Chickens in pool?

[Studio2770]

Odd question, but can chickens float in water like ducks? We had a kiddie pool for them but they never warmed up to it. I would like to keep them cool, especially our cochin. I've been setting frozen bottles out and no one takes to them. I'm also aware of cool treats.

 

[Stiggy]

No chickens can't float..... Or swim.... They will drown. In the hot sometimes they like to stand in their water if its about an inch deep and its hot. I wouldn't advise letting them be around deeper water

 

[Den in Penn]

Actually they do float for a while, until their feathers become soaked. Depending on the condition of the feathers it may take a little or a lot of time. While they are floating they can swim. There are pictures on BYC of chickens swimming in pools. If you do a search using "chickens swimming" you will find them.

 

[aart]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/538337/silly-swimming-chickens-i-mean-ducks-i-mean-chickens

 

[6of6chicks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/538337/silly-swimming-chickens-i-mean-ducks-i-mean-chickens

That was a cute thread, but that one picture of the little girl with her face next to the chicken freaked me out a little! I learned right off the bat never to let a chicken get near my face. I wasn't thinking one day and made kissy noises while holding a chicken (I do it all the time with my dogs) - and sure enough the chicken went for my lips! No way I'd let a chicken near my daughter's face like that - way too risky!

Good to know they can swim, though. We're supposed to hit 97 today. Maybe I'll try the kiddie pool with an inch of water - just to give them something cool to stand in.

 

[mimischicksnat]

I have a couple of those rubber feeders from TSC and put cold water in them. Of course it doesn't stay cold, but I do know they like to stand in it when they are hot.

 

[emorems0]

My chickies aren't big enough for kitchen scraps yet, but we have been saving our fruit & veggie scraps for our friend's chickens for the past year or so, we just keep a bag in the freezer and toss the scraps in as needed. When summer hit this year, I asked her about whether watermelon was okay for her chickens and she said "YES! They LOVE frozen watermelon rinds, they go nuts for it and cucumber, especially on hot summer days... it really helps to cool them down!).

Possible nice cool treat for your chickens when it gets hot? Like a juicy fruit popsicle for chickens

 

[sbhkma]

I have a couple of those rubber feeders from TSC and put cold water in them. Of course it doesn't stay cold, but I do know they like to stand in it when they are hot.

Me too! Only I put mine under my AC drip line so there's always cool water dripping into it and it's in the shade, so they have cool water all day long to stand in. I got the biggest one they had-3 of my girls can all fit in it belly deep in water and they LOVE doing that.