4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[dancing cloud]

My lovely Hope has an extremely dirty bottie care of an upset tummy and really needs it washing, so I could use some practical tips on how best to get her knickers clean again, please. She's not the easiest hen to catch, squirms like a worm if you try to hold her and there is only one of me, so "one to hold, one to wash" isn't an option.

 

Should I try to get her inside, do you put her in the water or just sponge her down, how warm should the water be and, most importantly, what is good for removing poo from feathers ? Should I wrap her up to stop her flapping, is this whole event best attempted when she's really sleepy?

 

You can tell I've never actually had to consider bathing one of them before

 

Many thanks in advance for all your advice and I'm sure Hope will be grateful too - eventually!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Perhaps putting a washingup bowl in the bath might be easier if she's a flapper? I'd use warm water, perhaps with a little Ecover or gentle shampoo. An old toothbrush might work for brushing the poo off (or maybe a flannel?)

 

I've only done it once but found that Molly stood quite happily without being held.

[Patricia W]

I helped my friend wash two Orps.

 

She wrapped them in a towel, sort of backwards so the knickers were sticking out ( if you can imagine it!). She held them whilst I washed. It took a lot of soaking and pulling but it worked. Needless to say we did this outside, but brough them in for a blow dry. We used a little shampoo in warm water.

 

I can't imagine how to do it without help...

 

Tricia

[stoice]

Yep as above. When ever I've needed to wash one of my girls knickers I fold a tea towel length ways, and wrap around the chook so it overlaps - this means when she's under my right arm i only need to worry about supporting her weight, not holding flapping wings down too. This leaves her knickers exposed if you get my meaning. I then have a washing up bowl filled up only ankle deep - a few inches, so she's not actually dunked but paddling with me still holding her. I do this on a worktop by the garage window as it seems a good height. (dunking parts could probably work too - but i've only ever cleaned up a chook who was a mess due to some pecking so there was blood etc to worry about.) Anyway, the water is warm, not hot to touch, but above room temp with a little dog shampoo squirted in when i put the water in (And a few drops of teatree for my injured girl) i use kitchen towel as it doesn't tear and have plenty folded up ready to use - one with some more shampoo on, the rest clean. Then dab and wash away really. I found dried egg/poop really quite stubborn so used an old toothbrush to lightly scrub the affected feathers between my thumb if you get me. All do-able with a chook under your arm I promise. Just get all your stuff sorted first. A second tub with clean water just rinses her off. Dry kitchen roll dabs off most of the water as does the teatowel (Which will probably get wet from your efforts) and the na cool setting on a hairdryer is handy but my girls freaked out with that so they went back (In seperated part of run so no unwanted attention: re. pecking problem)

 

Phew, sorry that was long wasn't it?

 

Hope it helps

[chick wiggle]

I washed mine in a trug in the garden but the weather was a bit milder then so maybe the bath might be the best idea. Warm water with a little ecover in it, rub gently with a sponge. For really stubborn dried on poo, rubbing between thumb and finger works. A bit yuk but do-able. i have a towel ready to wrap them in after and give them a good cuddle to get the worst of the water off and then blow dry them with the hairdryer. mine were as good as gold and actually seemed to enjoy the hairdryer!

Yes Im sorry, any excuse to put my fave piccy up! but this is my fave photo of Fifi and Lola wrapped in the towel after their bath

[The Dogmother]

I do mine (if they need it) outside in a trug of warm water, with ecover w/up liquid and some tea tree oil.

 

If you can hold her resting on your palm, with your fingers grasping the tops pf her legs, then you can wash her thoroughly without her getting away

 

[jackieb]

I had to give Daisy a soak the other night and just emerged her up to her vent in a container of fairly warm water, she loved it.

 

If I'm washing rather than soaking I add a little baby shampoo to the water and then give them a rinse. I use one of those plastic storage boxes in the bath because they are a little deeper than a bowl.

 

Daisy loved being dried off with the hair dryer and then spent a very comfortable night in the dog carrier with a hot water bottle wrapped in towels, I didn't want to put her back outside as it was a chilly night, scrambled egg in bed the next morning completed her little treat!

[The Dogmother]

Blimey! Can I come to stay at yours?

[dancing cloud]

And she's done! I'm so relieved!

 

Thanks to all your,advice I had everything I needed all ready - plastic crate with nice warm water in the bath, ecover washing up liquid, rubber gloves, lots of old tea towels - and Hope was a proper little good hen . She didn't even squirm when I picked her up in the garden and brought her in

 

Hope didn't really want to stick around to be dried much, so she was blotted as much as she would stand for, treated to leftover cat food and then went back out to show the others her nice clean (wet) feathers. She's still looking a bit damp, but much cleaner

 

Chick wiggle, that's a gorgeous photo and Jackieb, I'm in the queue for your spa too!

 

Thanks again everyone and I'm sure Hope's grateful for her clean knickers too