Chickens and ponds

[Margaid]

What do chickens do when confronted with a pond? We're intending to dig out a swim pond, that is a natural pond that is big enough for us to swim in.

The way these ponds work is to have an area big enough and deep enough to swim in, surrounded by a much shallower shelving area where plants etc which purify the water grow. The two areas are divided by an underwater wall which stops about 15 " below the surface.

We're on solid clay (which means we probably won't line it) but don't really want the mud stirred up or the water fouled. We could fence it off if necessary but that would spoli the natural look, or we can put the chicken enclosure away from the garden area and fence all of that off.

So, what will the hens do? Will they avoid it, paddle in it, try and eat all the plants or what? .

 

[Wrigley62]

Good morning Margaid,
For the last 2 weeks we have been experiencing some "Record Breaking" heat (95 to 100 f). I have been feeding them Watermelon, putting frozen water bottles in thier waterers and even hanging frozen water bottles in front of the fans in the coop. The other day I cut the bottom ( about 4 inches deep) out of a 33 gal plastic barrel and filled it with water, they only drank out of it. I put a few of the girls in it and all it did was piss them off. I don't think you will have to worry about them going into your pond.
I tried to plant Morning Glorys around their run, they ate all the leaves as soon as they sprouted. You might want to keep them away from your plants till they get established. I have some Fountain Grass thats been growing for 3 years now, they love to get under the leaves for shade. They also love to get under my Hostas.

 

[chrismahon]

That's a good idea Wrigley- frozen ice pack in the drinkers. It was 45 degrees Centigrade in the area where we are moving to last week -the chickens are going to cook!

 

[Wrigley62]

Then you better stock up on the Bar-B-Que Sauce

 

[Marigold]

We have a pond in our garden and the hens have never gone near it, except for one occasion last winter when Star set out on a perilous journey across the ice. She survived, the ice was very thick! In my friends garden he has a little pond with turf edges and the hens just use this to drink from but don't get their feet wet.