Stinky Chicken

[MissAli]

Okay not an illness, not an injury or emergency. But chicken hygiene? We adopted a new pullet and she came from a dirt run with lots of other chicken and she STINKS. We have had her for about 2 weeks and I even tried giving her a partial bath with pet shampoo to see if it would help but it hardly touched it.

I know not many people worry about the smell of their chickens but we sit and hold ours and she is now warming up to us and becoming social and wanting to be held or climb up on our shoulder or sit on the chair back. And I don’t want to deter her from becoming friendly and easy to handle but I can’t stand being near her.

Anyone have any suggestions?thanks in advance! Pictures of the SmellyCulprit Miss Elsie Featherington.

 

[nuthatched]

Don't bathe a chicken unless necessary, it can stress them out.
Did you quarantine at all?
Have you checked her all over for any wounds?

 

[Rose Quartz]

I think I know the smell you mean. I got some chickens from someone who housed them with rabbits and their 'coop' space was about 6" of soggy poop.

Idk what to do as I didn't end up keeping them, but I'd start with yogurt. I suspect it's that their whole system was over run with whatever bacteria was in their enclosure.

 

[coach723]

Does she have any respiratory symptoms, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, any discharge from nares, eyes, beak? Look inside her beak for any plaques or lesions there. Some respiratory diseases can make them smell bad around the head/face. Are droppings normal, any sticking to feathers around the vent?
I would look her over everywhere, part all the feathers and examine every inch of her for any wounds. Also, look for lice/mites.