]

Pretty easy. Dish soap, like dawn, and three buckets of water. Fill buckets with clean warm/lukewarm water, wet the bird, wash with soap, rinse in 2nd bucket, double rise in 3rd bucket. Blow dry or air dry.

What color is the bird? A white or light bird is a bit harder to get looking clean.

You can use a toothbrush to scrub the feet and the feathers gently in one direction. Some put a bit of oil and rub it into the feet. Trim/file nails and beak to look nice.

Keeping the foot feathers clean is tough on feather footed breeds. A cage with a wire bottom helps.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I fill the bathtub about half full of birds (8-10 silkie sized birds, fewer for large fowl) needing washing and turn on the shower (drain stays OPEN). Once they are mostly wet, I one by one wet them further under the running faucet, then add shampoo and lather well. I do not use dish or laundry soap; much too drying to the feathers, IMO.

Once one bird is well lathered, I do on to the next and the next. Once all are lathered, I begin rinsing under the faucet. Let drip dry for a few minutes, then wrap in a towel to absorb most of the moisture. On a warm to hot day, they can go outside to dry in the shade. In cool to cold weather I put them under a heat lamp in the bathroom.

A final rinse in white vinegar helps get all the soap off, and is good for whitening feathers.

 

[ThePigeonKid]

Thanks! I have Buffs.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Thanks! I have Buffs.

Perhaps I should have said removing stains rather than whitening...

 

[4hchickmama]

Yep....I use vinegar rinse with my splash too! I think this would be beneficial to a buff as well!