When I have to wash a chick I just use a butter bowl of warm water and gently massage with my hands, never have used any type of soap, most things come off with warm water, baby bottle warm.....then give them a gentle toweling and a blow dry...just don't get too close and rub a little while you are drying to "fluff" them up. No expert, just what I have done with ones that the yolk sak had broken in the incubator or pasty butts. Good luck...so glad they found someone to take care of them!!!