If your bird is sick, then it’s possible that they may stop grooming themselves. If this happens, then you’ll need to bathe them. Also, take your chicken to the vet as soon as possible.
A mudroom would be an ideal place in the house or a wash rack outdoors.
Don’t use these same bins or towels for any other cleaning purpose. Otherwise, the chemical residue left behind on them could damage your chicken’s feathers. If the bins are at all dirty before use, rinse them out to avoid transferring this dirt to your chicken. Set another towel a little bit away from the bins. You’ll use this dry towel as a drying station for your chickens.
You can always add more or less soap depending on how bubbly you’d like the water to be. Don’t make the water too soapy since it may be difficult to rinse off your chicken afterward. Dawn dish detergent is the soap preferred for use by most wildlife rehabilitators and caretakers. The other bin without soap will be used for rinsing your birds off.
Test the water with your hand before putting a chicken into it. You should be able to submerge your hand and only feel a slight warmth, no burning sensation.
Talking to your bird in a soft voice throughout the bath can also help to keep it calm. Your bird’s entire body up to its head should be submerged in the water.
If your bird has crusted dirt or droppings on them, then you may need to let them soak for a few minutes before starting the lathering process. This is also the time when you can use a small nail brush to go over your bird’s nails to remove grime. This is a particularly important stage for a bird suffering from bumblefoot infection. Use small and controlled movements so your chicken stays calm during its bath.
You can also add more or less salt depending on what seems to work the best for your chickens. Make sure to keep the water away from your chicken’s head and eyes in order to avoid irritation.
Since chickens are unable to fully regulate their body temperatures, if you release your wet chicken into the pen they will likely catch cold. Keep your movements gentle in order to avoid damaging your bird’s feathers.
Keep the open end of your hair dryer at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from your bird to avoid damaging the feathers with too much airflow. Don’t ever dry your chicken on a high setting, as you could risk burning its feathers. Have someone help you hold the bird since the noise of the hair dryer may frighten it.
White birds being prepared for show may be given a second rinse containing a very small amount of optical whitener such as ‘Bluo’, which brightens their colouring. Handle your bird very carefully, as broken feathers may impact on the success of the bird.
To add vibrancy and shine to the bird’s face, comb, wattles, legs, and feet, a light coating of olive oil may be applied with a cloth the morning of judging. Avoid adding excess oil as this will attract dust and make these areas appear ashy and dirty. Only enough oil should be applied so as to just bring out the natural vibrancy of the areas. For other show preparation, check out How to Show Chickens.
The healthier, happier, and more confident your bird appears, the more likely the judge will favour it. Ensure your bird’s health, diet, and comfort around humans is maintained throughout show preparation.
