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Don't worry - in the everyday scheme of things you won't have to catch and wash your chickens! As a rule, chickens are only washed if they're going to be on display at an agricultural or poultry show. However, if your chickens do get dirty and need help with their personal hygiene, follow these simple instructions.
A clean Wyandotte hen - let's hope she stays that way!
- Prepare a washing up bowl of warm (not hot) water. Add a little washing-up liquid or shampoo. Having two people involved will help, as it's important to hold the bird firmly but safely to prevent escape. The best method is to hold the chicken by the legs with your index finger between the legs and your thumb and forefinger gripping the legs.
- Wash the feathers gently, and use an old toothbrush or something similar to remove dirt from its feet and legs.
- Rinse the chicken with clean, warm water. Make sure all the soap is removed.
- Unless you can get your chicken to obediently sit in front of a radiator, towels and a hairdryer are your best bet. Dry the feathers as if drying your hair. Rub carefully with a towel to get the worst of the wetness out without damaging the feathers. To get rid of the last of the moisture, use a hairdryer (on a warm/cool setting) Don't let the top feathers get too hot or they might get damaged.
Comments
Chicken-Man, 3 December 2024
I have a different way of bathing my chickens that is very easy I’d like to share, I call it “The 3 bucket bath” So first you’ll need 3 buckets, I use 3 5-gallon buckets. The first bucket you fill with warm soapy water, I use a few drops of Dawn. The second bucket you fill with warm water & vinegar, I use 1-1/2 cups regular white vinegar in a 5-gallon bucket. The third & last bucket is filled with plain warm water. Take your chicken and starting with the first bucket (warm soapy water) slowly lower it into water so she can adjust to water. Hold chicken in the soapy water up to the neck only, never dunk head under water & don’t submerge ears under water (clean head and neck by hand). While holding chicken in soapy water use hands to gently wash, spreading open wings to wash under the wings. Then move to second bucket (warm water & vinegar) repeat same process holding chicken in the water with ears & head above the water and wash like you did with soapy water. The vinegar will help kill & protect from parasites. Finally take chicken to the third & last bucket of plain warm water and rinse the same way as you washed. Once done with the 3-buckets, I use a bath towel and basically roll the chicken up like a burrito with the head fully sticking out, to get a majority of the water off her then I place her with a heat lamp until fully dried. Doing one at a time by myself usually the hen drying by heat lamp will be fully dry by the time I get done washing the next chicken in line. Hope this helps someone out. Good luck & take care.
Kari, 13 July 2021
My chickens got into poison ivy. Didn't hurt them one bit. It's probably in their fathers and on their feet. Now I have it in many places from handling them. HOW do you wash the urushiol off of them so that I can once again pick them up? Is TECNU outdoor skin cleaner an option? Dawn? Anyone else has to deal with this?
Isabel, 16 June 2021
hi i have a white silkie and I was wondering what shampoo should I use on her.
Photo, 16 March 2021
Very Impressive blog!! I loved your blog commenting mistakes related article.. i am gonna share you on my social media audience.
Henny, 25 October 2019
It’s very useful and seen as though my light Sussex hen who’s just gotten over being broody is at the bottom of the pecking order, all the others are ganging up on her and she has scabs all over her wattle and comb. We’ve been applying petroleum jelly and salt water and the scabs are improving, she’s now back to laying eggs. But she is so dirty, her head is black and a is her body, the sand here is so dry in WA so it sticks to her so well, and won’t come out. But this bathing technique was so useful and I’m so glad you made this site. She’s all white again and at the top of the pecking order seen as thought she’s bigger than all the silver laced Wyandotte’s golden, laced Wyandotte’s and rode island reds. I can hear her squawking right now waiting for her morning feed. Can’t wait for more updates possibly even ones to help with chickens being hurt/cut.