Ducks Facts

Ducks were once wild until they were domesticated by the Chinese many hundreds of years ago.

Ducks keep clean by preening themselves with their beaks, which they do often. They also line their nests with feathers plucked from their chest.

Ducks' feathers are waterproof. There is a special gland that produces oil near the tail that spreads and covers the outer coat of feathers. Beneath this waterproof layer are fluffy and soft feathers to keep the duck warm.

Ducks provide us with eggs, meat and feathers.

Ducks' feet have no nerves or blood vessels. This means ducks never feel the cold, even if they swim in icy cold water.

A duck waddles instead of walking because of its webbed feet.

Ducks have webbed feet, which act like paddles.

Ducks can live from 2-12 years, depending on the species.

The duck is the smallest of them all and have shorter necks and wings and a stout body.

Ducks are related to geese and swans.

A male duck is called a drake, a female is called a duck. Babies are called ducklings.

All of the Peking ducks in the United States are descendents from three ducks and one drake imported to Long Island, New York in 1873.

A duck has three eyelids.

A duck's quack has no echo.

Some ducks and geese can fly as much as 332 miles a day!