I would disagree. Chickens can swim! Or rather, float happily along. Just like ducks, minus the paddling ability. I've seen it with my own chickens. It's the getting-them-to-like it that's difficult . . . . . . I think it's great for really hot days when they need to cool down.
Thats so cool. My hens hate water. They were so dirty after our muddy winter and so i wanted to give them a bath. They hated it. One of my Ameraucanas likes to walk through my creek. Maybe i could teach her to swim...
Lol. Storey's guide to raising chickens says they should get used to a nice, warm bubble bath eventually. My hens swim, but only for a few moments . . . Then they freak out! I think they're getting used to it though. My Rhode island red is doing a lot better than the Buff Orpington. I'm pretty sure it's because she's more docile. Eh, go figure.
Lol. I had a chicken with a lot of poop on her feathers and she had vent gleet and so i gave her a warm epsom salt bath and she relaxed so much that she almost sat down in the water and fell asleep!