How smart are ducks?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Being an owner of five Indian Runners for just three months, having almost no past experience or exposure to ducks, my birds have baffled me several times:

• I saved six ducklings from the local store here that were about to be »recycled« - they were as thick as thieves and inseparable. Unfortunately we lost the smallest of them to a sudden cold snap a month ago and the remaining five really seem to be upset about it, huddling together in their house and refusing to eat for a full day before going back to the usual duck pig-out.
• I have a motion activated flood-light at the side of the house where the duckies have their pasture-area. One evening i noticed that the light came on while nobody was outside. Ten minutes later the light slowly dimmed, only to come on again immediately. - My five ducks were sitting in the grass and when the light went out one of them stood up, flapped its wings and triggered the motion sensor. - I have reduced the sensor's sensitivity since then.
  
• Whenever my wife and i sit on our porch, talking, the ducks sit close by and seem to enjoy our company. When we go inside they walk over to their house for the night.
• They can distinguish between me and my wife: I usually provide them food and water and clean up their messes - my wife is serving the treat. Guess who get's more attention…
• A week ago one of my ducks suddenly became paralyzed - i assume a light case of botulism, a toxic insect/caterpillar or a poisonous toad. - I was inside when that happened and became alerted by the Ducks themselves, standing a the the fence quacking and whistling out of the top of their lungs. When i came out they quickly ran to their sick colleague as if to show me where to go.
• The duck is still sick and is »stuffed« with medication every day which it really dislikes. When it sees the medication box in our hands, it tucks its head under its breast or wing to show it doesn't like what is about to happen. No medication box - happy duck looking forward to receive a little extra.

As a kid we had dogs, cats, chicken and rabbits, some relatives had a flock of geese, i think ducks are as smart as cats. What is your opinion?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I agree they are smarter than some would think. Mine will peak in the window to make sure I am not watching before they take a quick dip in my pool. They will also quickly jump out of the pool if they hear the back door opening.
But, they also can be really dumb, getting stuck on the other side of an open gate or having a panic attack over a new bucket. They certainly have character!

 

[chickens really]

I'll just say I call them Feathered Puppies and you be the judge...

 

[Rysktal]

My muscovies figured out the safest place to hang out is right next to my Great Pyrenees. (Livestock Guardian Dog).
I love how smart they are!

 

[arrowti]

Personally I'd vote them above chickens but below cats and dogs. I haven't owned geese so I can't compare on that end. I find them quite smart at some things, like escaping and sneaking their way into the pool they aren't supposed to be in (the human pool...), but at other times they pace the same section of fence for 5 minutes before finding the door. They're smarter than chickens because the chickens will pace it indefinitely (8 hours once, before I intervened).

(My turkeys were only slightly more intelligent than a loaf of bread so they're also below chickens).

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[lomine]

There’s a difference between displaying a learned response and intelligence. Most of my ducks are smarter than most of my chickens but the smartest in my flock are an EE and Leghorn. They have displayed actual problem solving. Of course the dumbest in the flock is another EE who still can’t figure out how to go out the barn door. The ducks certainly seem to be able to learn faster in general but they aren’t as smart as dogs or cats. They have, however, learned vocal commands so they are smarter than most people might think.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine know the word snack is My smartest of the poultry group are my geese .

 

[Skye'sDucks]

My one duck will come running if you say the word 'bug' with enough enthusiasm because my mom would say that all the time and dig through leaves or lift up yard decor or planting pots and let her look her roaches or worms under there.

I'd say mine are pretty smart, but they can certainly have their 'stupid' times lol.

 

[CrystaBub]

My ducks' names are Jabby, Gabby, Abby and Dabby - and they all know their names - seriously. When they are all together, I can call one and only that one will answer and come to me - except Dabby - she answers but she hates me so she won't come. They also know many commands. I don't know if this makes them smart or just well trained - but I've had dogs that didn't 'mind' me as well as these ducks do.