[Pertelotte]

Some of my ladies could do with a visit to a hot soapy bucket. A life of grime and crime has left the so-called white feathers a distinct beige colour. Even more apparent when the new feathers have the Colgate ring of confidence, and the others do not.

Would shampoo be OK, or should I best use something else?

Pertelotte

[8doubles]

They will just dive straight into a dust bath , unless you are off to a poultry show it is not worth it.

[Pertelotte]

It's a fantasy of crisp clean chickens in a cottage garden.

Except

The garden resembles a football pitch and the girls spent the autumn covered in grey slime due to 'dust bathing' in the compost heap - which soon became a compost dip.

I thought that in the summer they would have to work just that little bit harder to get mucky. And their feathers are so nice beneath the muck.

[ehs284]

8 doubles is right, but we give ours a bath if they look a bit mucky - especially bits of poo around the bum- and they enjoy it. They also enjoy climbing into the coal shed and exploring the oily underneaths of cars! Of course they are straight into the dust bath afterwards so it is up to you.
HF suggested using animal shampoo. I use wife's. They seem fine.

[joyfull]

a very mild shampoo such as baby shampoo can be used, make sure you towel dry then blow dry on a warm not hot setting before letting the chickens out again 

[compostqueen]

I bathed one of mine today as she had muck stuck to her butt and I didn't want flies on it. I used Avon childrens' non-tear shampoo. Just a little bit in a big trug of warm water.  I only did her rear end, and rinsed her well. Dried her carefully in a towel and let her go into the sunshine to dry 

[Pertelotte]

Thanks Guys! I knew I could count on you for good advice.

Of course keeping chickens clean is like keeping them away from stealing. It's just not going to last! Mum told me that a muddy chicken is a chicken who's enjoying her life (although I remember her taking a very different line when I was smaller).

Well, here's to a nice hot day and a hot soapy bucket.

P x

[compostqueen]

It was bath time only cos she had a dirty bum, otherwise I would not have done it. She looked lovely and clean everywhere else    When they dust bathe they look grey for a while but it shakes off and they look respectable again