It’s generally well-known that ducks love to be wet. Whether it’s dunking under the water while gliding across a pond or lake or waddling around in the rain, ducks seem to prefer wet conditions.
The British even refer to a rainy day as a good day for ducks. So just what about rain makes this kind of weather so beckoning and cozy for ducks? And where do ducks go when it storms? The answer might go a little deeper than the reason you might think.
So today, we’re going to dive in (pun intended) to all the reasons why ducks love the rain, what they do in it, and what domestic duck owners can do to both help their ducks enjoy the rain more and protect their ducks from the weather when necessary.
Why Do Ducks Love Rain?
It may just be something they’re born with, like the instinct to migrate or to forage for food. But ducks’ love for water and particularly rain has several very good reasons.
It Helps Them Stay Clean
Firstly, wet and rainy conditions can be healthy for ducks. Being wet in general is a prerequisite for good health in ducks. Access to water allows ducks to keep their plumage clean and preened and their eyes and nostrils washed. Ducks have been shown to prefer clean water over dirty, making them rather hygienic animals.
An Oxford study proved that ducks prefer the wetness of a rain shower to the wetness of their pond or lake. Hygiene is the biggest reason. Fresh, moving water is intrinsically more hygienic as well as provides a more economical rinsing opportunity for feathers.
This study showed that ducks who were offered the choice preferred showers to ponds and lakes, spending more time under the water than on it. Of course, rain showers also create puddles, which every good, self-respecting duck loves as well.
Being wet in general is a prerequisite for good health in ducks. Access to water allows ducks to keep their plumage clean and preened and their eyes and nostrils washed. Ducks have been shown to prefer clean water over dirty, making them rather hygienic animals.
It Helps Them Forage
Secondly, rainy weather creates great conditions for foraging foods that ducks consider delicacies! For a duck, rainy days are prime times for poking around in the dirt and the mud for food like grubs and other insects.
Wet conditions often drive worms and insects that live within the soil to the upper layers, making it much easier for ducks to snatch a tasty treat with less effort. Ducks are foragers by nature, and, although different breeds of ducks are better than others, many ducks can supplement their diets pretty thoroughly through their foraging efforts.
Protein and fiber are important parts of a duck’s diet, but delicacies like grubs, worms, slugs, and even snails fall more into the treat category where ducks are concerned. So when the rainy weather forces these creatures to the top parts of the soil, your ducks simply can’t pass up the opportunity to feast.
When Rain Is Bad for Ducks
Although ducks love the rain and it provides benefits for them, there are situations in which ducks shouldn’t be out in adverse weather. Do ducks need shelter from the rain, In such conditions, yes! Owners should shelter their ducks to help them weather storms and stay healthy.
Wet Feather
Even for water-loving ducks, there comes a point when there is simply too much. Wet feather is a condition in ducks in which their feathers become completely waterlogged, losing their natural ability to repel water, as in the saying “like water off a duck’s back”.
In this condition, the natural air bubbles that get trapped between the duck’s feathers that provide their buoyancy disappear, leaving them not only completely soaked, but at risk of drowning and cold-related illnesses.
In heavy downpours or storms, if ducks are left out too long without any options for shelter, it’s possible that they may contract wet feather. Ducks with wet feather will preen nearly continuously and obsessively, and their feathers may appear dirty, sparse, or even broken.
Thankfully, wet feather can be combated with a Dawn dish soap bath and a date with the blow-dryer on a very gentle setting. However, wet feather can often be avoided altogether if ducks are provided with shelter to get out of the rain.
Extreme Weather
Because of the consequences of getting too drenched, any storm with excessive rainfall could create a dangerous situation for ducks with no shelter. Ducklings can be in the rain, but be especially careful as they may be less resistant to harsh weather than adults.
Other forms of extreme weather, like ice, sleet, snow, and heavy winds, can also create conditions that make it easier for ducks to become waterlogged and contract wet feather or a dangerous chill.
Do Ducks Need Shelter From Rain?
Ducks like rain, but they need shelter when it is too heavy. To avoid wet feather and other health concerns, owners should provide a coop or duck house where ducks go when it’s raining heavily. The most important components of these sorts of shelters are a solid roof to protect the ducks from the elements and a raised cement or wood-based floor.
The raised floor performs several functions. Firstly, it brings the ducks up off the wet ground and can protect them in flooding situations. When your ducks finally need a break from the water, a raised shelter gives them a place to retreat in safety.
A raised floor also protects your ducks from predators because the addition of wood or cement will prevent animals from digging under the coop and into your ducks’ shelter. Besides this, it also offers an easy-to-clean surface that will dry quickly if it gets wet and can be hosed off for hygiene purposes.
Final Thoughts
Rain is a fun and free way to provide your ducks with an afternoon or morning of entertainment as well as a treat buffet. As enjoyable as rain is for ducks, keep in mind that adverse weather conditions can still affect them negatively.
Keep your eye out for signs of wet feather and be sure that your ducks have a safe, dry place to retreat to when they’ve tired themselves out. But chances are they’ll enjoy every downpour and reward you with lots of adorable waddling and puddle play.