Can turkey's swim? Pic of Goober

So I am trying to find out if turkey's can swim. We got 3 ducklings and a turkey 3 weeks ago. The ducks would huddle up together and the turkey would lay off by himself so we went and got another turkey as a buddy for Goober. Sadly about a week ago our dog killed the other turkey. Since we got the 2nd turkey all the ducks and turkeys huddled together and stuck real close to each other. Goober, the remaining turkey, now lives with the 3 other ducks and they have a real nice outside pen. I am working on getting them a kiddie pool in their pen but am worried that Goober won't be able to swim and will try to go in with his buddies.

I had the ducklings swimming in a tote box this afternoon when one of my husbands friends swore to me that Goober would NOT go in the water, I didn't even have to worry about him going in because his ducky buddies were in there, because turkeys HATE water. Well not 2 minutes after he assured me I had nothing to worry about what does goober do? Flies right up in there with the ducks. I didn't know if he could swim or not so I grabbed him out really fast.

I want the ducks to be able to have a pool to swim in since they obviously love water but I don't wan Goober drowning in it either. The pool will be burried so he can easily get out from any point in the pool but will he. Goober and my 3 year old LOVE each other. He lets her catch him and used to try to crawl inside hr shirts when he was younger.

so my real question is Can Turkeys swim? Eventually the water won't be too deep for him but to start I want to make sure he will be able to swim his way back out if he decides he needs in there too.

Sorry for the long post. Here is a few pics of Goober our turkey.


Goober


Goober & his duckie buddies.



Sorry I don't know how to rotate the picture. It is fine on my computer. anyway this is my daughter and Goober when he was about 3-4 days old. He loves her and she sure loves him.

Any help on the turkey swimming issue would be great thanks.

turkeys are land birds. they can swim (i don't suggest having him at that age try to swim) my hen was terrified of the water but she could swim not well but still...i don't suggest letting him swim. a kiddy pool might be ok just be observant all turkeys are different

I think it was last year that someone posted a video of their turkey swimming in a pond... but as a poult they are more likely to drown or get chilled. And a duckling can drown too...

They are all almost a month old now. They just got their kiddie pool in today. It is small enough that any of them can stand up in it and walk out if they want to. I am glad to know that he will be able to swim at least long enough to get himself out. Their house still has a heat lamp on in it so they can go in there to warm up if they get chilled.

I'm not terribly knowledgeable about turkeys (getting my first this year), but if it helps, feathered chickens can swim. Apparently, because their feathers are designed to trap air for holding in heat, they also can act as flotation devices. There are a couple of hilarious pics of some buff Orpington pullets paddling around in someone's pool in the chicken forums.

I can't imagine that turkeys would be much different, except for size and weight. While he's relatively small and mostly feathered, Goober probably would be able to make a good go at it. But I wouldn't trust his ability once he's bigger. Probably best to not get him used to it in the first place.

Hiiii from the UK!!!! It’s 2024 and I found your post!

Love Goober, so cute, I would love to know if Goober’s doing well in 2024, would love an update as this is so silly and fun!

Lots of love to you and Goober,
Have a good night,
Larinse

Larinse Machete said:

Hiiii from the UK!!!! It’s 2024 and I found your post!

Love Goober, so cute, I would love to know if Goober’s doing well in 2024, would love an update as this is so silly and fun!

Lots of love to you and Goober,
Have a good night,
Larinse

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