How can you tell???

[FarmerBoy24]

My Biology teacher told us if we see a WET duck don't go near it, it's sick. Now if u get waster and put it on a healthy duck the water with slide right off. She said because of the oils. Is this true?

 

[laceynoelle]

Um, not sure. I know perfectly healthy ducks can play in the water long enough to look 'wet' but if you run your fingers in the opposite direction of which thier feathers are facing, theyre quite dry and warm. Ive also had sick ducks perfectly dry. I dont think really sick ducks would be wet, because they dont feel like going in the water. It might be a sign that the oil gland isnt functioning properly too. Hahaha, so agian, this comes back to not sure.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I think your biology teacher is repeating some old wife's tale she heard somewhere and mistaking it for fact.

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

No, When birds are not in good feather condition they do get wet. I have bought birds that werent in good feather and they would get soaked. But once they molted they were perfectly waterproof.