You just can't tell people how quickly immersion in water can kill a chicken. People will tell you chickens can swim; they can't. What they can do is panic thrash enough to stay afloat for a while. Once the downy feathers get soaked, that's it if they don't get rescued. I know. I had Gedit die on my lap a few months ago from hypothermia and it wasn't that cold. You've been lucky Bob. A wise man would do something about that swimming pool. like empty the water out.
They go into shock. When Fat Bird got knocked into the duck pond getting her dry under her wings as quickly as possible helped. You need to spread their wings and get air circulating through those feathers near the vital body organs. I used and have since, tissue to soak up the worst and then I flap their wings for them. The wing bones are hollow and they help pump air into the lungs. Chickens have three types of bones and broken wing bones are amajor problem because of their pneumatic nature.
The larger hens don't usually suffer falling in the pool in summer. It happens frequently enough that i have never had an issue like this. When Elphie fell in it was late October and it was minutes and she was gone. I always say the water was Titanic cold.
I lost Dusty because she drowned so fast. So fast.
The hypothermia with Ned really surprised me but he is still a little fellow. The normal body temp for a chicken is between 105°F and 107°F (40.6° and 41.7°C). He clearly could not maintain that temperature when in 84°F water despite the sun and hot air temp of 92°F. Even 92°F is below his normal body temp.
Im very happy for you. Maybe her nest is not that bad. I hope you can track her down tomorrow.
I have always dried them if they are soaked on a cold night. It's good policy.
Yay!! I'm so glad she's survived this far.
I don't understand given how dangerous water is to them why they don't avoid the pool - you would think they would have an innate fear of water.
