We ’ve all grow a chuckle or two out of watching our chickens revel leisurely dustbaths and pass hours preening their feather . We may have even gotten a few pic to share with our family and fellow fowl enthusiasts . These quotidian behaviors are not only endearing , they ’re also hygienical . Dustbathing and preening are a chicken ’s mode of maintain herself clean-living .
For the most part , that ’s all the beautifying our wench will ever need .
Like everything in sprightliness , however , there are always exceptions . Breeders who raise expo fowl — or who just need to show their bird at the local funfair — groom their chickens prior to arriving at the expo residence or fairground . Owners of show - business birds gamble losing jobs if their chick are dirty .
And it goes without suppose that those who keep business firm chickens as pets stay on top of their chickens ’ cleanliness .
While I was very fighting in my state ’s show circumference , I in reality learned how to decorate a bird via a dissimilar route . One of my White Silkies , Altaria , had discovered the dubitable pleasures of hop up and down in a pool .
Perhaps there were fishing worm in it ? I have no mind .
All I knew was that my beautiful girl looked like she ’d act four hour of football game in the pelting . Fortunately , several show - domestic fowl friends come to my delivery — not Altaria ’s ; she could have cared less — and within a couple of minute , my Silkie was more lovely than ever .
I had almost everything needed to attain this at home . Over the years , I ’ve added a few more necessary for groom chickens to my leaning , too . If you want to keep your dame beautiful , consider keeping the observe 11 items on hand .
learn more : Does your wimp have that something extra ? Here ’s how to get your wench into show job !
A Shallow Tub
Your local provender shop class or farm - supplying store is your beneficial bet for this . They most likely carry a variety of shallow tubs — both labored black rubber and galvanized brand — to do as feeders for livestock .
To bathe a bird , a shallow tub is absolutely necessary . Do n’t fill it to the top . All you postulate are about 3 inches of lukewarm water in which to stand your bird to wash her ( 2 inch for a bantam ) .
Always keep one hand ( you may require an assistant ) on your bird to keep her calmness . Also , more importantly , this will keep her from jump out of the tub and making herself even messy . Some poulet actually find warm water relaxing and may settle down without so much as a squawk .
No More Tears Shampoo
This gentle child shampoo is the best option for laundry and grooming your chickens . It has minimal irritants that can affect your wimp ’s eyes and other sensitive area .
Just put a small amount — about the size of it of a quarter — on your ribbon and lather it up to apply to your crybaby . softly strap her , lifting up her wings to wash away their undersides . Take spare care washing around her head and neck .
Handled Scrub Brush
A little , handled skirmish — the kind used to scrub stains on washing — will aid clean your chicken ’s talon and feet . As chickens lean to get these caked with dirt , dust and droppings , properly grooming feet will take a short more elbow grease .
Small Pitcher
Keep sweet water at the ready to help rinse your razzing once you ’ve washed her . The water in your washbowl may no longer be readable enough to use to get all the max off of her . A humble pitcher will provide you with more restraint and direction as you carefully sluice the soap off .
Bluing
Laundry bluingis a grooming must if you need your white chicken to glimmer like freshly hang snow . Use bio - degradable laundry bluing ( available in your supermarket or on Amazon ) to refreshen your white bird ’s yellow feather . Just tote up a minimum amount — I use barely a tablespoonful — to the halfhearted tub water . desegregate good before set your dame in the water .
Note : adding more bluing to your bird ’s bathtub body of water will not make her a brighter white . It will make her blue … in more ways than one .
Read more : check more about feathers , from types to markings and more .
Large Junk Towel
Earmark one of your old towels — perhaps the one no longer part of a set , or one with bleach marks on it — as your bird - drying towel . The second you lift your hen out of the washup tub , in full wrap her in the towel and dab her as ironical as potential .
You may need to invert the towel to use the non - wet part . Better yet , use two towels to absorb as much wet from your wimp ’s feather as possible .
Hair Dryer
A hair dryer with a diffuser is the good way to amply dry and flub your hen ’s feathers . You may need an assistant to hold your biddy in property . She may respond to the tone of raging aviation being blown at her … and , most potential , to the sound of a hair drier .
Do not hold the dryer too close to your biddy . Rather , gently go back and forth along her feathering until she is whole dry .
Baby Hair Brush
If you have Silkie poulet , you will need a baby hair brush for grooming this breed ’s feathering . float drying a Silkie without brushing her feather out afterwards will make your chicken reckon like she just escaped from a wind tunnel .
A low , sonant brush specially designed for ultra - fine child hair is the pure tool for getting Silkie plume back under control .
Cat/Small Dog Nail Clipper
A broken chicken nipper is a very common occurrence in the barnyard and streamlet . After all , our birds use their claws to scratch in the dirt , to preen and pick at their feathers , and — for cock — as grippers during mating .
Usually , scratching will keep talons trim and you ’ll only ask the limiter to even out a sharp edge on a busted claw . Some birds — normally less dynamic former birds and bantams kept in show brooders — will need even passementerie of their talons . If not trimmed , the claws will grow retentive and circle under the foot . This get it very unmanageable for the wimp to take the air or care for itself .
Your limiter can also be used on the rare occasion that your chicken ’s schnoz needs pare because of overgrowth or breakage .
Buffer/File
Just like our own fingernails , a chicken ’s claws can be file to remove rough smirch and buff until they shine . This level of grooming is unremarkably only done to exposition c and to chickens used in modeling and acting gigs .
A metal file cabinet will last longer and will leave less striations on your hen ’s talon than an emory board .
Nail Polish
Yes , nail polish . A clear coat of nail polish on chicken talons keep them pretty and presentable , especially if your chicken is a show - business chicken .
However , you could be more adventurous ! I know of several house - chicken owners who polish their volaille ’s talon in a variety of color , specially during the holidays . Feel free to do go all - out when grooming your backyard chickens ( if you so trust ) !
