Can Chickens Swim

[Aunt Angus]

I have a few IBC totes, cut in half getting ready for whatever. 2 feet or so water in some of them. If one of them decided to hop up to see what is in it and lose her balance and go plop, will I find a dead chicken or a pissed off wet one, or what?

Putting a block in there may give them something to stand on but does not mean they will. Ive seen them do some pretty stupid Unintuitive things before. I guess I could throw them each in there one by one and see if they get out or flail, then go from there

The reason I ask is, a parakeet, a cockatoo, you throw in water it's a stone, good by bird, not even a chance Id imagine. Chicken, might, trying to get some info before I start putting tilapia into 'mini ponds' that are uncovered / chickens not protected from unwanted baths.

Aaron

I always find angry chickens when it happens.

 

[Ascholten]

Well. The tote is about a foot and a half of water. The one end where the valve is, has kind of a like an island you can climb onto. One of them was being a pest, following me around with her mouth open, it's hot as hell out, so I decided Im gonna plop her in and test my theory.

She flapped for about 10 seconds, flailed a bit, got her footing, then stood in there. Not pissed but, kind of appreciative, but not wanting to show it. She was looking at the edge like she wanted to hop out, so I picked her up by underneath and brought her to the edge and let her get her feet on it and balance on it, stepped back, then plopped her back into the water with a good push

THis time she figured out how to flop / hop up and perch on her own.
Fast forward later in the day 2 of them are in there.
Fast forward another day - today - hot as hell again, only I created a monster.
I have a few totes that have water in them. They are quickly getting drained as I water but anyways, do you think they would pick the tote with the cleaner water? Oh NOOOooo they have to pick the nastiest ass one with green algae, tadpoles swimming, frogs farting in it water pond to go play in So 2 of the 4 will play in water. I won't say they can swim as they are not that deep, but they are taking to it themselves. Which is good, I know I don't h ave to worry about them overheating or dying of thirst, with the temperature getting to 100 degrees later in the week.

In closing, can chickens swim. No, they have buoyancy to float a bit, for a time but give them something to hop up onto, grab onto to get out. They will waterlog.

But now I have another pending problem. I can already see it

Soaking wet chicken decides she wants a dust bath now... gets coated in dust, mixes with water, bakes in the sun and I have mud glazed, baked, harden chicken on the half porch. I can already see this one happening.

Maybe I can sell realistic chicken statues, that make clucking sounds too !!

Aaron.

 

[Ascholten]

I know ya all think I am full of crap here. But a picture is worth 1000 words, so here we are,

Swimming Chickens !!

Oh I figured out why the nasty pool. Tadpoles !! ie snacks !!
and a little pet on the head for standing still while I took the picture