Margalot Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Hello, One of my hens has a bit of a dirty bot, not any problems as far as I can see and I think its because (**gross out warning**) she is the most popular girl with our cockerel and he is missing then everything else just seems to be sticking to it. Now she is the one hen who doesnt like being handled so may have my work cut out. should I take a bowl/bucket to the run of warm soapy water? or should I bring her indoors? I dont want to stress her any more than is necessary and have not had the need to wash a chicken before. when I mentioned to my OH he said "well tell me when you are doing it as I want to come and watch for a laugh!" Tips for hen bathing would be appreciated..... I have looked on the forums as I know this has been asked before but I cannot find it at the moment Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I've always brought mine in and done them in the kitchen sink as it's at your level. I fill it first about 4 ins deep and stand them in it. They've always been quiet even those who don't like being picked up. I keep a hand on their chest in case they should decide to make a run for it. Splosh water onto bottom then I use shampoo or just washing up liquid and work it into mucky bits which then come away. Splosh more water on to rinse well. In theory just bottom should be wet but I always seem to end up with half a soggy hen. Drain water and rinse again. Then wrap chicken in towel and feed a few mealworms. I squeeze feathers a bit to get worse off then stand chicken on worktop and blow dry. They go gooey when blow drying, must be a treat for a chicken. In fact I've found that if I pick up a nervous hen and breath warm air into their neck feathers it calms them down I would make sure they are really dry before going outside again. So no I wouldn't wash outside because of the cold wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I do chicken washing as an outside activity (and have bathed one pooey bottom this afternoon). I use an old washing up bowl filled with warm soapy water. I hold the chook still with one hand and swoosh water and rub in with the other - I am getting better with practice!! Then I dry off with an old dog towel and let the chook go and rejoin the flock - usually with some bad tempered bocking and preening to be done later. The chooks do tend to just stand still in the washing up bowl and let me get on with it - thank goodness. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDaizy Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 reminds me of one chook we had (Cilla) she would stand still while being bathed (never in the kitchen sink tho usually in a bowl in the garden on a warm day) she seemed to love it so much, she would start dropping off to sleep we'd have to HOLD her up!! And afterwards while drying her with the hairdrier/towel. LOL I'd never do the job of cleaning dirty chicken butts. Ewwww. Daughter always did it for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
