AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

What do you wash your show fowls with? I am thinking a pet shampoo as it should not cause irritations?

I like to use asses' milk and honey.

OK Wickedwings aka "Cleopatra" we'll be serious now.

Only white fowls and particularly dirty fowls need to be bathed/washed.
Most others just need cleaning up if they are in good housing and free of vermin, lice etc.
Most preparation is done on a regular basis maintaining them in good health and condition free of lice, worms and scaly leg.
Pure soap is recommended when it is necessary to wash fowls, do so with the soap disolved/lathered in warm water using a squeezing motion to the feathers not a rubbing action, rinse well in cold water, to rinse in warm water leaves them succeptable to a chill.
I towel dry them well and place in a large cardboard box or draft free shed/pen with a globe or heat lamp for 24 hrs to dry thoroughly.
Once dry turn out the heat source and allow the box/pen and fowl to come back to normal temperature, don't remove immediately the heat is removed as again they can chill in this weather.
Do any washing a few days before a show so the fowl can restore the natural oils in the feathers and preen themselves restoring the feather structure.
If you use a shampoo I would use one for horses or cats as both of these have sensitive skins and you can be re-assured the shampoo will not cause irritation.
Mostly feathered legged breeds need a clean with warm soapy water and a toothbrush to clean any muck that might be sticking to the foot feather, most other fowls only need thier legs cleaned with the same proceedure of warm water and a soft toothbrush.
Then a light oil to the head and comb as well as legs ( I keep a piece of flannel in a jar with some light oil like Goanna oil, for this purpose) , then a final polish to remove any dust with a piece of silk or soft cloth is all most fowls need.
To bench fowls clean, fit, healthy and in good feather is an ongoing responsibility and can not be achieved with just a wash in the last couple of days.It is a result of the day to day commitment to thier good health and well being.

Are you missing some letters? I hope so?

I'm not sure, I hope not. What do you think I'm missing?

If you have white chooks to wash be very careful of using horse shampoo that is blue, I have heard of some who have turned their nice white chooks a shade of blue. We use lux flakes and lemon juice for white birds and just lux for others and we also start to moisturise their legs and feet so that there are no hard crusty build ups, an old toothbrush can help with removing the leg scale when they are ready to come off. We usually start three weeks before the show with pullets and cockerels and a little longer with older stock as their legs can require a bit more attention.

Thanks very much for your tips on how to wash birds before a show. I have my first show soon and am super grateful for your adivce!

I think you are missing more detail because I think your beauty tip is interesting.

Asses' milk (Donkey's milk)
Asses’ milk or donkey’s milk is the milk given by the female ass or donkey. It has been used since Egyptian antiquity for both alimentary and cosmetic reasons.

Do you make it up for your self and then use the leftover for your show fowl?
How do you wash your show fowl with your beauty cream?
Have you thought of adding karite butter, sweet almond oil to help with anti ageing?
Where do you buy the Donkey's milk?
What ratio of Donkey's milk to honey do you use?

Very interested in how you wash your show fowl with your beauty cream mix?

I wonder have you thought about using Moose milk instead of Donkey?

Moose are sooo hard to come by around here!