Do ducks like the rain? A deep philosophical inquiry...

[DrTre]

I reckon they're probably indifferent, they're still warm and waterproof.

I think humans would be too but for the fact we get cold so wear clothes that get wet and it's generally an inconvenience to wear so'westers and such like.

[mrmaggit]

Our ducks don't really like rain, as has been said, especially heavy rain. However, if there's food about, they'll eat the food, then waddle back to shelter. If they're on the water, they'll huddle down until the rain stops.

[MK4 Slowride]

I bred Ducks in my Yoof & no I didn't do the fertilising myself before you start.

As with all animals they shelter from bad weather including, but not limited to Rain.

No charge.

[G_T]

Steamer said:

G_T said:

Ikemi said:

They look disgruntled ...

See what I mean? They look well pissed off.

I cant help thinking that the darker of the three ducks looks like there is still a glimmer of hope in his soul that the rain may cease at any moment.

Not disgruntled - maybe more disappointed.

Edited by Steamer on Thursday 12th March 11:45

I concur.

He looks like perhaps he had higher expectations in life than being stuck in some st hole in the pissing rain.

[GKP]

So why does that pink duck only have one leg?

[G_T]

GKP said:

So why does that pink duck only have one leg?

The other dissolved I expect.

[G'kar]

merc_man said:

Ikemi said:

They look disgruntled ...

I think the one on the left doesn't mind too much. Perhaps it likes Pina Coladas as well?

[drivin_me_nuts]

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 ...)

[G_T]

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?

[cazzer]

merc_man said:

Ikemi said:

They look disgruntled ...

I think the one on the left doesn't mind too much. Perhaps it likes Pina Coladas as well?

Is he not into healthfood, but into champagne?

[HappyGoLucky]

Our females seem to like it as it's an opportunity to dabble for worms... The male always takes shelter until the rain stops.

HTH

[DrTre]

So far one duck owner says they don't mind, two says they do and one undecided.

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.

Edited by DrTre on Thursday 12th March 12:03

[G_T]

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.

We'll also need a shower unit that is absent of any form of duck.

[anonymous-user]

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.

[G_T]

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.

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?

[DamoLLb]

ducks like rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVnFKErAMQw

Edited by DamoLLb on Thursday 12th March 13:43

[bluetone]

G_T said:

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?

Could be: the big one with the pink brolly looks distinctly disapproving...

[drivin_me_nuts]

bluetone said:

G_T said:

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?

Could be: the big one with the pink brolly looks distinctly disapproving...

I have no idea why but the one in the pink reminds me of a young and ever so more than slightly gay Robbie Williams at the beginning of his 'career'.

It's a mystery

[mrmaggit]

DrTre said:

So far one duck owner says they don't mind, two says they do and one undecided.

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.

Edited by DrTre on Thursday 12th March 12:03

No.

[GKP]

Ducks aren't too bothered about the weather. The rain falls off their outer feathers like water off a..... Oh.