Drowning sparrows??

[Chickenloving]

Earlier this month I found a dead sparrow in my chicken's water bucket under a tree. I assumed it fell out of the nest and couldn't get out of the water. I cleaned out the bucket and went on. Then, a week or so later, I found another dead sparrow in the chicken's bucket of water under the tree. I thought "oh weird!", cleaned out the bucket, and went on. Tonight I found a dead sparrow in the chicken's bucket of water under the tree and another in the coop bucket of water. I'm now thinking something is wrong... Could this be some kind of bird flu? Could this hurt my chickens? Please help! This has never happened in the four years I have had chickens!

 

[Chickenloving]

Wild guesses could help, too!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The poor thing probably only wanted a bath but stepped off into the deep end of the spa by mistake.

 

[NickyKnack]

I'm thinking the sparrows are thirsty. They lean into the bucket to get a drink, they slip and fall in. Once they are in the water, the cohesion keeps them from breaking free with out something to push up on from underneath and they drown. Try putting a large brick or stone in the bucket, that comes up just under the surface of the water level. See if this stops it. Another thing, is the weather incredibly dry? It might explain their desperate attempt to get a drink.

 

[Chickenloving]

The poor thing probably only wanted a bath but stepped off into the deep end of the spa by mistake.

Haha that's what I thought the first two times but now it's at four times and it has never happened before this last month.

 

[MeepBeep]

In find them all the time in my llama/goat water buckets in the barn during hot spells...

 

[Chickenloving]

I'm thinking the sparrows are thirsty. They lean into the bucket to get a drink, they slip and fall in. Once they are in the water, the cohesion keeps them from breaking free with out something to push up on from underneath and they drown. Try putting a large brick or stone in the bucket, that comes up just under the surface of the water level. See if this stops it. Another thing, is the weather incredibly dry? It might explain their desperate attempt to get a drink.

They've gotten lots of drinks out of it and it never was a problem. I may try that, though. Thanks.

 

[Chickenloving]

In find them all the time in my llama/goat water buckets in the barn during hot spells...

It is hot here but like I said i would think this would have happened in the past four years. I don't get why it's all of sudden. I was afraid that maybe an illness made them weaker where they couldn't get out or something. Maybe it's nothing. I was just worrying. haha

 

[MeepBeep]

It is hot here but like I said i would think this would have happened in the past four years.  I don't get why it's all of sudden.  I was afraid that maybe an illness made them weaker where they couldn't get out or something.  Maybe it's nothing. I was just worrying. haha

They are likely nesting or bedding down for the night in the immediate area this year...

 

[Chickenloving]

They are likely nesting or bedding down for the night in the immediate area this year...

We've always had a ton of them. I have big bushes in my yard that they like to nest in.