Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Seany on 31/03/2008 16:37:06

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 16:37:06

Is it just their feathers which keep them afloat easily??

OR do they paddle with their feet under the water? Aren't they just soo cute [;D]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fanimal.discovery.com%2Fguides%2Fwild-birds%2Fgallery%2Fmallard_duck.jpg&hash=200f01ecd3faa0d80c36ced0c2557819)

And do ducks FLY?? [:o]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thom.org%2Fphotos%2Fduck.jpg&hash=9e7ec09d593f932a2eaca968840b0ea8)

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2008 18:50:46

Ducks most certainly do fly.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solarexpert.com%2Fphotography%2Fbirds%2Fmallards-flying.jpg&hash=d6f8b110e51c9de9adf71200188ce5a7)

As for keeping afloat, ducks are actually witches and witches float  [:D]

However, they don't like mud, so they wear wellington boots
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofstock.com%2Fslides%2FPAB2195.jpg&hash=b4d015a491c2618353f290a1d2939747)

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:02:48

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2008 18:50:46

Ducks most certainly do fly.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solarexpert.com%2Fphotography%2Fbirds%2Fmallards-flying.jpg&hash=d6f8b110e51c9de9adf71200188ce5a7)

They fly?? I thought they were like chickens!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:03:15

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2008 18:50:46

As for keeping afloat, ducks are actually witches and witches float  [:D]

However, they don't like mud, so they wear wellington boots
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofstock.com%2Fslides%2FPAB2195.jpg&hash=b4d015a491c2618353f290a1d2939747)

Ah, I see [;)]

You saved my life again Doc [:D]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 31/03/2008 19:10:27

Ducks are nothing like chickens. One should never serve chicken with orange sauce!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:12:42

 [:-\]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Make it Lady on 31/03/2008 19:24:18

Chickens can fly too but not very far. The owners clip their wings so that they don't escape or roost in trees.
Ducks, well, I thought floating was partly due to the bone structure (no not high cheek bones.) All birds have hollow bones making them very light. They also have a grease gland that they use to preen their feathers making them waterproof. It's a bit like tar on the bottom of the boat.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:27:11

Ohhh.. All birds have hollow bones??

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:43:51

I don't know about all birds having hollow bones but as she said Chickens can most certainly fly.. especially when their wings are not clipped. We had one male rooster that was quite mean and proficient in flying untill we finally clipped his wings.. then he ended up RIP as he attacked my MOM and was killed whilst trying to remove him from my MOMS neck!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:44:43

How did it get to your mom's neck??

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:53:22

IT Flew! It had not been clipped for a long time and flew up and hooked himself into the back of her neck and spine area with his back dew claw..thingy..It scared the soup out of me.. and hurt my mum quite badly came real close to the spinal cord and damaged some muscle and tissue there.. left a very large scar on her neck back area where he dug in.. he bit her and ripped at her for about ten minutes my step dad had to hit it with a shovel trying to kill it cause he could not get it off her back.. ! He darn near knocked my mom out!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:56:27

BTW ducks do move their little webbed feet in the water to stay afloat and swim and dive etc...

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 20:03:07

Quote from: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:53:22

IT Flew! It had not been clipped for a long time and flew up and hooked himself into the back of her neck and spine area with his back dew claw..thingy..It scared the soup out of me.. and hurt my mum quite badly came real close to the spinal cord and damaged some muscle and tissue there.. left a very large scar on her neck back area where he dug in.. he bit her and ripped at her for about ten minutes my step dad had to hit it with a shovel trying to kill it cause he could not get it off her back.. ! He darn near knocked my mom out!

10 minutes is a long time! Very dangerous

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 20:03:24

Quote from: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:56:27

BTW ducks do move their little webbed feet in the water to stay afloat and swim and dive etc...

Oh. They don't just sit there.. and float?

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Make it Lady on 31/03/2008 20:13:56

The famous British Actor Michael Caine said " Be like a duck, calm on the surface but paddling like mad underneath."

Good saying.. LOL I just love Michael Caine he is a very interesting fellow!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 20:15:23

LOL.. Thanks, that makes it clear.  [;D]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: another_someone on 31/03/2008 21:05:17

Quote from: Seany on 31/03/2008 19:27:11

Ohhh.. All birds have hollow bones??

I am not at all sure that ostriches have hollow bones, but all birds that fly have hollow bones.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 21:06:41

Thanks [;)] Are they alot more fragile than bones such as ours?

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 21:14:17

Quote from: Seany on 31/03/2008 20:03:07

Quote from: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 19:53:22

IT Flew! It had not been clipped for a long time and flew up and hooked himself into the back of her neck and spine area with his back dew claw..thingy..It scared the soup out of me.. and hurt my mum quite badly came real close to the spinal cord and damaged some muscle and tissue there.. left a very large scar on her neck back area where he dug in.. he bit her and ripped at her for about ten minutes my step dad had to hit it with a shovel trying to kill it cause he could not get it off her back.. ! He darn near knocked my mom out!

10 minutes is a long time! Very dangerous

Yep the doctor said one more good whop with the shovel would have done serious damage as the hook in his claw was deeply embedded and just more movement on the Roosters part or the shovel could have severely Damaged her spinal cord!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 21:16:21

Quote from: Seany on 31/03/2008 21:06:41

Thanks [;)] Are they a lot more fragile than bones such as ours?

I would say yes....

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 21:27:43

Like.. I could snap it with my hands?

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Make it Lady on 31/03/2008 21:45:11

I think you would get a bit of a pecking but it is easy to damage a bird. I have had to snap a few necks in my time and that is very easy to do.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 22:01:17

LOL I bet that wasn't too pleasant! [:(]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 22:15:42

NO I am sure it is not even in the case of putting one out of its misery! So sad.. I would have to hire someone.. I can't do it... to much trauma in butchering chickens it had an ill effect on me... so sad and horrible...to see.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 31/03/2008 22:34:40

It would be worse if it was a horse or something though.. [:(] Or a dog.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 31/03/2008 23:59:17

Awful either way.... I like them all.. They all represent a unique life.. each a different character.. It is terrible to watch an animal die,, I even have trouble squishing ants in the kitchen so I try hard to keep the kitchen crumb free .. which lately has been a chore...

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 01/04/2008 00:03:55

Even ants?? Wow your very eco-friendly and nature-friendly and.. stuff [;D]

Even spiders??
You don't slap mosquitoes??

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 01/04/2008 00:10:48

I love spiders.. but must say I do smash mosquitoes they bite me until I look like a blown up swollen alien.... So It is a case of self defense as the pesticides bother my skin so its them or me! LOL Although I have tried planting aromatic things in the patio and have fish with no stagnant water to help eat the larva and detour them through their nose.. I have tried skin so soft by avon.. that helps a lot.. but I still smoosh them....ants and mosquitoes!!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 01/04/2008 00:11:48

LOL LOL.. Are there more ants in the world than there are people??

As long as the figure of ants is higher than people.. Keep the smooshing!! [;D]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 01/04/2008 00:32:13

LOL.. I really don't know but assume yes... There are millions of them just around here! LOL!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 01/04/2008 14:09:35

Hmm I guess so!!

Are there more birds than there are people?

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 01/04/2008 18:25:39

I don't know but if their are... Please don't tell Carolyn that! She will have a heart attack!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 01/04/2008 18:43:31

LOL why?

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Make it Lady on 01/04/2008 19:19:07

I would only do Mercy killings or for food. I could never eat a horse, not all at once.

There is usually more prey animals than animals at the top of the food chain so birds should outnumber us.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/04/2008 19:38:59

I am sure I once saw a demonstration of a duckling in a bowl of water with detergent in. The poor thing was struggling to float. Normally their oily feathers keep the water out and act as a float (they have oil glands to maintain this state).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uropygial_gland
They picked the duckling out, washed him in clean water and he could float again afterwards. They don't need to keep paddling to stay afloat, just if they want to move against the current.

"Down the stream the swans all glide
Quite the cheapest way to ride
Their feet get wet, their tummies wetter
I think, perhaps, the bus is better."

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/04/2008 19:42:27

Quote

"Down the stream the swans all glide
Quite the cheapest way to ride
Their feet get wet, their tummies wetter
I think, perhaps, the bus is better."

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Flol%2F1.gif&hash=d8e6686452e290c988dbac6c3e01d75a)

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/04/2008 21:10:59

Credit to Spike Milligan.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Make it Lady on 01/04/2008 21:36:45

I like the one about the wind blowing on granny.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 02/04/2008 07:45:49

Another Milligoonism...

There are holes in the sky,
Where the rain comes in,
But they're very small,
That's why rain is thin.

Now, you may wonder what that has to do with ducks. Well, here in England we have a saying for when it's raining - "Nice weather for ducks". Another saying, meaning you aren't taking any notice, is "Water off a duck's back". Rain is water, is it not? So, rain & water both have a bearing on ducks and as this thread is about ducks floating, water most definitely comes into it. Now apologise for thinking the beaver has gone wombling off on 1 of his little cerebral soujourns, his thoughts cascading through a veritable prism of nonsensical musings, and hi-jacking the thread in the process.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 02/04/2008 09:41:36

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 02/04/2008 07:45:49

Another Milligoonism...

There are holes in the sky,
Where the rain comes in,
But they're very small,
That's why rain is thin.

Now, you may wonder what that has to do with ducks. Well, here in England we have a saying for when it's raining - "Nice weather for ducks". Another saying, meaning you aren't taking any notice, is "Water off a duck's back". Rain is water, is it not? So, rain & water both have a bearing on ducks and as this thread is about ducks floating, water most definitely comes into it. Now apologise for thinking the beaver has gone wombling off on 1 of his little cerebral soujourns, his thoughts cascading through a veritable prism of nonsensical musings, and hi-jacking the thread in the process.

LOL LOL.. Very good forced-like analogy kinda thing there [:P]

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Karen W. on 05/04/2008 11:46:16

Quote from: Seany on 01/04/2008 18:43:31

LOL why?

She is scared to death of birds.. hates the cute whitle critters!

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: Seany on 05/04/2008 19:38:21

Quote from: Karen W. on 05/04/2008 11:46:16

Quote from: Seany on 01/04/2008 18:43:31

LOL why?

She is scared to death of birds.. hates the cute whitle critters!

LOL LOL...

*Quack*

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: animefreak on 21/04/2008 21:19:01

ducks have a gland which secretes an oily substance (cant remember what) that oils the lower feathers and help keep the duck afloat, if you put a detergent in the water then the duck would sink lol

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: blakestyger on 24/04/2008 18:17:23

Ducks float because their density is less than 1 (water).
Denser ducks - and we're not talking IQ here - such as the diving types, have a higher waterline.

Title: Ducks.. How do they float??
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 25/04/2008 08:29:04

This thread has brought to mind Monty Python And The Holy Grail - the witch trial scene.

To read the script, go to http://corky.net/scripts/grail.html (http://corky.net/scripts/grail.html) and search for "witch". It's hilarious!