You might wonder, does it really matter where a duckling hatches: in an incubator or nestled under a mother duck? At first glance, it seems like there’s no difference. But don’t let those ducklings near water. A duckling from an incubator will sink like a stone the moment it hits the water, only to release a few bubbles. In contrast, the one that hatched under a mother duck will be swimming within hours of its birth…
So, what’s the difference? Different instincts?
Not quite; it’s all about the condition of their feathers. It’s well-known that if you pluck a duck or goose, they’ll sink like a rock. What gives birds their buoyancy is their feathers, but they need to be oiled to work properly.
But where in an incubator can a duckling get its feathers oiled? There’s no place for that. However, while snuggling under a mother duck, the duckling rubs against her oiled feathers and gets coated in fat. That’s why it doesn’t sink in water. It’s really quite simple, isn’t it?