Chicks/ chickens and my duck swimming area- drowning concerns

[LinaNate]

I've got a mixed flock in my chicken run. Juvenile chickens, bantam juveniles, chicks, ducklings & turkeys. I have a shallow kiddie pool with water in it that everyone does fine with. My ducks really try to dive and get fully under water but they can't in the shallow pool. I dug out a deep hole and put a Rubbermaid bin in the hole but I'm concerned about chicks/ chickens & turkeys going in and drowning.

I've not filled the bin with water yet. If I put a ramp in the bin would that prevent drowning or is the bin idea just not worth the risk?

I'm feeling bad that the ducks can't fully dunk themselves.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have indeed read accounts here on BYC of chickens drowning in the duck pond. But I am not sure if that is a common occurrence.

Honestly (since I don't know ducks) if I were in your shoes I would try the ramp idea and hope for the best. But of course there is always a small risk- and if you have itty bitties around I would cover up the top with a board or something until they got older.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/929533/chickens-keep-drowning-in-duck-pool-help
Here is one thread that is informative.

 

[Free Feather]

More than a small risk!
I have lost so many chicks this spring to drowning in the geese pools, it makes me ill. The tub was really high ridged with no ramp, but chicks were still regularly hopping in and drowning. I put lots of water bowls and waterers around for them to drink out of, but they still wanted to hop in the tub. I had to take the tub away because I could not separate them, but the geese still have a stream to swim in.

 

[enola]

One of the reasons I can't free range is because my neighbor has 500 gallon watering tanks in his pastures for his horses and cattle. After 5 of my chickens failed swimming lessons, I gave up.

 

[LinaNate]

Would you say the risk is just limited to chicks or also for adult birds?
I did NOT fill my bin with water- figure it can't hurt to wait and let the littles grow... I worry because I have seen some of them wading in the kiddie pool. All it takes is one hop in deeper water and there sunk : /

Do ducks need to dive? Are they just fine in shallow water? I know they need the water for cleaning...

 

[Free Feather]

I have never had adults drown, just chicks, and it only took them the ten minutes I was in the house each time to drown themselves. The ducks definitely love to dive and submerge in the water. They do not have to, but I would let them. I would not worry about the adult chickens - if they drown when they are grown then that is a pure accident - I just would not allow the chicks around it, like birds under six weeks old.

 

[aart]

I've read of adult chickens drowning in large deep farmyard water troughs
.
I think the whole water deal is why a lot of folks keep ducks separate.

From what I've read ducks only really need enough water to douse their nares(nostrils)...swimming is just icing on the cake.

 

[LinaNate]

Quote: This is exactly what I was after thanks! We can stick with the shallow pool if they really don't need it deeper

 

[Free Feather]

Yeah, I guess ducks do not need to have deep water, but they really love it. They have tons of fun barreling through the water and flapping their wings, spraying water everywhere. When I had to keep mine in sometimes with a shallow pool, they would sprint right to the creek the minute I opened the door, visibly having lots of fun. Even just filling the tub deeper when you around to watch will make them happy.

 

[aart]

One thing I thought of....
.....do ducks dust bathe?

I'd think not, so they probably do need a good swim once a week or so, deep enough to dive to keep their feathers clean....
could do that by putting them and their pool in a tightly meshed day pen to keep chicks out of the area.