Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Silly Swimming Chickens. . .I mean ducks. . . I mean chickens!!

We waited quite a long time this summer to get some decent consistent hot weather.  Our summer had a shaky start and spring was just down right cold, but we did finally get some really hot weather.  August fizzled out on a pretty cool note.  That is if you have a pool without a heater.  We've had many cold nights this month and yesterday, we took our pool down.

The third week in July was a really hot week.  The hottest we had all summer.  My children were LOVING the steamy weather.  When it was a 114 degree heat index, they were keeping cool in the pool.  The pool water even reached 90 degrees at one point.  It was a beautiful thing.  Just look at these joyful children. . .

During this week, our Henny Penny's were panting like poor little dogs.  All those feathers insulating their bodies were making the 100+ degree temps. very uncomfortable.  I had to do something to help them out.  So we decided we'd cool off our little girls in the pool with us.  And guess what.  They took to the water like ducks!


I know, I know.  Chickens aren't supposed to know how to swim.  Their feathers will become sodden and they'll sink and drown after all!  Well, we didn't tell our chickens that, so they decided to be extremely buoyant, and relaxed in the pool!

They looked like little toy sailboats sailing across the top of the water!

Notice those closed beaks?  As soon as they hit the water, they'd stop panting.  Ahhhhhhhh. . . Relief!

The little girl in the middle is Riley.  She is a great friend to my children (they call each other sisters), and the only little girl on our street.  This trio plays together ALL THE TIME.  It's wonderful.


This next picture of Madeline and her pet chicken won first prize in a cute kids contest at a local t.v. news station.  It was very exciting.


After pool time, there is ALWAYS preen time.  Have to get all those ruffled feathers smooth and pretty again. . . 

Excuse us. . . a little privacy please human!  Now make yourself useful and fetch us some meal worms.

So if you ever see our chickens running around, please don't tell them that chickens can't swim.  They're convinced that they're professionals and have even told me that they are thinking of starting their own synchronized swim team.  They'll have to wait until next summer though, since the pool is down.

Did you ever know that chickens could be so fun?  Well, I must say that the breed WE PICKED, is key to all our fun.  Not all chicken breeds are this sweet and friendly.  It has been a great experience for my little girls, and the novelty has not worn off.  We love being chicken people!  We are still awaiting our first egg and we could get it anytime within the next few weeks.  Until that day, we will wait with baited breath. 

46 comments:

  1. How cute! I won't tell my chickens because they would be su jealous!

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  2. LOL...I wouldn't tell them either then. I know how envious chickens can be! ✿◠‿◠

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  3. So adorable! I think I first caught these photos on BYC which prompted me to try and teach my chickens to swim. They are not having any of it! LOL

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  4. Swimming chickens--that is definitely the cutest thing I've seen in a while! Thanks for the smile :)

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  5. My girls like the rain well enough, but I doubt the pool would go over very well. :)

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  6. Rebecca
    I'm glad you enjoyed it. My girls really had a fun time with them in the pool.

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  7. Amy
    It's definitely not for all chickens. Ours love it though. We'll see what they think next year, after they've had a whole winter to forget about it. ;-)

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  8. Wow, I saw a reference to swimming chickens on BYC and was so curious I had to follow the link. Amazing! My son wants to drop our chickens in right now--alas, the weather has turned much too cold for that! Definitely have to check it out next summer, though!

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  9. Those are GREAT pictures! My girls don't seem to mind taking bathes and don't mind the rain, but swimming??? THAT'S SOOOO GREAT!!!

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  10. This makes me so tempted to stick my chickens in the kiddie pool next time it gets hot enough they start panting, I usually bring out the hose and leave it on a fine mist, to help them cool down. :) Thank you for sharing this!

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    1. Sammie Jo-
      I'm sure in the hottest days of summer, your girls will be appreciative of the cool of the pool! It's nice that they have the mist as well to help them out. I'm glad you liked the post!

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  11. Well I never! How amazing! What breed are they? Perhaps their feathers are particularly resistant to getting saturated. But I would be worried if others put their different breeds in water and expected the same.

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    1. They are Buff Orpingtons. I don't believe Buff Orps are particularly resistant to getting saturated. Quite the opposite actually! They are very heavily feathered and a heavy breed to boot! From my experience with our hens, I believe it's a misnomer that chickens can't swim, or will sink. I believe what is more likely, is that they fall into a body of water and without their owner nearby, they "Panic" which can ultimately lead to their demise. You can put any chicken in the water and as long as there is a human by their side, nothing bad will come of it. My girls were certainly grateful in extreme heat of summer! :-)

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  12. i have 5 bantis and a silkie ...one of my banties fell in the pond....she walked on water to get out lol xx

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    1. LOL! I'm glad to hear she found her sea legs and was able to navigate the water!! I bet she stayed far away from the pond after that!

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  13. Ours seemed to enjoy it tooo & thanks Kelly for having my back on my picture i posted!!
    i <3 your blog!! & agree SUPERVISED swim ONLY for them!! ;-)
    Donna Rogers/The Lazy Chicken Coop

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    1. You are more than welcome Donna. I know from experience that it is very safe, and also very helpful to an extremely hot chicken! There is nobody out there that can tell me that it is unsafe and they will sink. I have the proof that they can indeed swim and won't sink. :)

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  14. They're adorable! (chickens AND girls) Our Buff Orpington in house favorite. "Butters" has gotten near the pool, but never jumped in. Love that they've got your attention, and your girls are enjoying the comraderie. :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa. We sure do love our Buff Orpingtons. But just to be clear, ours never jumped in on their own accord. We always initiated it. They certainly act like little ducks though!!

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  15. Just saw your pics posted by Farmhouse38 on Facebook! What an amazing photo! And then I came to your blog and saw lots more great pics of the girls swimming with the girls ;-) Thanks for sharing! My friend asked me two months ago if chickens could swim, and I said I didn't think so! Now I stand corrected (and I hope you don't mind, but I shared your picture to prove it!). We have two buff orpingtons and would love to maybe get some lavender in the months ahead. They are the top dogs in the coop! And with your chick swim experience, we might try some supervised time in the pool when it gets really hot this summer. Blessings on you and your family! :-)
    Linda, wife of Steve :-)

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    1. You are so welcome Linda! It really is a lot of fun for my children to own, care for and above all "play with" their beloved pet chickens. And I really do love to share the joy with anyone interested in visiting our blog. I really do need to start blogging again!!!! Blessings to you as well Linda. ✿◠‿◠

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  16. Swimming chickens!!! That is fantastic! Would make for a good newspaper story. Good going!

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    1. I never thought about that Rick, but you're right! It sure would beat some of the negative reports in the news. And what a fun way to shed light on the joys of backyard chicken keeping!

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  17. That is the cutest thing!!! Mine are only 5 weeks (in 2 days), and weather isnt quite there yet, but I'm now seriously thinking of getting a little kiddy pool for summer. That would be so cute in their new run area I'm building (as long as I am around - ha ha, yes the ever paranoid mommy lol)...

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    1. Being protective is a good thing!! How fun that you have 5 week old babies. You are going to enjoy them so much. I don't think you would want to put the pool in your run though. It would be awfully difficult to empty in there. But definitely put it in your yard where they can have supervision.✿◠‿◠

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  18. I am a young girl who is getting chickens for the first time, though I've had year of experience with them (our nieghbors hire me as their anual chicken-sitter), and I'm not sure of either getting Rhode Island Reds or getting Buff Orpingtons, but thanks to this review im leaning to getting BO's, im getting 4 hens and 1 rooster (we're selling the chicks, but we might keep 1....to spoil)

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    1. Olivianne-You are going to be a great chicken mom (especially with the experience you gained by sitting for your neighbors flock)! I really love BO's. That would be my vote for you. The BO roosters, for the most part, are kind. But I really think that if you plan to have a roo, that you'll need a minimum of 10 hens? That's what I have found in my research. We don't have an Roosters, but you may want to check into that. Have fun!!

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  19. I think this summer when my grandson is playing in the pond I'll hand him one of my RIRs & see how it goes. I just LOVE the pics. Thanks for the idea.

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    1. You're welcome! I bet your grandson will have a lot of fun with that!!ツ

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  20. How do you get them to go in???

    We live in Florida, and my chickens are panting when it reaches about 80 degrees - I know they are hot. So, thinking they would appreciate a cooling off, we bought a kiddie pool yesterday. We set it in the sun, put about 4 inches of water in, and put cement pavers in the bottom so it would not be too slick. We also put a block for them to climb in and one to climb out. They don't even look at the pool!

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    1. Well Jen, I don't think they'll voluntarily "take the plunge" so to speak. What I would do if I were you, is grab a chicken, and while holding her wings down firmly, wade into the pool with her. Hold her there until she relaxes all the while speaking softly to her. It may take several tries. The first few times we put our Henny Penny's in, they protested indignantly! But eventually, they realized that they were safe and it really did feel good. Be patient, but you'll have to force them in. I don't think they'll take the initiative. Mine never did. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out!!

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  21. This. I am awestruck, and aching for swimming weather!
    Chicken Swimming Weather!

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    1. I'm glad you found us Natalie. Be sure to come back and let me know if your hen's liked it when the weather is appropriate!!

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  22. Loved your story and pictures. Now you have given me one more thing to do for my chickens. Like I need something else. ( ^v^) Going to get my chicks a kiddie pool this summer. It gets HOT down here in S.W. Texas. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome!! I hope your girls like it the way mine do!

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  23. My mind has been blown. Swimming chickens! I never would have believed it!

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    1. Yep! Pictures don't lie. They sure are a lot of fun!!

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  24. I would never have believed it! When my little flock gets hot this summer, I am getting them a kiddie pool! Loved it! Thank you for the tip!

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    1. You're welcome. I hope your girls like it!!

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  25. This is amazing and wonderful! You have lucky children AND lucky chicks. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Loved your story and the pictures are adorable!

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  27. That is the sweetest post. I just may fill up that kiddie-pool this summer after all.

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  28. Nice to read this article will be very helpful in the future, share more info with us. Good job!www.backyardchickenshop.com/coop-kits-sale/

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  29. So fun! I'm debating on whether or not to show this to my daughter; we have a pool and five lovely hens and she'd be all too happy to have some feathered swim buddies! In spite of the mister our girls were still very warm last summer so I can't wait to see if ours love the pool as much as yours do :)

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