Possible issue.

[JDS98922]

So I have yet to purchase my chickens. I am looking ahead though and I have a question:

I have an irrigation ditch that runs through my property. I plan to, eventually, free range during the day. I will keep them corralled until they are older then slowly introduce them to the area. Question: should I be concerned with them drowning themselves in the ditch?

Obviously they will have plenty of fresh water in waters. I give them credit for having enough brains to not crawl into the creek, and when I was a kid it was never a problem. Just a random thought I had.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chicks could possibly drown but mature birds shouldn't have any issues.
Is it possible the bank is steep enough they couldn't walk or fly out if they start foraging in the ditch?

 

[JDS98922]

Chicks could possibly drown but mature birds shouldn't have any issues.
Is it possible the bank is steep enough they couldn't walk or fly out if they start foraging in the ditch?

Some of the banks are sloped so they could walk out, some aren't.

I think I am borrowing trouble but I thought I'd ask for some opinions.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Their feathers aren't waterproof and they tend to avoid deep water but will stand in it in hot weather. If the banks aren't steep enough that they could fall into the water, I wouldn't worry.

 

[PirateGirl]

I personally wouldn't worry about them drowning in it, but since I don't know much about your setup I would wonder if there is potentially lots of fertilizer or other chemicals/runoff in this ditch and if the water would be toxic to the chickens to drink You would know the answer to this better than I. I like to think that animals somehow know instinctively not to go in unsafe water and avoid drowning as well as not to drink bad water, but really I'm not sure.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Are there alligators in the ditch?

 

[JDS98922]

I personally wouldn't worry about them drowning in it, but since I don't know much about your setup I would wonder if there is potentially lots of fertilizer or other chemicals/runoff in this ditch and if the water would be toxic to the chickens to drink You would know the answer to this better than I. I like to think that animals somehow know instinctively not to go in unsafe water and avoid drowning as well as not to drink bad water, but really I'm not sure.

Not a great deal of run off in this ditch. I'm pretty close to the head. Other animals that drink it have no issues. I plan to keep lots of water available to them other places. Like I said. I think I am worried for nothing.

 

[JDS98922]

Are there alligators in the ditch?

Nope I haven't imported any.

 

[JDS98922]

Their feathers aren't waterproof and they tend to avoid deep water but will stand in it in hot weather. If the banks aren't steep enough that they could fall into the water, I wouldn't worry.

Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You must live where crocodilians don't exist.
The last time I was in Costa Rica, there was a drainage ditch where dogs frequently disappeared. From time to time a person would be taken. There's one bridge where to water below is rife with them and people feed them chickens off the bridge.