Can Chickens Swim ?

[Just Horsinaround]

Just Wondering

This past weekend our Chickens were out Free roaming and they came very close to our In-gound pool which lead someone to ask if one of them was to fall in would they swim or drown? Believe me more than one person thought "Ummm should we thrown on in to see"

But none of us could bring our selves to do it (it just didnt seam right) We really do love our birds

So if someone could answer the question before the curiosity gets the better of someone here and someone goes swiming as an experiment

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I don't think so they don't have webbed feet or water proof underside feathers

 

[scooter147]

Sort of.
My only experience was when I lived in Illinois and had a good size pond on the place.
The chickens were free ranging (only let them free range while I was out with them, coyote issues) and a coyote started after them, well several of them were on the OTHER side of the pond I was and in their panic attempted to fly over the pond, the pond was a good 40 to 50 yards wide and they only made it about 10 yards into the pond. They flapped and assume kicking furiously for a while they then stopped flapping and just swam to the shore.
It wasn't as graceful as a duck my any means but they didn't drown.

 

[AmyRey]

This chicken seems to be able to:

 

[scooter147]

I wish I hadn't watched that video because I really would like to get a hold of that women and ...

 

[Buckguy20]

They might stay afloat for a short time but after their feathers get soaked, they are goners.
If you don't believe me than go ahead and give one a toss.

 

[Buckguy20]

The one in the video had a way to get out. In a pool they wouldn't be able to get out over the edge. If the one in the video had had to stay in the water longer she would not have made it.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yup.

Why can't people check these things out before doing stuff like that?

One day it will swim too slow or get tossed too far and she will get to watch it drown.

Yes, chickens can swim -- until the feathers get waterlogged -- then they are very good at drowning. They are really not safe around backyard pools. They can get frightened and run the wrong way, and have no way to get out, even if they make it to the edge.

 

[Just Horsinaround]

Thanks for the answers.

I should have known to check youtube for the answer lol it never fails to amaze me what people put on there ! Although I didnt like the video much ...Like to throw that woman in a pond. she could have just gently placed it in the pond.

and BuckGuy ....Im going to take your word on it

None of my chickens are going swiming....at least by human hands and wont have to since we have an answer to the question

 

[Akane]

Chickens can't really swim so much as float for awhile. I'm sure eventually they would sink but I haven't left mine long enough to see. They do float quite well for awhile. The main problem though is can they get back out of the pool? They don't have arms to pull themselves up. The reason I know mine can float is because I put some bricks in the stock and wanted to see if they could use the bricks to get out just in case one fell in. They floated about the stock tank until they came to the bricks and walked out. Putting bricks in the tank was prompted by having chickens drown in other containers of water for not being able to get out.