How do you wash a chicken?

[Zay]

Hi the fair for Farmington New Mexico is coming up and we need to get rid of a rooster. I want to put my rooster in the fair but everyone I know says you have to wash your chicken. How do you wash a chicken?

 

[Pyxis]

https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Show-Prep.html

 

[Kiki]

Little bit of soap and water in a bucket.

 

[robinwhiskers]

Dawn dish soap seems to work. I've never shown and "had" to wash a chicken besides when my Orp used to get really gross butt feathers, but that particular hen loves a nice cool bath on a summer day every few weeks I might as well really clean her when I can!

 

[getaclue]

Tepid water, not too hot, not too cold. Dawn dishwashing liquid, rinse in 1 tsp. vinegar in a gallon of water, then do a plain water rinse. The chickens like their spa day, and the 3 steps keep their pH balanced, and they come out squeaky clean. They will probably try to lay down in the bath water, so don't make it too deep. Let them soak in it, and it will help soak of everything. After your done, wrap them in a towel. Depending on your breed, either let them dry natural, or you can blow dry them on low heat, but be very careful not to burn them.

 

[getaclue]

While you are bathing them, use a rag, or soft toothbrush to gently clean their nails, and leg scales. Now would be a good time to file down toenails, and spurs. You can rub a very thin film of Vasoline on their feet, and legs.

 

[Wisegirl99]

Tepid water, not too hot, not too cold. Dawn dishwashing liquid, rinse in 1 tsp. vinegar in a gallon of water, then do a plain water rinse. The chickens like their spa day, and the 3 steps keep their pH balanced, and they come out squeaky clean. They will probably try to lay down in the bath water, so don't make it too deep. Let them soak in it, and it will help soak of everything. After your done, wrap them in a towel. Depending on your breed, either let them dry natural, or you can blow dry them on low heat, but be very careful not to burn them.

After washing with dish soap, should I throw away the first egg they lay after bathing? I'm just thinking some soap water could go up their vent and contaminate the egg.

 

[getaclue]

No, the egg is not contaminated in any way.

 

[getaclue]

I use 3 smallish plastic totes. Fill them enough so the water is just under the tops of their backs. Use a plastic cup to gently scoop, and pour water over their backs, etc. If it's really cold outside, I put the totes in the bathroom, and do it. Don't let them get a chill. About a teaspoon of vinegar per gallon to gallon and a half of water. Be sure to do the final rinse in clear water, and get all the vinegar off. Wrap them in a big towel, like a burrito. They will lay there in the towel, while you bathe more chickens. I use fresh soap water, vinegar water, and clean water for each chicken. Unwrap the chicken. If the toenails/spurs need a little trimming, now is the time to do it. Make sure the scales, and under the toenails are clean. You can do a little touch up in a missed area now, if needed. Some use clear polish to lightly paint the toenails, but I don't. I just put a little Vaseline on their legs, toenails, combs, and wattles. Don't make it greasy, just enough to give a nice sheen. If it's a breed, like a silkie, that can be blow dried, do so now, but be careful to keep the blow dryer far enough away from the chicken, and keep it moving, so you don't burn it. If it's suppose to have tight feathers that lay flat, get a fresh dry towel, and gently rub the towel in the direction of the feathers to get the excess water. Keep them in a warm area, until they dry, smoothing the feathers if/as needed. When dry, put them in individual cages, or in a bigger tote with a screen on top. When they pooh, clean it immediately, and wipe them with a baby wipe for sensitive skin to clean them up.