Help! Chicken fell in water bucket!

[kristin06]

My little bantam cochin somehow fell in a water bucket and I guess got stuck! I have no clue how long she was in there but there was an egg at the bottom. I grabbed her and wrapped her in a towel and tried blow drying her a little. Then I took her back out side, put her in the sun, and she wouldnt walk she ate a little, but won't move, just sits there and shivers. So I wrapped her up in the towel and she is in the bathroom with the heat lamp on. She has tucked her head like they do when they sleep. When I walk in she will look around but she is still a little shakey and slightly puffed up.
Is there anything else I can do?

 

[cleoandtheflock]

@Eggcessive @casportpony @Wyorp Rock

 

[Compost King]

Happened to me twice this year, Both times I put the chicken in the brooder until they were dry. Both survived. Do you have a heat lamp brooder set up?

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Agree, you can place her in a brooder in order to warm her up. It might take a full day or two before she’s fully back to herself.

I mean no harm, but can I ask why you have a water bucket? Is it for horses or large animals? If not or if it’s for the chickens I would instead get a different kind of waterer.

I had a neighbor who had three of her chickens drown from water buckets until she finally switched. They can be dangerous to a chicken who is freaking out.

 

[AltonaAcres]

We had a bantam cochin fall into a water bucket too! It was in the evening, so we dried her off inside, then put her into her coop with a rooster who is very attached to her. He kept her warm all night.

 

[kristin06]

Agree, you can place her in a brooder in order to warm her up. It might take a full day or two before she’s fully back to herself.


I mean no harm, but can I ask why you have a water bucket? Is it for horses or large animals? If not or if it’s for the chickens I would instead get a different kind of waterer.

I had a neighbor who had three of her chickens drown from water buckets until she finally switched. They can be dangerous to a chicken who is freaking out.

I understand, it's not a big water bucket maybe a foot and a half tall. I dont see how she got stuck. It's not their normal waterer. I was running late for work like 2 days ago so I filled that one up and put it in there and I just never took it out.. their normal water is made for chickens, but its hanging up and it was easier for me to fill the bucket. I promise that won't happen again! I didn't think one could get stuck in it. It's more like trough instead of a bucket.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

No worries, I get ya. Sometimes it’s just easier. They do make a bucket waterer that you can just fill from the top to make it quick to fill. Then it had a lid so that they can’t get inside.

Chickens can be dumb sometimes. Everything can.

 

[kristin06]

No worries, I get ya. Sometimes it’s just easier. They do make a bucket waterer that you can just fill from the top to make it quick to fill. Then it had a lid so that they can’t get inside.

Chickens can be dumb sometimes. Everything can.

Yes they can lol. My boyfriend is working on a watering system with a barrel and PVC pipe. So It will be easier for me in the morning. I have a lot of sepperate coops, 6 dogs, and 3 pigs( they come in at night). So I have to get up at like 4am a take care of everybody( not complaining, I love it), but that night I forgot to set my alarm and also fighting a bad cold so it was a struggle this week.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Get some buckets with lids then horizontal nipples had birds die if they can open them this is what I buy
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TS2RVYQ/?tag=backy-20

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that I am just seeing this, but it sounds like you are doing as much as you can. Some people blow dry their wet chickens to keep them from chilling. I have never had any of my grown chickens get into a water bucket, but when chicks are under 2 weeks old, they will be drawn to water, and keeping a large container of water in a pan or bucket can be very dangerous. I pulled a chick out of a shot black rubber bowl of water once, just as she jumped up on the side and fell in, so I use caution around chicks. But with my older birds of large and bantam size, I do put bowls of water out year round, and have never had an accident with them. I really hope your bantam hen recovers. I lost a hen once who accidentally got left out in the rain one night, and even though she got under the hen house, she got chilled and was dead the next morning.