Do ducks like the rain? A deep philosophical inquiry...
Discussion
Steamer said:
G_T said:
Ikemi said:
They look disgruntled ...
Not disgruntled - maybe more disappointed.
Edited by Steamer on Thursday 12th March 11:45
He looks like perhaps he had higher expectations in life than being stuck in some s
t hole in the pissing rain.drivin_me_nuts said:
if the following scientific evidence is anything to go by; clearly some do, and some do not. It's a duck thing.
(mind you, quite possibly the campest sailor duck i've seen in quite the longest time ...)
Is the sailor duck propositioning the pink baseball clad duck? (mind you, quite possibly the campest sailor duck i've seen in quite the longest time ...)
DrTre said:
So far one duck owner says they don't mind, two says they do.
MrMaggit can you do some empirical testing using your ducks and your shower?
Can you put a duck in the bath/shower cubicle and measure it's "duckiness factor" as a baseline.
Subject it to various different strengths of shower and continually measure it's "duckiness factor".
It would be interesting to throw in the results of any massage effect if the shower has one?
Of course, we need a control duck that is not under any sort of shower unit.
Sounds perfect.MrMaggit can you do some empirical testing using your ducks and your shower?
Can you put a duck in the bath/shower cubicle and measure it's "duckiness factor" as a baseline.
Subject it to various different strengths of shower and continually measure it's "duckiness factor".
It would be interesting to throw in the results of any massage effect if the shower has one?
Of course, we need a control duck that is not under any sort of shower unit.
We'll also need a shower unit that is absent of any form of duck.
pablo said:
i am pretty sure that a duck has at best, only a very minor understanding of the concept of pleasure in the same way we do. Ducks will predominantly have a survival instinct thus when we throw them bread we percieve them to "like bread" on account of them swimming towards it but it is essentially just more food for survival for them.
to say that ducks like rain assumes that ducks are aware of what rain is and appreciate the benefits of rain. the benefits of rain for a duck are fresh water and the increased chance of moss and lichen growth so were a duck aware of these benefits then yes, it could be asumed that ducks like rain.
it also assumes that ducks are aware of the disadvantages of a prolonged lack of rain such as drought. I personally do not think that a duck is capable of associating droughts and the reduction in water levels with the need for rain. the duck may well register the size of the pond decreasing but can not associate that with a lack of rain.
In other terms, during the summer months, I dont think a Duck has the mental capacity to think "I wish it would rain or my food supply will dry up and i will be forced to sek an alternative dwelling". I do think that during a drought the duck will recognise that his/her food source has reduced and move on, but will not assoicate the need for rain with this move.
as ducks are capable of washing themselves in any weather (bar frozen water obviously) by ducking underwater the ruffling their feathers etc, we can assume that ducks do not have a need for rain in order to wash or preen themselves.
to answer the question, no i dont think ducks like the rain because they dont understand what is happening. A duck may notice that after a heavy rainfall, food is more abundant but they will not be able to equate the rain with the increasaed food supply regardless of how many times it occurs.
I liked that post.to say that ducks like rain assumes that ducks are aware of what rain is and appreciate the benefits of rain. the benefits of rain for a duck are fresh water and the increased chance of moss and lichen growth so were a duck aware of these benefits then yes, it could be asumed that ducks like rain.
it also assumes that ducks are aware of the disadvantages of a prolonged lack of rain such as drought. I personally do not think that a duck is capable of associating droughts and the reduction in water levels with the need for rain. the duck may well register the size of the pond decreasing but can not associate that with a lack of rain.
In other terms, during the summer months, I dont think a Duck has the mental capacity to think "I wish it would rain or my food supply will dry up and i will be forced to sek an alternative dwelling". I do think that during a drought the duck will recognise that his/her food source has reduced and move on, but will not assoicate the need for rain with this move.
as ducks are capable of washing themselves in any weather (bar frozen water obviously) by ducking underwater the ruffling their feathers etc, we can assume that ducks do not have a need for rain in order to wash or preen themselves.
to answer the question, no i dont think ducks like the rain because they dont understand what is happening. A duck may notice that after a heavy rainfall, food is more abundant but they will not be able to equate the rain with the increasaed food supply regardless of how many times it occurs.
But Darwin himself said that all animals experience the full spectrum of human emotions and ducks do know when it's raining.
So I'm wondering if the has any effect on their mood? Does rain brighten up a depressed duck's day?
G'kar said:
Boozy said:
jkennyd said:
I think dead ducks are like missing socks. Nobody really knows where they go. I dont think socks like the rain though. I'm assuming this as fact as my wife always brings them in before they get wet so leading me to the conclusion that this fact.
So if ducks are like socks and we have clear proof here that they are because they go missing, then, as socks don't like the rain, then neither do ducks.Swilly said:
G_T said:
I know they live in water and they're waterproof etc.. But surely nobody likes being in the rain?
If I had to go swimming in gortex then I'd certainly prefer to do it in the summer...
Any thoughts?
They don't live in water and they are not waterproof (no more than any other creature) you dolt.If I had to go swimming in gortex then I'd certainly prefer to do it in the summer...
Any thoughts?
And you call yourself a scientist... apparently !!
Besides being a scientist just means I employ the scientific method. If you take the time to read some of my posts you'll quickly realise I am, in fact, an idiot.
Swilly said:
Semantics not. Is a duck more waterproof than a human being or any other creature with skin ?! i think not.
I would also argue that one need not take more time that it takes to read just ONE of your posts to confirm you are an idiot
Many waterfowl, including ducks, have an extra layer of fat that acts as both an insulator and prevents water penetrating into deeper tissues. If you've ever cooked a duck you'll know this.I would also argue that one need not take more time that it takes to read just ONE of your posts to confirm you are an idiot
The feathers of duck are also very fine and well interlocked (more so than many birds)by "barbules" that provide additional water proofing. That's why you see ducks grooming so often, they both clean and rearrange the feathers so they interlock. I also suspect it's why duck and geese feathers are used so often for bedding.
For contrast human skin is compartively poor at resisting water. Our hairs offer little or no resistence to water penetration we have only a thin layer of keratinised cells and oil that is easy penetrated (hence wrinkley hands in the bath).
I may be stupid good Sir. But at least I know the difference the difference between myself and a duck.
Edited by G_T on Saturday 14th March 15:46
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