[HappyHippy]

We've had chickens before but they were nowhere near our big pond. Now we've had a bit of a re-jig and have geese which will be getting access to the pond (they'll probably be joined by some ducks before long  ) but I wonder how clever my chickens will be if given free range around the pond  edge
Will I end up with drowned chickens, or will they be smart enough to avoid going for a swim?
I'd welcome your thoughts folks 
Thanks

[macgro7]

I have a brook next to my chickens and ducks.
In 6 years here, I only had 1 chicken fall in water, and only once.
When I had geese they used to go for a swim every morning as soon as I let them out. Muscovy ducks learnt it from them.
Unfortunately the new generation of ducks (khaki campbell) who were hatched last year (after the old ducks and geese were gone) don't seem to be very clever - they have a river full of water, but none of them ever dared to go in! Instead they paddle in an old baby bath and a bucket!

[Womble]

Can't speak for yours, but ours are fine. They drink from the pond but don't try to swim.

[macgro7]

Turkeys on the other hand are a but more dumb - I had Turkey poult drown in a bucket once...

[doganjo]

Can't speak for yours, but ours are fine. They drink from the pond but don't try to swim.

Same here - I had a double garage with two pens, chicks slept in one, ducks in the other, they never ever swapped over, and all shared the yard with a pond about 6 metres in diameter.  Chooks only ever walked down the bank to drink.

[Fleecewife]

Maybe chicks raised under a duck would be a bit confused about water, but hens in general are pretty well aware of their surroundings and don't drown themselves. Dust batheing in hot ashes after a bonfire now, that's a different thing altogether.  Maybe that's where frizzle hens originated 

[macgro7]

Maybe chicks raised under a duck would be a bit confused about water, but hens in general are pretty well aware of their surroundings and don't drown themselves. Dust batheing in hot ashes after a bonfire now, that's a different thing altogether.  Maybe that's where frizzle hens originated 

I would say no to roast chicken tonight!

[HappyHippy]

Thanks for your replies, it's set my mind at ease  and has the added advantage of freeing up a small fenced paddock for the acquisition of some pigs 

The awful neighbours have moved on now and the house next door has been sold to a lovely family, so I can start to get some livestock back without worrying. 

[Fleecewife]

You must be desperate to get stocked up again, after all those years. That was a nasty situation, but at least they're gone and you can be friends with your new neighbours at last.

[HappyHippy]

You must be desperate to get stocked up again, after all those years. That was a nasty situation, but at least they're gone and you can be friends with your new neighbours at last.

Our new neighbours are great 

Yes, absolutely desperate and with very little patience 

My sister has moved back to the farm and staked her claim on my last lot of fenced fields, orchard and the big shed......given that she's the youngest my Dad has a problem telling her no 

So we're creating new fields, building new shelters and pretty much starting from scratch again. This time though, it is purely for fun and enjoyment, I have no plans to go back into the business of breeding pigs (at least, that's what I'm telling myself!).

I've gone back to college and just want some nice animals that either give something back or help manage the land..... we'll see how it goes 

[Fleecewife]

Wow, quite an undertaking then  .  You are very lucky though.  My father didn't even consider I might like to keep the farm - my brother got it automatically but never farmed it and now it's gone to one of his ex wives (who doesn't farm either)