Pond in a chicken run, Yes or No?

[Blooie]

I was gonna ask for a photo or two myself, LG, but I have the worst habit of hijacking threads....

 

[lazy gardener]

I do it all the time. See my avatar roo? His name is Jack. I'm always greeting him... "Hi Jack!"

 

[Blooie]

 

[Sunshine Flock]

During our extreme heat this summer, I followed the advice of a chicken blogger and filled a five gallon bucket with water as a dipping pond of sorts. It helped cool them down, and two actually sat there and floated.

As the gentle breeze would blow them this way and that, they'd just float along and didn't seem to mind the new view as they rotated in circles in the bucket.

So water can be helpful. And there are plenty of homesteaders who free range their chickens near ponds. But I agree with the others.

 

[John and Tiffany]

all good to know. Ill just stick to the regular waterers. I had a great picture in my mind, but maybe one day ill own a giant natural pond that I can get creative with

 

[Folly's place]

There's already plenty of good (negative) advice here, totally true. If you are interested, there are lots of other nasty reasons NOT to have chickens able to get into a pond, of whatever size.
Ducks and geese would be thrilled, not chickens.
Mary

 

[Fairview01]

Personally I don not think it is a good idea. The koi can attract hawks or any birds that can take your chickens. Also the chickens may want to drink from it and there could be bacteria and stuff in it. Overall I personally think it's a bad idea. On the other hand if you have ducks a pond would be necessary.

I think there is monstrous misconception on the forum that chickens like to drink clean water. In the summer mine seem to prefer the 3+ day aged, stagnant muddy shrinking puddle of water at the end of our driveway when its 98 degrees over the fresh water in a clean fount.

Must be the last way to commit suicide. Bet you can't drink that water and live long enough to lay an egg tomorrow.

I have stupid chickens.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm not trying it myself, but every critter here would much rather drink out of disgusting puddles than a clean water dish! Better flavor, right?
Mary

 

[Fairview01]

I'm not trying it myself, but every critter here would much rather drink out of disgusting puddles than a clean water dish! Better flavor, right?
Mary

I have an aerobic septic tank with above ground sprinkler distribution. Due to some strategically located chicken excavations in the sprinkler zones there can be morning puddles of water in these pockets. As my wife leaves for her night shift work on the way out she will open the run to give them so free range time. My job is to shut the run door when I get home. Very infrequently I forget. The next morning I will find my entire small flock have circled their wagons around a very much smaller water puddle and it is very common to see feathers flying over the drinking rights.

I know exactly where that water came from and an artesian well did not spring up in my yard overnight.

I just and go to work. Those are some sick birds I have.

 

[Folly's place]