Chickens do not ordinarily need bathing, they maintain their personal hygiene by dust-bathing, which essentially involves rolling in dirt. At the end of a dust bath, the dirt is shaken off and the chicken proceeds to preen and groom its feathers back into place. But there are times when an especially filthy bird will need a bath. Bathing a chicken is a lot like bathing an infant or a dog- the most important thing is to prevent drowning while accomplishing the objective with reasonable speed and a minimum of crying.This article addresses the basics of bathing backyard chickens, not bathing show chickens in preparation for a show.Chickens dust bathing in sand. Blue Ameraucana hen bathing in kitchen sinkBlue Ameraucana hen

So, when might chickens need a bath? The most common predicament requiring a bath involves poop: either one bird poops on another from a higher roost or a chicken’s vent feathers become soiled with droppings.

Silver Spangled Hamburg chicken with droppings on vent feathers getting a bathSilver Spangled Hamburg chicken in dire need of a bath

Less common reasons for bathing a chicken include:

  • FLYSTRIKE  Flies favor dark, moist locations for laying their eggs and while any area of the body can be affected, the vent area of a chicken is a fly favorite. After the fly eggs are laid on or in the skin, the larvae can hatch into maggots in less than 24 hours; the maggots then begin feeding on the skin, causing deep, painful sores that can become infected.

Flystrike often goes unnoticed, hidden underneath feathers, until it is too late to save the bird's life.

Chicken uropygial gland at the base of the tail

When I give my dog a bath, she gets the head-to-toe treatment, but chickens do not usually require the full spa treatment, they ordinarily can be spot-bathed. For example, if the vent feathers are soiled, I wash only the butt area. Why? Because chickens spend a great deal of time arranging and conditioning their feathers with oil from their uropygial gland and a bath can strip the feathers and skin of the benefits of those efforts.

How to Give a Chicken a BathBlue Splash Marans pullets preening their feathers

A chicken’s uropygial gland is located at the base of the tail. Chickens take oil from this gland with their beaks and distribute it meticulously and painstakingly onto their feathers.

BATH SUPPLIES

  • A bathtub, sink or several large basins
  • Several towels
  • Rubber shelf liner
  • Gloves
  • Pet shampoo
  • A large cup for rinsing
  • A nail brush (if feet are implicated)
  • Hair dryer (if bathing in cold weather)
  • Bleach (for cleaning the tub/sink)

 Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo<How to Give a Chicken a Bath

THE DOs & DON’Ts of BATHING A CHICKEN

  • Plan on getting wet. An apron may be in order. Better yet, wear a wet-suit.
  • Keep several towels handy- one for yourself.
  • Keep the water a comfortable, lukewarm temperature.
  • Put rubber shelf liner or a towel on the bottom of the tub to avoid slips/injuries.
  • Expect the chicken to flap and attempt escape at first.
  • Hold onto the wings gently to discourage flapping and escape attempts.
  • Keep the bird’s head above water. Expect extreme relaxation before long; many chickens enjoy baths so much that they fall asleep.
  • Consider rubber gloves if poop is involved.
  • Remember to sanitize the tub when you’re finished.

DON’T

  • Don’t leave them unattended.
  • Don’t use harsh (like Dawn) or vinegar, which can strip the oil from feathers, dry the skin and make feathers brittle.
  • Don’t pull dried poop off feathers- the skin can tear in the process.

Bathing a Partridge Cochin in the bathtub Bathing a chicken in a bathtub

SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB
I like to bathe my chickens in bathtub or a sink with a sprayer nozzle, but two large basins will suffice- one for washing and one for rinsing. Add a strip of rubber shelf liner to the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping. Run lukewarm water into the tub.Bathing in water is not a natural or welcome activity for a chicken and there will be flapping and resistance initially. Hold the bird securely with one hand on the wings at all times, then place the bird into the tub slowly.

How to Give a Chicken a Bath

If the bath is being given due to droppings or egg dried onto feathers, allow the bird to soak for a while before attempting to clean the feathers. Using a sprayer nozzle or cup, soak the dirty areas well. Apply a small amount of  shampoo to the feathers/skin and work into feathers. Gently coax loose any stuck-on nastiness from the feathers in between fingers without pulling.

Silver Spangled Hamburg hen wrapped in a towel after bathing

Rinse well with clear water. Gently squeeze excess water from feathers and wrap bird securely in a large towel.

How to Give a Chicken a BathBertha, (Partridge Cochin) post bath. Despite the glare on her face, she LOVED the hair dryer!

If the weather is very warm, the chicken can air dry, otherwise, dry the bird with a hair dryer on low heat. Most birds love it!

Silkie hen wrapped in a towel after bath.

This is Freida, my Silkie hen who needed a bath after someone pooped on her back in the dead of winter.

Drying chicken's feathers after bathing Drying Silkie pullet's feathers after a bath with a hair dryer.Nothing quite as lovely as a day at the spaChicken enjoying having her feathers dried after a bathFreida loved having her feathers dried!Drying Silkie chicken with a hair dryer after a bath

Freida maintained her own feathers by dust bathing in sand and mulch. She only required two or 3 partial baths in her 7 years of life. RIP Freida.

Silkie hen with baby chicks. Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick®

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

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Chickens do not ordinarily need bathing, they maintain their personal hygiene by dust-bathing, which essentially involves rolling in dirt. At the end of a dust bath, the dirt is shaken off and the chicken proceeds to preen and groom its feathers back into place. But there are times when an especially filthy bird will need a bath. Bathing a chicken is a lot like bathing an infant or a dog- the most important thing is to prevent drowning while accomplishing the objective with reasonable speed and a minimum of crying.This article addresses the basics of bathing backyard chickens, not bathing show chickens in preparation for a show.Chickens dust bathing in sand. Blue Ameraucana hen bathing in kitchen sinkBlue Ameraucana hen

So, when might chickens need a bath? The most common predicament requiring a bath involves poop: either one bird poops on another from a higher roost or a chicken’s vent feathers become soiled with droppings.

Silver Spangled Hamburg chicken with droppings on vent feathers getting a bathSilver Spangled Hamburg chicken in dire need of a bath

Less common reasons for bathing a chicken include:

  • FLYSTRIKE  Flies favor dark, moist locations for laying their eggs and while any area of the body can be affected, the vent area of a chicken is a fly favorite. After the fly eggs are laid on or in the skin, the larvae can hatch into maggots in less than 24 hours; the maggots then begin feeding on the skin, causing deep, painful sores that can become infected.

Flystrike often goes unnoticed, hidden underneath feathers, until it is too late to save the bird's life.

Chicken uropygial gland at the base of the tail

When I give my dog a bath, she gets the head-to-toe treatment, but chickens do not usually require the full spa treatment, they ordinarily can be spot-bathed. For example, if the vent feathers are soiled, I wash only the butt area. Why? Because chickens spend a great deal of time arranging and conditioning their feathers with oil from their uropygial gland and a bath can strip the feathers and skin of the benefits of those efforts.

How to Give a Chicken a BathBlue Splash Marans pullets preening their feathers

A chicken’s uropygial gland is located at the base of the tail. Chickens take oil from this gland with their beaks and distribute it meticulously and painstakingly onto their feathers.

BATH SUPPLIES

  • A bathtub, sink or several large basins
  • Several towels
  • Rubber shelf liner
  • Gloves
  • Pet shampoo
  • A large cup for rinsing
  • A nail brush (if feet are implicated)
  • Hair dryer (if bathing in cold weather)
  • Bleach (for cleaning the tub/sink)

 Vetericyn FoamCare Pet Shampoo<How to Give a Chicken a Bath

THE DOs & DON’Ts of BATHING A CHICKEN

  • Plan on getting wet. An apron may be in order. Better yet, wear a wet-suit.
  • Keep several towels handy- one for yourself.
  • Keep the water a comfortable, lukewarm temperature.
  • Put rubber shelf liner or a towel on the bottom of the tub to avoid slips/injuries.
  • Expect the chicken to flap and attempt escape at first.
  • Hold onto the wings gently to discourage flapping and escape attempts.
  • Keep the bird’s head above water. Expect extreme relaxation before long; many chickens enjoy baths so much that they fall asleep.
  • Consider rubber gloves if poop is involved.
  • Remember to sanitize the tub when you’re finished.

DON’T

  • Don’t leave them unattended.
  • Don’t use harsh (like Dawn) or vinegar, which can strip the oil from feathers, dry the skin and make feathers brittle.
  • Don’t pull dried poop off feathers- the skin can tear in the process.

Bathing a Partridge Cochin in the bathtub Bathing a chicken in a bathtub

SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB
I like to bathe my chickens in bathtub or a sink with a sprayer nozzle, but two large basins will suffice- one for washing and one for rinsing. Add a strip of rubber shelf liner to the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping. Run lukewarm water into the tub.Bathing in water is not a natural or welcome activity for a chicken and there will be flapping and resistance initially. Hold the bird securely with one hand on the wings at all times, then place the bird into the tub slowly.

How to Give a Chicken a Bath

If the bath is being given due to droppings or egg dried onto feathers, allow the bird to soak for a while before attempting to clean the feathers. Using a sprayer nozzle or cup, soak the dirty areas well. Apply a small amount of  shampoo to the feathers/skin and work into feathers. Gently coax loose any stuck-on nastiness from the feathers in between fingers without pulling.

Silver Spangled Hamburg hen wrapped in a towel after bathing

Rinse well with clear water. Gently squeeze excess water from feathers and wrap bird securely in a large towel.

How to Give a Chicken a BathBertha, (Partridge Cochin) post bath. Despite the glare on her face, she LOVED the hair dryer!

If the weather is very warm, the chicken can air dry, otherwise, dry the bird with a hair dryer on low heat. Most birds love it!

Silkie hen wrapped in a towel after bath.

This is Freida, my Silkie hen who needed a bath after someone pooped on her back in the dead of winter.

Drying chicken's feathers after bathing Drying Silkie pullet's feathers after a bath with a hair dryer.Nothing quite as lovely as a day at the spaChicken enjoying having her feathers dried after a bathFreida loved having her feathers dried!Drying Silkie chicken with a hair dryer after a bath

Freida maintained her own feathers by dust bathing in sand and mulch. She only required two or 3 partial baths in her 7 years of life. RIP Freida.

Silkie hen with baby chicks. Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick®

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Jennifer Giese
Jennifer Giese
10 years ago

You make it look easy. I'll do it if I have to, but hope I don't! Would love to win the treats.

Sue D
Sue D
10 years ago

Our only experience bathing chickens was for my son's 4H projects–very interesting to do at a fairground.

Barb
Barb
10 years ago

Great lesson..enjoy all your tips..the girls would love the treats
Barb Freeman

realsis
realsis
10 years ago

Great article. You are always so inspiring! It's a bit cold still but will be bathing my silkies as soon as the weather warms! ! It will be the first time for my up and coming girls!! They grow so fast they are already 6 months. I wonder how they will like their baths?? Sure hope I win these treats! My girls love them!

Shelby Murdock
Shelby Murdock
10 years ago

Goodness!! Wonder what my brothers would think if they saw me bathing a chicken! Good info to know. Love the silkie loving the hair dryer!! Hehe!

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