Keeping a hen with scissor beak clean

[Michelle1010]

Here is the story of Rosie: Rosie is one of four EE hens that I got as day old chicks last April. After about a week she was half the weight of the other chicks. She slept more than the others and always needed to be in the middle of the huddle for extra warmth but she was eating and drinking just fine. I kept her in a scarf around my neck for a couple days and gave her Nutri-Drench and weighed her daily. She perked up after that and was gaining weight but she was still so much smaller than the others. She lost her left eye but she has adjusted just fine. She developed scissor beak and since they were all eating fermented feed there wasn't a problem. I trim her beak with a Dremel when it gets long. The girls went outside last July and thrived but then came winter. Rosie just never developed as many feathers as the others and couldn't handle the cold. We brought her inside and she has been a house chicken ever since. I think it was in the high 20s when we brought her inside but it was too late. She got frostbite in the tip of 2 toes. I have been feeding her a mash of feather fixer and Nutri-Drench hoping to perk her up and get her to fluff up a bit. She finally started laying this week at 10 months. She has been growing back some feathers that the other girls picked off while trying to clean food off her throat. The problem is that with the mash and no grooming help wet food gets caked all over her head, neck, and chest. I have been giving her weekly soaks to clean it off but it can take forever brushing it off with a soft toothbrush or scraping it off gently with my nails. DH wants to spray her with Pam to keep the food from sticking but it's not going to happen without someone more experienced agreeing. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mrs. K]

You really are doing way more than most people would do.

 

[aart]

DH wants to spray her with Pam to keep the food from sticking but it's not going to happen without someone more experienced agreeing. Does anyone have any ideas?

Spraying with Pam is not a good idea, IMO, it's just going to make her 'dirtier'.
I have no ideas tho as I wouldn't keep a bird like that, sorry.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think you're probably going to have to continue to help her clean off. Wouldn't spray her with Pam (or anything else) as it'd just make her oily and dirtier. She might be best off as a house bird if you're willing to keep her that way, as it sounds like she has other issues (lack of feather growth, runty, only one eye).

 

[lynnya]

Hi Michelle.. I have the same problem with my CBee. She is so caked with food down her front.. wiping it down with a wet sponge is not enough. I gave her a bath about 3 months ago and plan on another today to soak some of the gunk out. I use a large bucket with luke warm water and baby shampoo.. she was quite young last bath and submissive.. I have a feeling she wont be this time. Can't get the gunk out without losing feathers so a nice warm bath is the best thing. If it's warm out she can dry naturally.. if it's a bit chilly I'll use my hairdryer on warm. Once in the water she was very calm (last time). There are some interesting youtubes on how to bath them. Good luck with your Rosie.. they are heart breaking arn't they.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I have great admiration for loving and caring for this "special needs" bird. I would tell DH NOT to use anything like an aerosol spray around anyone's nose.
My BF loved floating in a warm bath when she had trouble with egg-laying and many people on this site agree. Perhaps you'll have to make it a routine to keep her clean. Best of luck in caring for the much-loved hen.