Silkie and poop in feathers

[Maverick1]

My silkie has got some poop on and matted into her feathers this has happened before alot and not that long ago I gave her a bath to get it all out. I cant keep giving her baths so how should I deal with this? She sleeps on the bottom roost while everyone sleeps on the top so I know how she gets pooped on. I cant put her up on the top bc then they'll pick on her plus she likes to sleep by the window which is the bottom roost

Put up a new roost for her away from the other chickens. When it is dark and she is on the poop perch move her to the new one. Do this every night until she gets used to sleeping there and she will go to that perch everyday on her own and be a clean bird.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Alright I think I'll raise the lower one but I dont know if shell be able to get to it if I raise it so idk

Can you put a ramp up for her to get to the roost herself?.. Or have the low roost and get her a little Silkie friend to snuggle with? what are your other breeds?

 

[Annalyse]

Can you put a ramp up for her to get to the roost herself?.. Or have the low roost and get her a little Silkie friend to snuggle with? what are your other breeds?

Shes my only silkie the rest are standard birds. She doesnt like to leave them because they keep her warm and she knows it.

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Here cause I'm a first time silkie owner, and she decided to sleep under my other chickens butt. I tried to sort of comb the big chunks out but I'm gonna have to decide weather or not to trim her or bathe her

 

[Annalyse]

Here cause I'm a first time silkie owner, and she decided to sleep under my other chickens butt. I tried to sort of comb the big chunks out but I'm gonna have to decide weather or not to trim her or bathe her

We tried our best to gentle pull out most of the chunks. If u cant do that use a wet wash cloth or paper towel to do the same and gently pull it out. Next we trimmed off the best we could. And dont trim to close just the top. I personally would bathe her. To bathe her we filled the sink with like an in or 2 of water just enough to soak her feet. We put down a bath towel in the sink as well so she has a grip. Use dawn dish soap. I used the one with the duck on it (blue). Wet her only use the soap on the poopy spots and than gentle vinegar (I forgot what kind) and mix a little bit with water and spray or gently pour and rub that on the soapy spots, itll help get all the soap out and than rinse again. Take a blow dryer low on heat and dry her the best u can. Let her hair dry the rest if shes still wet. Keep her in a dog crate for a night or two depends on the weather. Ifs it's cold keep her inside but if it's hot or warm. Maybe keep her inside for a night and than put her back out.

 

[Annalyse]

I also suggest every night moving her to the top roost until she gets it herself.

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

We tried our best to gentle pull out most of the chunks. If u cant do that use a wet wash cloth or paper towel to do the same and gently pull it out. Next we trimmed off the best we could. And dont trim to close just the top. I personally would bathe her. To bathe her we filled the sink with like an in or 2 of water just enough to soak her feet. We put down a bath towel in the sink as well so she has a grip. Use dawn dish soap. I used the one with the duck on it (blue). Wet her only use the soap on the poopy spots and than gentle vinegar (I forgot what kind) and mix a little bit with water and spray or gently pour and rub that on the soapy spots, itll help get all the soap out and than rinse again. Take a blow dryer low on heat and dry her the best u can. Let her hair dry the rest if shes still wet. Keep her in a dog crate for a night or two depends on the weather. Ifs it's cold keep her inside but if it's hot or warm. Maybe keep her inside for a night and than put her back out.

Thank you sm

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

I also suggest every night moving her to the top roost until she gets it herself.

It does get cold ish here at night, probably around -2 C which is enough to freeze the top of their water. I want her to stay warm, but would like to avoid keeping her inside if possible overnight because I have roommates that are not fond of chickens. I also don't want to separate her from her only other flock mate and friend in the coop. Do you think it would work if I bathe her inside in the early morning, and keep her in most of the day to make sure she's dry, then putting her back out?

 

[Annalyse]

It does get cold ish here at night, probably around -2 C which is enough to freeze the top of their water. I want her to stay warm, but would like to avoid keeping her inside if possible overnight because I have roommates that are not fond of chickens. I also don't want to separate her from her only other flock mate and friend in the coop. Do you think it would work if I bathe her inside in the early morning, and keep her in most of the day to make sure she's dry, then putting her back out?

Do you have a garage? Or anywhere that she cab stay sheltered and warm? If not than yes I suggest batheing her early morning. Make she every feather on her is dry. But do this on a not rainy day, it should be dry. Her oils need to come back since your batheing them away. Are you okay with keeping her in a small dog crate in *your* bedroom? That's what I did, she bunked with me. I put towels over her crate so the light didnt bother her. Food and water is required in the crate as well. If you cant keep her overnight overall than yes she can chill in the house hopefully dry all the way and put her back out to huddle at night with the flock. And dont worry shell be fine away from the flock for a little bit.

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Do you have a garage? Or anywhere that she cab stay sheltered and warm? If not than yes I suggest batheing her early morning. Make she every feather on her is dry. But do this on a not rainy day, it should be dry. Her oils need to come back since your batheing them away. Are you okay with keeping her in a small dog crate in *your* bedroom? That's what I did, she bunked with me. I put towels over her crate so the light didnt bother her. Food and water is required in the crate as well. If you cant keep her overnight overall than yes she can chill in the house hopefully dry all the way and put her back out to huddle at night with the flock. And dont worry shell be fine away from the flock for a little bit.

Okay thank you so much. My plan is to wait for the weekend, heat up the bathroom in the morning, get her cleaned in the way you described, and then hang out with her in there till she's dry. My roommates have another bathroom, so they can deal. I don't have a dog Carrier, just a small cloth cat carrier, so I don't think that would work too great. The bathroom is easy to clean and easy to heat, so I'll do a little chicken proofing then get her started. Ill see if she can tolerate a blow dryer, but she is quite the ball of anxiety, so I'll just burrito her for a tiny bit.