Do Turkeys Swim?

[Patchesnposies]

Today I observed our young white midget turkey hen take a stroll through one of our many kiddie pools that are set up for our ducks and geese. Not only did she walk around in it, but at one point she "lay down". Is she copying our ducks and geese? Or is this normal behavior for turkeys?

I love turkey's but they sure are different!

Deb

 

[lowcountrypoultry]

I don't think turkeys swim..

but thats cute!

 

[hatchcrazzzy]

iv never heard of a swimming turkey maybe she was hot

 

[chickenzoo]

I don't think turkeys swim but they do like to stand in and sometimes lay in water. Mine are always standing in their water dishes, water troughs and the ducks kiddie pools.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Chickenzoo,

Thanks for the reassuring post! Early in our "Adventures In Poultry" we bought two of those white, bred for their meat, turkey poults (we didn't have a clue) at the feed store, they were reeeeaaaalllyyyy dumb! I had to rescue them both over and over as they just didn't seem to have any sense and were constantly finding trouble to get into. Long story short, they both ended up drowned in one of the pools.

I think one was getting a drink and a gust of wind blew him in and the second one went in to see where he was......makes as much sense as anything else. Or maybe, as you said, they went in simply because they wanted to.

They weren't as big as this little girl turkey is. When she was done in the pool she just stepped out and went on her way. I was worried because I really love this little midget white and didn't want to think that she'd end up dead too.

So much to learn.......

Deb

 

[chickenzoo]

Yep, turkeys aren't the smartest birds, but they sure have character. I had a full size hen drown in the horse water trough, she was full flighted too, and the water was up to the edge of the trough. I now use a bunch of low water troughs or put concrete blocks in the middle- just in case. I've noticed my peafowl like to stand in water too, I think it cools them down. My turkeys like to play in the water hose when troughs or the duck pool over flows or I'm trying to fill up something. I have one turkey, Ms Blueberry, that follows us everywhere, is into everything we are doing(even more than the other 16) and wants to be held and picked up constantly. It was cute when she was a chick - not so cute now that she is heavy, LOL. We are building a chicken barn and she was sitting with my husband on the roof inspecting his nailing ability. She then saw me sitting in the chair below and before I could move, Bam, into my lap from ten feet up- full size turkey! I almost fell over backward from the impact, ha ha. But she's a doll and we love her. Turkeys can be good watch dogs too. I had a mean rooster try to flogg me and Ms Blueberry jumped in between us and gave him a good beating, then ran back to me laying down at my feet chirping. She defends me from any aggressive critters. They are so fun to watch. Enjoy ***

 

[doubleostud]

over the years i have lost 3 turkeys to my horse tanks, 2 on the same day, so i would say no on the swimming, but yes they will play in shallow water.