hot weather, should i think about a pool?

[aquagolda]

I don't have ducks but I know ducks can swim in a small pool should I consider putting in a small pool in extreme heat? can the chickens even swim? what about if its water they can stand in will it hurt them In anyway?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Chickens can't swim, but as long as you kept it clean I don't see how it could hurt. I've heard of setting up sprinklers, freezing water bottles, freezing watermelon for a treat, etc. I see mine go for puddles once in a while, but they don't exactly "swim".

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Chickens can't swim, but as long as you kept it clean I don't see how it could hurt. I've heard of setting up sprinklers, freezing water bottles, freezing watermelon for a treat, etc. I see mine go for puddles once in a while, but they don't exactly "swim".

Actually they can swim quite well. They don't go out of their way to do so, but they are very capable.

 

[aquagolda]

that's what I thought but where they are is a little down hill so the water runs off and doesn't make puddles so I have never seen or tried to make my chickens swim

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Well in my experience they swim like bricks. Guess I don't have aquatic chickens.

 

[Julia62]

We've been very hot here that last two weeks and I have been doing the "freezing watermelon" and they LOVE it! I cut it into chunks and put it in a container filled halfway with water and freeze. Pop it our and lay it on the ground. They peck at it and eat it up over the course of a day or two. I also put a chunk of ice frozen in another container in a 9 x 5 loaf pan filled with water. They love the ice water. As soon as I drop it in, they run over to it.

 

[JackE]

Actually they can swim quite well. They don't go out of their way to do so, but they are very capable.

Really? From what I've seen, they float well (At least for a while) but they don't really swim. Ducks swim/paddle around, but chickens can kick their legs all they want, and they don't really get anywhere. Back when my flock had the run of the place, we had a couple get into our inground pool. They just floated around until we got the dipnet. From what I've heard, they were lucky we were there. I hear after a while they just slowly sink into the water.

 

[aatx]

This one seems to be swimming.

We just have a very shallow pan for them to wade it. (We used the pan that goes under a water heater.)

 

[memphis]

Chicken feathers are not water repellent like water fowl. One they get soaked through and wet they will sink. I use a round oil pan thing filled with a few inches of water that they will stand in. But the best for us is the misters. We have them clipped along a fence line and they love it.

 

[Meadowchick]

LOL! That was a good question! I had never thought about whether a chicken could swim if it had to...I guess mine just stay out of the water...they do wade at the end of the sewer ditch which is fairly shallow and clear water after it goes through the electric septic system and perforated drain line...they actually PREFER to drink that water over the chlorinated water in their run...as do our cattle and horses! Might say something about municipal water systems??? Just thinking....does anyone else observe this?