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| Ethel |
I came home from a very nice day with my mother in law, husband and son to find that my chicken Ethel was in quite a state. She had somehow managed to be seated on one whole egg, and one egg that was crushed. She either crushed it herself or she was protecting the egg from being eaten. Also, she's molting so she's already a half plucked mess. Either way, she was nearly stuck to her nesting box and covered in goo.
Being the highly intelligent chicken owner that I am I figured I could hose her off while still in my cute day out outfit. Have you ever tried to hose off a chicken? Me either. Now I know that it's not only a bad idea but quite messy as well. Picture this if you will. Me in a cute outfit, holding a chicken who is flapping her wings and doing everything to escape while my husband wields the hose. Egg goo, shell, chicken crap and the like are flying all over us. My husband is looking at me like "really? we really needed to do this now?" Yep, good idea Alexis.
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| Cute outfit |
So, now that I'm inside, have showered with scalding water and rubbed my skin till it was raw, I can reflect back and realize that chickens and hoses do not mix. Instead of an outfit post today you get to see the reality post. The outfit heaped on the floor. Skirt- blue linen from Target, tee shirt- Target, red sweater- Macy's, learning that a dirty chicken is best left to her own devices- priceless.
LOL. I have given my chickens baths once, and I used buckets. They kinda liked it, and kinda didn't. I used warm water with unscented ivory soap. I massaged their butts (they had some caked on goo, and I had to try to get it off) and they really liked that. But it's definitely not a nice-outfit kind of affair!
ReplyDeleteHi Alexis
ReplyDeleteJust put some warm (not hot) water in a sink (basin), stand the chicken in it. you can then put one hand on her back to stop her wings flapping (not always necessaey, most of mine love the experience), and use the other hand to gently wash her. Don't use soap - if you do you have to rinse throroughly.
Towel dry, and let the chook dry naturally if it is a warm/hot day. Otherwise, use a hair dryer on a cool setting.
HI Alexis, LOL. What a scenario, poor you. I had to give one of my Silkie's a bath, someone pooped all over her back - yuck. I put her in the utility sink and gave her a bath, she actually liked it, when done, I wrapped her in a towel and blew dry her on low. Meanwhile my daughter was on the floor laughing at the sight. She didn't mind the blow dry either - funny. I thought she would of been fussing the whole time.
ReplyDeleteYep, I know the bath in a bucket with warm water is definitely the way to go. I've given most of the girls a bath this way. I just figured, they are so well mannered she'll do fine in with the hose. Nope!
ReplyDeleteHello Alexis,
ReplyDeleteI would have done the same thing, I love to get a task complete right away, and out of the way.. ;o) So Funny.
Smiles, Paula