Omlet cube and run

[Tutti Frutti]

I was wondering if anyone has chook-proofed their pond or fountains? When we had to bathe our Penny (RIP), we were told to be really careful as she could drown in just a few inches of water Now the summer's here and the girls are FR more in the garden, they've suddenly noticed the tiny pond and also our solar-powered fountain (it hasn't worked for months ). We've sorted the fountain (filled it with cobbles to make it really, really shallow and fenced it off) but what about our pond? It's tiny and only for plants so we might just fill it in?

 

Any thoughts folks? Thank you!

[theherd123]

We have a pebble fountain and dont bother to put anything round it, the girls never bother with it.

 

Maybe you could put some chicken wire over the pond or something similar. Enough to hold a chooks weight but something which the pond plants could grow through.

 

It would be a shame to lose the pond as it will attract so much wildlife to your garden.

[Tutti Frutti]

Grand idea! Thank you, now why didn't I think of that? Will also help our old cat who's eyesight is failing - stop her treading in it and drinking out of it, which is good as it's mostly mud but only has a few inches of water when it rains

 

The fountain has been dry for years but last weekend we resurrected it and heaved it to just outside the run to add cool moisture (and I put a few drops of citronella oil in it to keep the flies away ). Out of our 7 girls, only ex-barnie Ursula noticed it! She was fascinated and perched on the edge watching it so I'm glad we'd already filled it with cobbles but we whipped her off after a bit and fenced it off so they can't clamber on it.

[scarlettohara]

Mine stand in our pond (one end is boggy and shallow) upto the tops of the legs

[docsquid]

Mine stand in our pond (one end is boggy and shallow) upto the tops of the legs

 

Yes, ours do the same. They love paddling. They are careful not to go in the deeper bit, and it is quite amusing to watch them. They've been doing it for six months now without any harm. I was cautious with them to start with, and also would be cautious watching new chooks until they get the hang of it.

 

I wouldn't want to net off the pond, as our cats like drinking from it, as do the little wild birds.