Chickens CAN swim!

[ksbmom]

This is definitely the weirdest thing that's happened with our chickens. Yesterday afternoon, our back gate must have blown open and I didn't realize some of my girls were out in front. The neighbor is dog-sitting, and this dog saw my chickens and took off after them. In their panic, one flew into the pond, shallow enough that I could get her. I had just put her back in the coop, when the dog chased another (my beautiful black Ameracauna) out into the middle of the pond, which is about 15 feet deep at that place. By the time I could get the canoe out, she had disappeared. I saw the rings in the water where she went down, but there was nothing I could do. I was so upset. Then, this morning, I look out in the back yard, and saw that the other black hen was walking around the yard. I thought my son had accidentally let her out when he fed the girls. Noooo, it wasn't the OTHER hen, because she was IN the coop! It was the "drowned" chicken!!! She looked as if nothing ever happened. Anyone ever heard of a swimming chicken??

Makes me think of the verse in the Bible that says "not a sparrow falls but your Heavenly Father knows." He definitely was gracious to us!

 

[Big dreams]

My kids said when they were little they saw a chicken swim, I didn't believe them, maybe I should..

 

[EweSheep]

Unfortunately chickens do not swim, not for long until they tire. If they can lift themselves to fly, they can do it. But as for my case, every one of my birds that did got themselves in that pond or horse trough, it is certain death unless one of us happened to be there at the time the chicken fell in or flew in.

 

[Big dreams]

Well I for one will still try and keep my chickens from deep water.

Even if they manage to get out, I am sure they don't like it!

 

[Akane]

They can float for awhile and flap their wings to move. Eventually if they can't get out they do sink though and they can't paddle around like a duck. They won't drown immediately should they fall in water but I wouldn't call it swimming.

 

[Happy Chooks]

What a lucky ducky (I mean chicky)

 

[mstricer]

I dont think they swim, They just flap very quickly

 

[danielbrown]

chickens can paddle like a duck. I have seen them do it.
My roo swam like a duck to the edge of the pool. Chickens drown when they can't get out of the water.

 

[nikki_r5]

Hello

That's interesting . . . I had always believed that "they" couldn't swim.
But, as long as they didn't get soaked that they would have a chance.

My "Sally" likes to take a dip & cool off in the pool I have out for the dog.
It gets HOT here !

 

[cmom]

I love those pictures!!!