Silly swimming chickens...I mean "ducks"....I mean chickens!!

[jndorsey]

OK someone else may have already posted this, I haven't had time to read through all of the posts. As much as I'd like to see my birds swimming in the pool, riddle met his: What's the ONE thing chickens do ALL DAY LONG? Ahem. In one end, out the other?? I already spend too much time just vacuuming the sand off the bottom of the pool - but chicken poo in the water? Of course gives new meaning to swimming in the POO-l.

But seriously, I think I am going to stop on the way home from work and get a kiddie pool and see if my birds will swim in it. These were GREAT pics. And very pretty hens! They look young, how old are they? (Your little girls are beautiful too!)

Seriously, if you are concerned about the chickens and the chlorine, I've joined a swimming pool forum where they teach you to actually manage your own water with readily-available household chemicals (as opposed to running to the pool store for testing and chemicals). Because I don't use pool store chems, I am able to keep my chlorine at a relatively low 2ppm. You can't smell it or taste it, there's so little in the water. Let me know if you want the link, I'm such a convert to the anti-pool store method now it's amazing! Not one algae bloom all summer and I have a relatively wimpy pump and can still keep my chlorine low. It works! And it's easier on your skin, eyes, and hair. Not to mention the birds' feet and feathers!

 

[kfisher123]

Oh my gosh!! That is hysterical! And BEAUTIFUL pictures!!

 

[ChickiKat]

I am going to get a pool on my way home. I am so concerned about my chickers and this oppressive heat. Today the heat index is supposed to be 120!!!!!

 

[Dutchgirl]

Cute!

We once found a d'Uccle chick in our kiddy pool. I'm not sure how he got there, but... he was just swimming around! However, we're pretty sure it was his feathered feet that kept him going.

 

[Ginger57]

If they are used to being held and handled, and are with people they trust, the water becomes a positive experience, they relax. If the get tossed in water too deep to stand in, it's a frightening experience. If there's no way out, then they panic. Want to read what trust can do, read Karen Pryor's Reaching the Animal Mind, find the story about surfing ponies.

 

[beauty2thebirds]

That is GREAT! I love it, way to go chickies!! LOL!

 

[ezekielSM]

How do you think we could make a makeshift Chicken Pool for hot hens? I'm thinking it'd be a lot of fun seeing my girls cool off a little. I -know- Tiramisu LOVES getting her feet wet! She'd always stand in her water bowl.

 

[jndorsey]

If you can get to Wal-Mart, they have small kiddie pools for like eight bucks now. The smallest ones aren't but a couple of feet across and they may even be cheaper than that now. I'm thinking of stopping and picking up two myself. One for the birds (my sister just told me to put table scraps in the bottom of it to lure them in. My family was here last weekend and everyone commented on how my girls will eat ANYTHING and how they just scratch and peck all day long) and one for people to wash their feet before they get in the big pool. Grass clippings and sand are the enemy these days. Back to topic - I have one misc breed hen who does NOT do well in the heat. I thought we were going to lose her last year and we're into the bad part of summer here now, not sure she'll make it till September. While she's certainly not my favorite, I'd hate to lose one, especially to the heat.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Oh my Goodness! That is adorable and I love your buff orp chickies! Sooo cute and trusting. And talk about cool! I mean that literally and figuratively!

 

[sbost]

That is great. Our turkey just started swimming too. Here's his Youtube video

He just started swimming on Father's day along with our ducks and geese. I was surprised he could swim since he didn't have web feet but it is probably how the chickens swim too.