How to Bathe Your Chicken-Chicken Spa Days
How to bathe your chicken. Bathing your chicken in the spring can improve their health. There may be other times your birds may need to bathe, see what you will need plus watch our featured video on How to Give a Chicken A Bath.
Why You May Need to Bathe Your Chicken
Lady Silkies First Bath at Chicken Heaven On Earth (2017).
Bathing your chicken may be needed if your bird isn't feeling well, if feces are building up on the vent area, a prolapsed vent, if their feet or legs are injured, if they are suffering from heat stroke, cleaning after mite or lice infestation. Chickens usually take dust bath's which is generally all the bathing they will need. I have found that bathing our birds every spring and giving them each a good chicken spa day where they are bathed, nails are trimmed, vent area is trimmed, and wattles, comb, and legs are treated with petroleum jelly seems to keep our birds much healthier. Keeping your coop clean, eggs picked up daily, and your chickens bathed regularly also deters predators. (If they don't smell the chickens they won't be looking for them) makes sense doesn't it? I live on the Brazos River in Texas where coyotes, raccoons, snakes and skunks are a nightly terror but since I installed predator protection and started bathing my chickens regularly, keeping the coop and nest boxes clean and eggs picked up, guess what? I have not had a predator attack since 2014.
What You Will Need to Bathe Your Chicken
1-3 tubs which hold water (You can use 3 tubs one for washing, one for shining and conditioning, and one for a final rinse or you can use one tub and change the water for each step).
Shampoo (I use Dawn original dish soap).
White vinegar (Keeps pests away and helps shine feathers)
Conditioner (I use horse mane and tail conditioner).
Bluing (I do not use this but I have in the past and it does help whiten birds for showing).
Toothbrush for feet and leg cleaning
Petroleum jelly, coconut oil, or olive oil (for show birds) to condition comb, wattles, legs, and feet.
Shampoo (I use Dawn original dish soap).
White vinegar (Keeps pests away and helps shine feathers)
Conditioner (I use horse mane and tail conditioner).
Bluing (I do not use this but I have in the past and it does help whiten birds for showing).
Toothbrush for feet and leg cleaning
Petroleum jelly, coconut oil, or olive oil (for show birds) to condition comb, wattles, legs, and feet.
How to Give A Chicken A Bath Video
This is a very informative video about how to give a chicken a very thorough bath. This method is often used to prepare birds for show.
