Being a chicken owner, hundreds of questions come to our minds. One of them is can chickens swim? Chickens are a really odd creature that does numerous weird things to surprise you. Sometimes they eat something you won’t expect them to eat, while sometimes they can fly higher than your expectations or do anything else, leaving you open-mouthed.
Most people don’t believe that chickens can swim, but the answer is Yes, chickens can swim very well, but they don’t like to, or swim often. In this article, we will discuss different facts about chicken’s swimming, so stick to the end to know more about it.
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Can Chickens Swim?
Chicks are delicate and small, with less tight feathers. Chicks cannot swim because of their small body parts and are fragile, with weak muscles holding their body up in the water.
Baby chickens drown quickly, even in a small bucket of water. Drowning chicks will get chilled, leading to hyperthermia, the primary cause of their death. If they somehow enter the water, you have to take them out and dry their bodies before they get chilled. It would be best to keep chicks away from the flock because they will follow their parents and might jump into the pool. So, safety comes first.
Do Chickens Enjoy Swimming In Water?
Yes, chickens like swimming, but in rare cases, they mostly don’t swim in front of others. In fact, water helps them beat the heat of summers, keeping them cool and calm. Chickens have a quiet nature and don’t panic, but their feathers aren’t modified to swim, so they can’t stay in water for a long time; that’s why you must be there to prevent them from drowning while they are swimming.
If you have a pool near their coop, you must supervise them while swimming and try to dry their bodies after swimming to reduce hyperthermia risk. Even the chance of getting fever also increases, so it’s best to dry them and use a shallow water pool.
Are Chickens Natural Swimmers?
No chickens are not natural swimmers even though they belong to Poultry, in which chickens and duck both are added. But both of them have different characteristics and appearances. Chickens’ body structure is totally different from birds that are natural swimmers.
When we say chickens can swim, this doesn’t mean that they can swim properly. Their body lacks different features that help ducks to swim. Mainly their feet aren’t webbed, due to which they can’t swim properly and faster. Webbed feet are vital because they will help them move faster, and in the case of predators in the water, they need to move more quickly to save their life.
Is It Necessary To Have A Pool Near The Coop?
It’s not necessary to have a pool near a coop for chickens, but you can make a mini pool for their entertainment. Chickens love to do the new and creative things that delight them. The pool might give them a unique experience. But before building a pool for them, make sure to follow the following steps that will be helpful for them.
- First, create a small mini-pool for chickens that could be like a small child pool which must be shallow.
- Different chemicals and sanitary are used in swimming pools to keep them clean like oxidizers, sanitizers, enzymes, etc. These chemicals are so harsh even they can kill a frog. So, make sure not to use any chemical that could be fatal for your chickens.
- Build a mini pool and try to change its water daily; this will prevent the formation of algae or fungi and other microorganisms that are harmful to them.
- Make a ramp for them that helps them get there without jumping because a jump might lead to drowning. Though it’s a mini pool, you must build stairs inside the pool, so they get out of it quickly if they panic or drown.
- Last but not least, place a fan or something else to dry them off quickly. You can use a dryer, but fans are perfect because you’ll have to dry them manually with a dryer.
Don’t forget to stay there while your chickens are in the pool because they panic quickly.
How Chickens Swim?
Water is not the chickens’ natural habitat; they don’t have proper parts for swimming. It’s been recorded that a chicken has drowned in a bucket of water. So, it’s necessary to be aware of them when they enter the water.
Chickens use their feet to move forward the same as ducks. They are not webbed, due to which they can’t paddle faster and move slowly. Moreover, their feathers absorb water as they don’t produce oil, causing them to drown like a stone. If they panic with wet feathers, they might drown faster. Chickens that have calm nature can swim better than those who panic quickly.
Why Can Ducks Swim While Chickens Can’t?
You might think that ducks can swim very well, but chickens with the same body can’t because of their feathers and feet. Ducks can swim because they have waterproof feathers and oil glands that secrete oil while swimming, and their webbed feet help them move forward while chickens lack all these. Ducks are swimmers by birth while chickens are not.
What To Do If Chicken GETS Stuck In The Middle Of A Pool?
Usually, chickens do different mysterious things. If they jump into the pool, they will obviously try to explore. In this exploration, they might end up in the middle of it where she is helpless. If this happens, dry her off and keep her in a warm place; give her fresh water and something else to eat to calm her.
Once she is calmed and warmed, check her out thoroughly or contact her. Hyperthermia can lead to the death of your chicken; if there isn’t an issue, keep her in a warm place overnight and then put her back in the flock.
How Long Can Chicken Swim?
Chickens aren’t good swimmers; this doesn’t mean they can’t swim. They can stay in the water for five to ten minutes easily. But it all depends on the chicken how it behaves in the water. If they panic quickly, it might take only 60 seconds to drown. Chickens can even cross the garden pond or even more but don’t try to test it because you will be risking her life.
Which Breed Can Swim Better?
All types of chickens can swim very well but don’t consider Silkies among them because they are fluffy. Their feathers get wet quickly and can drown them. It’s better to keep them away from the pond or make their coop away from the pond.
Summary:
Yes, chickens can swim, but supervision is essential as they are not swimmers by birth. They possess the ability to swim but are not adapted for swimming. They swim just for their pleasure. Make a mini pond for them in summers to keep them safe from the scorching heat.
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