Is it OK to give chicks a bath

[Lily559]

I was just wondering will my chicks die if I gave them a bath?

 

[The Happster]

Probably not if you dried them and kept them warm, but why would you want to?
I would not recommend it for a second.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I would not recommend it. They won't be able to regulate their body temperature. If they have access to a dust bathing area, they will keep themselves clean.
If you absolutely have to clean them off, like if the area around their vent gets dirty, you can use some warm water to gently scrub it off.

 

[Lily559]

K thanks

 

[GC-Raptor]

If you need to clean poopy butt.
I use a water container that I cut.
I hold the chick in my hand with butt facing outward and dip butt in warm water for 3 minutes or so and gently remove poo. If needed dip another minute and gently pinch poo while removing. GC

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

It’s not recommended unless they have pasty butt. Why?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Why do you want to give you chicks a bath?

Please don't! They could drown or get chilled.

 

[Acre4Me]

How old is the chick?

Young Chicks have fluff, which really doesn’t do much to keep in heat. You can wash an older chicken, which I’ve done before. Even with an older chicken, you will need to use a blow dryer to dry the underlying fluff.

If you NEEDED to wash a chick -like some strange combo of events that caused the chick to need a cleaning, then I’d use warm water. If soap was needed, then a very MILD and UN-scented soap. I have used (on adult chickens) very mild/low sudsing baby bottle detergent. I tested it before hand to verify it was low sudsing and rinsed off/out easily. Chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, so fragrance should never be used with chickens. At the point the chick is clean, wrap Immediately in a fluffy towel and blot as much moisture as possible. Use a blow dryer to get mostly dry, but keep your hand in the air flow to verify it is not too hot and use the low/warm setting. For this task, with a chick, I’d be inclined to use a heat lamp to place the chick under (I usually use heat plates in the day-to-day raising of chicks) so it can have more radiant heat heating up the general area. If you are careful it could be done. However, it is not recommended as a recreation activity bc it would be stressful for a chick.

 

[Greystone farm]

I have given a full grown hen a bath, but not recommended for chicks. They can't really regulate body temperautures, so yeah.