CALIFORNIA The Whole State thread

[capayvalleychick]

Can I come over to swim with the chickens too?

I was going to ask the same thing.

Did you know that chickens really can swim?! I saw the cutest photos of some girls with their chickens in the pool with them. So, I decided to test it out. I put one of my Dork pullets in a stock tank. She calmly swam across, just like a duck. I kept putting her in and she'd just swim across to the edge. She floated well and her feathers seemed fairly waterproof. She didn't even get upset by the water. I never would have thought that chickens could swim!

Kim

 

[sewandgrow]

I think swimming with chickens would be cool...if I could swim

I have actually seen a picture of chickens swimming (floating) in a kiddee pool........I usually just float around myself. I am soooooooooooooooo bouyant. I joke that my fat keeps me afloat.....LOL

 

[Scovy Momma]

You would think that would work for me, but I just sink...My chickens used to just sit on the bank when we would go in the creek,they didn't really want much to do with going in but they loved to follow me.

 

[sewandgrow]

You would think that would work for me, but I just sink...My chickens used to just sit on the bank when we would go in the creek,they didn't really want much to do with going in but they loved to follow me.

My only loose chickens are my free ranging freeloaders & they never go nearthe pool area but hang out out bak near the chicken pens where I keep my breeders housed. Occassionally I see a stray wander into the vegetable garden but haven't noticed any damage to the plants so maybe that was even a fluke.

 

[chiqita]

Don't try that with silkies. They drown immediately. I know this from experience .

 

[capayvalleychick]

A little while ago, I was walking past that stock tank, that I had mentioned in my last post. That same pullet was in the water, swimming around in circles. She must have either gotten back in on purpose, or maybe tried to get a drink and fell in. There's a dog dish nearby that they all drink out of, so it seems odd that she would jump up on the stock tank for a drink. Could she possibly have wanted to go swimming again?

The water in the tank was too low for her to be able to get out. She had been in there for some time, b/c her lower feathers were soaked. When I lifted her out, she was shivering and cold. Her comb is darker than usual. It's 92 outside, but I think she has hypothermia. She was able to swim, but can't stand. I dried her with a towel and put her on the hood of the truck to warm up. She keeps closing her eyes and wouldn't eat at first. I got her to eat a little corn.

Crazy little pullet. I don't make pets out of my chickens but this one has always followed me around and often jumps up on my back or shoulder when she can. I hope she's ok.

Kim

 

[Scovy Momma]

Maybe you can make an exception for this one little chicken?

Seems like she wants to be a silly pet

 

[ronott1]

A little while ago, I was walking past that stock tank, that I had mentioned in my last post. That same pullet was in the water, swimming around in circles. She must have either gotten back in on purpose, or maybe tried to get a drink and fell in. There's a dog dish nearby that they all drink out of, so it seems odd that she would jump up on the stock tank for a drink. Could she possibly have wanted to go swimming again?

The water in the tank was too low for her to be able to get out. She had been in there for some time, b/c her lower feathers were soaked. When I lifted her out, she was shivering and cold. Her comb is darker than usual. It's 92 outside, but I think she has hypothermia. She was able to swim, but can't stand. I dried her with a towel and put her on the hood of the truck to warm up. She keeps closing her eyes and wouldn't eat at first. I got her to eat a little corn.

Crazy little pullet. I don't make pets out of my chickens but this one has always followed me around and often jumps up on my back or shoulder when she can. I hope she's ok.

Kim

There was a thread I was reading--the guy had a creek and wondered if it would be ok for the chickens to have access to it. The consensus was that chickens do not have enough oil on there feathers to stay buoyant and would soak up the water and sink. The little pullet was probably too heavy to get back out. Yes they can swim, but the length of time depends on how fast they soak up the water.

I am happy to hear she is ok.

Ron

 

[mycutekitties]

Sorry I haven't been around. My summer is over and I started back to work on Wednesday. I wish I could just spend all my time with my birds. Lol I took these pics last night of some Polish I have growing out This next pic is just a mutt chick but sure is cute! 1/2 Tolbunt 1/2 white Polish. Look at the eyes!

 

[wolftracks]

Sorry I haven't been around. My summer is over and I started back to work on Wednesday.

I wish I could just spend all my time with my birds. Lol
I took these pics last night of some Polish I have growing out

This next pic is just a mutt chick but sure is cute! 1/2 Tolbunt 1/2 white Polish.

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I wish you have LF. I want Polish again so bad and I just always fall in love with your birds. Hope you're feeling better and work isn't causing you to hurt.


I've been MIA cause, well..........I really am addicted to the Olympics. I'm even watching it AGAIN right now.

School starts next week and I'm not ready for that yet. I think it's child abuse to have kids trying to concentrate in the heat and I have no AC, so homework before the sun goes down is miserable.

I have yet another party tomorrow in the Bay Area, so went out tonight and filled feeders and waterers. I lost one of my Lionhead does this week. She still had food and water, but I think the heat just got the best of her. She was my little calico too.

My little red eyed white is getting so big. Amazing how fast they grow. I'm guarding my 2 newest does and I hope I get some nice colors this year. Just hope I don't lose any more of them. I think I have babies coming though. I had my Lion Lop girl next to my Lop buck and found him in with her a while back. Snatched him out and made sure he couldn't get through again, but I picked her up a couple of time this week and she seems heavier and rounder. I may have to bring her in to watch her better. Wasn't trying for more babies with this heat, so I may be stuck with a house rabbit for a while.

My SPPR hens are driving me nuts. First no eggs, then none that would hatch. One slipped a band somehow so I have to look at the other, just haven't had a chance to see who is who. One decided to go broody and the other stopped laying after that.

So she was sitting on 7 eggs and then I found a broken one and pulled it. Then another, then another. She was down to 2. I gues the other one decided that wasn't enough and added one. I managed to candle 2 tonight before I dropped and broke my light. Not sure about the 3rd egg, but one looks to be due maybe next week and the other was the fresher egg and has a floater bobbing around in there. She gets off the eggs a lot. It's been hot. She takes a dust bath just about every day, eats, drinks and looks fine. I'm thinking that if the first 2 eggs hatch, I may grab those chicks out and let her finish hatching the 3rd egg. I'm so afraid I won't get it to hatch.

So someone in the yard is an egg eater. Not sure who, but I think the reason is because they all pile into just 2 boxes and the eggs get broken. If I find them soon enough they leave them alone, but if there has been a few in the box, that's when it happens. The today I got a single egg. While looking around the yard I saw a familiar sight. Feathers!!!!! Really?? Moulting already and again this year I've had horrible hatches?

I swear I just can't win.