Ever since mytributeto Gisele , where I mentioned giving her spa baths and blow - dry , I ’ve gotten a great many chicken - keepers curious enough to enquire why I do it and how they can do it , too .
The resort hotel intervention is what I use when one of my chickens is acting “ off , ” but I ca n’t straightaway tell what ’s inconvenience her . Her rear is down , her head is hunch , her feathers are bollix . She is n’t eating or drink as much as she usually does . She endure asunder from the flock , or move to roost early . Sometimes the intellect is as uncomplicated as exhaustion from a moult , or stress from a variety in environment ( whether it be a seasonal shift , a move to unfamiliar housing , or the comer of new flock member ) . Sometimes it ’s a strong-arm ailment , like a stuck egg or sour crop .
In any of these face , my first measure is to always treat her to an Epsom salt bathing tub . It ’s not a remedy - all by any means , but it often provides succour and create the biddy more well-situated while I stress to diagnose her at base .
Epsom salt is a naturally fall out mineral compound call Mg sulfate . It is used both internally and externally , as a laxative , detoxifier , skin soother , muscle relaxer , and pain backup man . As a general find fault - me - up , magnesium can ameliorate circulatory wellness and cut tiredness and tension .
Studies on the international effects of Epsom common salt ( when they ’re absorb through the skin ) lean to be mixed , but since I ’ve in person always get succor after an Epsom Strategic Arms Limitation Talks bath , I feel it never offend to take a soak . Whatismedically shew is the consumption of atomic number 12 sulphate as a laxative ; an oral pane of Epsom salts ( dissolved in water ) helps move things along in the gut .
For a chicken , an Epsom saltiness bathing tub helps her unlax the same way it help us . If she ’s find to be testicle - hold , a quick soak will facilitate her muscles and encourage the egg to slew out . If she ’s eaten something she ’s not hypothesize to , it will help even out out toxin . If she ’s suffering from irritated skin , it will soothe and soften the red . Epsom salts also serve maintain the right atomic number 20 levels and touch on the balance of mineral in an active bed .
Begin your spa treatment by fulfil a wash tub with a few inches of strong water ( the same temperature you ’d take a bathtub in ) . You want the piddle to hail up to your chicken ’s chest while she sit down in the tub .
fade away a one-quarter - cupful of Epsom SALT in the warm water . Place your chicken inside the tub and let her relax into her soak . She might last out standing at first , but she ’ll finally make herself comfortable . To relax her further , place a towel over the tub to embrace her head . The quiet darkness and steaming effect will aid her settle down .
Leave your volaille in the bath for up to an hour , or until the weewee has cooled down . If you suspect she may be egg - bound , bath time is a good time for you to start feeling around her venter for an strange protrusion . you may start massaging her grim area and , in more dire grammatical case , assume a boxing glove , lubricate up a finger , and feel inside her vent for an nut . If you do find an orchis , remain to knead her venter , taking care not to relegate the testicle inside her ( which could lead to a whole set of other job ) . With gentle and loving massage , she should be able to pass the testicle on her own .
If your chicken is n’t egg - bind but does n’t seem to be bouncing back after her bath , you may administer some Epsom salts or olive oil orally . Epsom salts help detoxify , while olive oil color keeps things lubricated in instance she want to buy the farm an obstruction through her craw or vent . I habituate a medicine syringe , the same sort used to medicate a minor or deary .
Dissolve a teaspoonful of Epsom SALT in one cup of water system . If your Gallus gallus has n’t been drinking , you’re able to address the Epsom salts in coconut tree water supply or unflavored Pedialyte ( both of which contain substantive nutrients and electrolytes ) to keep her hydrous .
If need , swathe your chicken in a towel so she keeps calm . make full the syringe , then put a few dip of Epsom salinity water supply ( or olive oil ) onto the side of her snoot and wait for her to fuddle . If you ’re doing this by yourself , it can be a very long physical process … so have patience .
If you have a second circle of hands to hold her , you’re able to gently pry her honker undefendable and squirt a few drops straight into her mouth , cause certain she swallow . Be thrifty not to burgeon forth the answer down her throat , as it could go down her air passage and into her lung .
I satiate the whole syringe ( two teaspoons ’ deserving ) and feed until it ’s empty . Sometimes it ingest two or three syringe - fuls as a good destiny of the solvent just dribbles down her chin . There does n’t seem to be any standard for how much you should hydrate your chicken , so use your good legal opinion .
Once your chicken is feed , towel her off and give her a easy nose candy - ironical ( on low warmth ) until her plume are completely dry . My chickens have always bang this part , and will happily take any primping and pampering they can get !
Do n’t be alert if your chickens ’ dung appear very watery after a tub ; they should return to normal in a few 60 minutes , unless there is an underlying job that you’re able to detect in the crap .
After a little B&B ( bathtub and blow - dry ) , you’re able to let your poulet retort her flock ( if she likes to be social ) or move her into a “ infirmary cage ” for a more private recuperation . Sometimes this is all it necessitate to fix your chicken to vigor and make her finger like a brand - new shuttle .
I ’ve treated all of my girls to a spa 24-hour interval at some spot … Kimora get a little pampering when I need to wash off and shorten away her low-down fear ( yes , it looked precisely like it sounds ) . Iman indulge during a moult , when the new pin feathers on her ft were breaking and leech ( and being pecked at by the other birds ) . Gisele got one the solar day before she died , which was heartbreaking for me , but I could only desire it made her feel safe and nurtured in her final days .
Even if a spa discourse ca n’t cure your unfermented matter of a more serious complaint , it never hurts to try out and the bonding bit you ’ll have with your biddy is treasured .
