Nats Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Hi Before I get some chickens I'd like to find out if I'm ok to leave my pond. Will the chickens eat the duckweed or go in it? If they eat duckweed will they be ok? I also have dogs and wondered if there are any diseases that can be passed from dog to chicken or vise versa? Thanks for any advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgirl73 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 well, I have no idea about the dogs bit (but I shouldn't think so). We havea small pond in our garden and my girls love nothing better than to perch on the stones round about it and have a nice cool drink on a hot day, even thought they have their lovely gravity water feeder with nice clean water in it And they are still here, so I don't see a problem with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 We have a 6 by 4 pond smack bang in the middle of our decking, between the back of the house and the grass and I have had no problem. There have been a couple of times when the chooks have been at the bottom of the garden and have seen me at the back door and come rushing up to see if I have treats and forgotten the pond is there and have to flap like mad over the top of it! And there was once when Honeysuckle flapped out of my arms and landed in it, but she soon extricated herself without getting too wet and was absoutely fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Pond no problem her, one ewnt for a dip, when we 1st got them, appeared at the house looking very bedraggled. they love the weed.. full of iron I expect! Dogs should be fine, iof you don't get anything from the dogs then am sure they won't. one thing I am very pleased abot that if they find a dog pooh,,, even one with mixed stolen grain in it, they show no interst what so ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 My dad has a large pond (25m X 15m approx). He has had no problems at all with his 4 bluebelles. The moorhens who live on the pond weren't to sure about the new arrivals and there have been some funny confrontations between the moor hens, their current 5 offspring and the chickens over treats! My sister has a dog Henry (big bouncy lab) and 3 bluebelles. He now puts the girls to bed but only when asked. Apart from that he leaves them alone as they make sure he knows they do not want to be disturbed. Personally I think the girls let him put them to bed! It is very funny! I do not know about any diseases between dogs and chickens but dad had chickens for years and they remained healthy as did their dalmation! We have a small pond but as I have only had my girls for two days the two are yet to meet! Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephine77 Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 We have a fairly large pond, and the chooks have been fine with it - I'm actually surprised how little time they spend around it. Agnes, my rogue chook did make a slight misjudgement once, and crash landed in the middle of it, but then she quickly took off again trying to make out as if she'd intended to do it. I don't think the dogs transferring diseases is a worry, so I'm sure yours will be fine. Jo x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Someone on the forum had a hen that drowned.......can't remember who. I think maybe there was no way for it to clamber back out, so if you rig something up it might be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 we have a large deep pond and our girls have never ventured near it. It has a bridge over it and they walk over that, but no accidents. I would always err on the side of caution though, as you never know - some hens are dippier than others, so maybe a small fence/something blocking the pond would be handy. We have a large GSD who is brilliant with the chickens, I would advise slow introductions on the lead and if you are unsure of your dog not to leave it alone with the chooks whilst freeranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 We've got a large pond and up untill recently Ping used to regularly go fishing for water snails in it . Hatpin went for an accidental dip shortly after she arrived but other than that, no problems at all. It is quite full of plants and quite easy to clamber out of though. I have always been very careful whenever we've had newbies in and they freerange for the first time, but they all soon realise they can't walk on water and steer clear. The dog bit I can't help with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
