Can a duck be in the water too much?

[SolarDuck]

Just wondering if this is anything for me to be concerned about. Some of you know that one of my ducks who flew away a year ago recently came back and I returned her to my other ducks. One of my ducks, Penguin, who she didn't know before, is kind of being a bully to her but nothing too crazy just making sure she stays at the top of the pecking order. Something I have noticed is that when penguin decides to chase her around a little bit she just jumps in the pool, and seems to be staying in there for a long time. I'd say over the past few days she is probably in the pool about 70-80% of the time that I have went out there or checked the duck cam. Today she was in there almost all day. I'm just wondering, is there anything to be concerned about? Is there any way being in the water for too long could hurt her like a human pruning up? Also she is a muscovy duck if that makes any difference.

 

[fatty and friends]

in the wild ducks will float all day so i don’t think there’s any problem. i don’t have muscovy though and i know they don’t swim as much as normal ducks

 

[Crazy Maizie]

From my experience, muscovy aren't in the water as much as the mallard derived ducks. I am surprised how much my runner ducks will float in the pool. There is a difference in their feathering as well. Now I understand why a lot of new muscovy owners think they have wet feather. The saying "rolls like water off a ducks back" isn't referring to muscovy.
Is there anyway you can make her other escape areas that are on the dry side? What I do see is that when my muscovies are being bullied, they will seek a high spot to get out of the way. For example, they will sit on the top of a dog crate or the top of a small coop that I also have in the run. In their actual coop, they have a ledge that some of them will perch on at night when things get too rowdy in the coop.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Just wondering if this is anything for me to be concerned about. Some of you know that one of my ducks who flew away a year ago recently came back and I returned her to my other ducks. One of my ducks, Penguin, who she didn't know before, is kind of being a bully to her but nothing too crazy just making sure she stays at the top of the pecking order. Something I have noticed is that when penguin decides to chase her around a little bit she just jumps in the pool, and seems to be staying in there for a long time. I'd say over the past few days she is probably in the pool about 70-80% of the time that I have went out there or checked the duck cam. Today she was in there almost all day. I'm just wondering, is there anything to be concerned about? Is there any way being in the water for too long could hurt her like a human pruning up? Also she is a muscovy duck if that makes any difference.

My only concern would be the condition of her feathers with being Muscovy. As long as she's not becoming water logged in wouldn't see too much of an issue as this is probably a phase with the "new"/re-introductions. Since you mentioned humans getting pruny in water I just wanted to add in a fun fact that it's not actually a bad thing at all. When we turn pruny in water it is actually our body starting to adapt to living underwater. It thinks that it needs to evolve so we start turning pruny on our feet so we have better grip for walking underwater and our hands turn pruny so we have better grip to grab things underwater. If only we would start to grow gills too!

 

[GranderTheGander]

When she was gone, she possibly was in a pond, lake or river or whatever, and it became normal for her to spend so much time in the water. For example, she would be in the water all night to keep from being grabbed by predators. Ducks get in the water to swim away from unfriendly ducks, too. Maybe she discovered she much prefers a water type of life than a land one. She sees it as being a more peaceful and safer way to live. Just a guess.