Do Ducks Swim In Water? Yes, They Swim And Float As Well!

When you see ducks in the water, the curious mind surely asks, Do ducks swim in water, or do they only float? Yes, ducks swim in water. In fact, ducks float and swim with their webbed feet to give paddles for a push against water. While pulling the feet forward, the toes, along with the web, come to lessen water-resistance on their foot.

Here, I’ll try to capture their swimming facts in different water sources. You’ll understand their swimming ability from birth to death as well.

Do Ducks Swim In Water? 4 Swimming Facts Of Ducks!

Certainly, ducks do swim, float, and even fly near the water. Ducks webbed feet help to paddle of locomotion. Where the feet push backward, related to the body motion and provide force.

On the other hand, the uropygial gland, along with the preen gland in its base tail, can be spread over the feathers. In that way, their feathers remain waterproof, and it’s what helps the ducks float.

Although ducks follow the same way to swim, there are some exceptions in diving ducks. Then, How diving ducks swim? It’s almost the same, but they’re a little crazy and go faster underwater while swimming.

What they do is they fly underwater with their wings. For example, diving ducks like scaups completely submerge and swim underwater for food sources. It’s what I found in the Missouri Department of Conservation studies. Here is a video you can check:

But what about other ducks? Do they go underwater and swim as well? Or have you ever wondered about ocean or other type of water surfaces? I’ll share all the facts one by one simultaneously.

Can Ducks Swim Underwater?

Yes, ducks can swim underwater, but diving ducks exceptionally have this ability. Ducks dive into the water for food sources underwater. They hold their breath for a short while and use their webbed feet to swim. 

There are hundreds of duck species in North America, where I found 10 ducks commonly seen swimming underwater.

1. Merganser
2. Goldeneyes
3. Bufflehead
4. Eiders
5. Redheads
6. Scoters
7. Long-tailed duck
8. Ring-necked duck
9. Canvasbacks
10. Scaup.

As far as I know, they dive for 10-30 seconds at a time. Usually, they spend up to a minute, and species like mergansers or long-tailed ducks have a record of going more than 40 feet deep underwater. And Mergansers can stay up to 2 minutes.

How Can Ducks Swim In Cold Water?

Surprisingly, waterfowl circulate blood through the feet. So, ducks didn’t have to face any problems with the icy cold water during winter. This is the reason that ducks don’t get frostbite or hypothermia when they swim.

According to CBC, Biology professor Erica Nol from Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. said that water birds like ducks adapt to cold weather and water. It’s because they use a heat exchange system between their arteries and veins in the legs.

Besides, the waterproof feather keeps them dry and protects them from cold water as well.

Is It Safe For Ducks To Swim In Pools With Chlorine Water?

Can ducks swim in a chlorine pool? This has become a common question for the readers. Well, yes, it’s safe to swim in a chlorine pool until the pH level crosses 7.8 and the chlorine level is 1 to 3 ppm. 

Ducks can swim in chlorine pools, but having excessive chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory distress, or conjunctivitis. However, I don’t suggest to let them swim in the pool. 

Not only are they gonna hurt themselves but also the humans. As they are messy birds, you’ll see duck poop in water as well as other dirt. From ducks and even goose droppings, germs can transmit. Mostly, people found germs such as:

• E.coli
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Cryptosporidium.

Do Ducks Swim In The Ocean?

Although they are freshwater swimmer, they can even swim in salt water or ocean as well. If you’re near islands with the sea, you’ll see ducks like Eider ducks swimming there.

Some other ducks can swim in the ocean, but they might have unique glands that help them to excrete excess salt in the sea or ocean. So, while swimming, they don’t get dehydrated and stay safe in the ocean.

Do All Ducks Swim In Water? 10 Common Ducks With Swimming Ability

Yes, more or less, all ducks are able to swim, at least for a short time. However, I have a list of 10 duck species mostly seen in North America and their swimming ability.

Do Ducks Need Water To Swim In? 

Surely, ducks, like backyards or wild ducks, need water to swim in. Swimming is their natural behavior, so you must ensure they have access to water sources. It’s for hygiene, hydration, and their well-being.

I suggest making a duck pond or letting the duck roam around the lakes or other water sources. Think about their natural physiological need. However, they don’t need to swim in water every day.

Related Reading: Do Ducks Need Water

How Much Water Does A Duck Need To Swim?

In specific, 6-9 square feet of water location is enough for ducks to swim. It can ensure ducks have access to preen, swim, and float. If it’s ducks and geese, they only need freshwater, not deep water to swim.

How Long Do Ducks Need To Swim?

Letting the ducks swim and play in the water for 10 to 15 minutes will be enough. If it’s the pet duck, a little water in a tub or sink filler is enough to make them playful.

Ducklings Near Pond: Can Baby Ducks Swim In Water?

They can swim in water, but they need some time. But how old does a baby duck have to be to swim? Baby ducks and even the goslings should introduced to swim when they become one week.

But it’s quite risky, so I find 5 weeks are comfortable for them to swim. Or at least keep ducklings away for 10 days to visit the water to swim.  Because at a very young age, the possibility of quickly drowning and fatigued is common.

How Ducklings Swim In Water?

They follow the same idea of utilizing webbed feet to paddle. As they are new in the pond or water, you may see them drowning at the beginning. But after getting used to it, they learn to paddle, swim and float. 

Another helpful fact is buoyancy, which keeps them comfortable while they swim. When in the wild, mother ducks rub some oil on the baby ducks’ body that helps them to swim. 

If you have any confusion about your pet ducklings’ swimming ability, take some tips from the video. You’ll find proper tips for allowing ducklings to swim for the first time.

One more thing about ducklings swimming that I found from Advanced Science News. Baby ducks experience a force of hydrostatic pressure. 

Here, gravity pushes the baby duck down into the water, where water pushes back upward and keeps the ducklings floating. So, don’t worry about them when they are in the water after five weeks.

Do Baby Ducks Need Water To Swim In?

It’s better to provide enough water for the ducklings to swim, and it’s good for early development. If you offer a brooder, there must be water not deeper than a 1/4″. You can even offer a kiddie pool to your ducks. Although, ducks gonna learn swimming from the mother duck.

Well, it’s not like they cannot survive without water for swimming. Offering water sources in the yard basically keeps them playful and lively until they become mature ducks.

How Fast Does A Duck Swim?

Ducks are good swimmers with swiftness, and they can cross an average of 2 to 5 miles per hour. But it’s not the case for all ducks, as Mallards have a record of crossing 20 miles per hour. 

Besides, diving and dabbling ducks are always in speedy swimming. They’re popular, crossing 15 miles each hour normally.

How Does A One-Legged Duck Swim?

One-legged ducks are commonly known to go straight while they swim. They cannot make circle swimming as they lack the leg. But some of them, such as Northern Shovelers ducks, can make circles while they swim, even with improper balance and challenges. But it’s a rare case!

The video may clear it out!

FAQs

Here are some other related questions regarding ducks swimming in water. Hope this section will feed you more necessary knowledge that your curious mind may look for.

Final Words:

So, do ducks swim in water? Yes, ducks do swim in water. They swim as well as float in water with their webbed feet and waterproof feathers. It’s their natural behavior, either following the circle or straight line pattern of swimming.

Among all the species, some of them are great swimmers, and some of them are slow but not unable to float and swim. Even the ducklings can learn to swim too fast, and when adults, they can swim 2 to 5 miles per hour. Surprisingly, ducks are good swimmers with one leg as well!

Sources & References:

• https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p014/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/swimming-duck-feet
• https://mdc.mo.gov/blogs/discover-nature-notes/diving-ducks