docsquid Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 The area we have fenced off for our chickens in the garden includes the pond. They like to drink from the pond, and it isn't normally a problem except... ...Megan has now decided she likes to paddle. She goes right up to her tummy and gets her undercarriage and tummy feathers all wet. This has got worse since the wild duck, who had been hanging around on our garage roof and front garden, decided she would go for a swim in our pond (which is tiny). The pond has proper sloping sides for wildlife, so Megan isn't likely to fall in. But I did think it rather unusual that she likes to paddle. The others don't. The plus side is she's always got very nice clean feet. I think she's doing it to catch water snails and possibly the tadpoles too. Changing the configuration of the fencing really isn't an option - there isn't anywhere else we can put it without blocking paths that are in constant use. Does anybody else have a paddling chicken who thinks she's a duck? Is it a really bad thing, or is it OK provided she doesn't fall in completely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 So long as there are means for her to get out, she should be OK. We did have a forum member once, whose hen drowned, but that was because she fell into a steep sided pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted April 21, 2010 Author Share Posted April 21, 2010 Oh, thank you! She does seem completely happy paddling in the shallows, it would be a shame to stop her. I don't think she could drown in the pond - it only has a small deeper bit, otherwise is quite shallow with sloping sides all the way round. Don't they just love to worry you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 lovely... photo please. bless her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Honey does the same - one end of ours is boggy and she spends ages standing and eating (I think) tadpoles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazard Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 i have i hen that paddles in the meat tin which has water in it for the wild birds to bath in i thought i had a chicken/duck cross but there are other paddling chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Rita used to jump up into the birdbath and stand in it purusing the garden. My new girls have not discovered that side of the garden yet but I can see Madge doing similar when they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
