Wonderful Waterfowl

All you need to know to learn to love ducks and geese
FOWL FACTS
  • Ducks and geese generally get along with each other. Both species are social animals and don't like living alone. 
  • The feathers of ducks and geese are naturally waterproof and insulating so they can tolerate colder temperatures. 
  • Given the chance, domestic ducks can live up to fifteen years and geese more than twenty.
  • Although some female ducks quack, most species make a variety of different sounds  including coos, whistles and grunts.
  • Geese are fiercely territorial and will try to chase off intruders.
  • ​Ducklings can fly within five to eight weeks. ​
  • Geese have been observed mourning the loss of a mate, and some choose never to mate again.
  • Feeding bread to ducks can be dangerously unhealthy for them. Instead try peas, corn, oats or seeds. 
  • Waterfowl can safely stand in freezing water due a clever 'heat exchange' system between their bodies and their feet.
  • Feeding ducks are known as 'dabblers' or 'divers' depending on whether they feed on the surface or dive in search of food.
  • Ducks have good vision, see in color and have three eyelids.
  • The beaks of some geese have serrated, 'toothy' edges.
  • Geese will honk in flight to help them maintain a 'V' formation.
  • Geese are very loyal. They mate for life and are highly protective of their families.
  • Waterfowl mothers spread an oily waterproofing onto their babies soft feathers so they can swim almost immediately.
  • Baby geese stay with their parents and return with them to the place they were born the following year. They then form flocks with other young geese.
  • A group of geese is called a 'skein' in flight, a 'gaggle' on the ground and a 'flock' anywhere.
  • Ducks and geese don't want to die any more than you or I would, and will try to avoid being killed.
DUCK & GEESE VIDS
Duck works hard to live life
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Police help duck family
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Thankful goose returns to the wild
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Duck loves to play fetch 
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Boy and duck are best of friends
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Dog and duck are inseparable
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Stewart the duck
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Pit bulls and ducks love to hang out
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Lost goose needs a little help
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Animal friends stroll in the park
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Ducks are wary of their first ever swim
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Geese get a police escort
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Kid has a gaggle of friends
Duck helps human through a difficult time
DUCKS & GEESE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Charlie the Duckling
Instagram
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Coalition Against Duck Shooting
​Facebook
Kyle the Goose
​​Instagram
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Carolina Waterfowl Rescue
​Facebook       Instagram
Pacific Waterfowl Rescue
Facebook       Instagram
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Mr T and Bee
​Facebook       Instagram
Dusty and Otter Duck
​Facebook       Instagram
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Ducks and Clucks Rescue
Facebook       Instagram
There's also a list of great farm sanctuaries active on social media here.
   
​  You can find out what happens to these animals when we choose to use them for meat or
  feathers by clicking on the red button below. Much of what you'll find is standard practice
   to the industry or took place at humane assured facilities. It's far from easy viewing, but 
    if you still think it's fine to kill these animals then I highly recommend you take a look.
     If instead you find these things are simply too awful to look at then please ask why,
       if you can't even bear to look at them, is it okay to pay for them to happen?
​
    "Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath."
                                                                                                    - Michael Caine