You might wonder whether it matters if a duckling hatches in an incubator or under its mother. At first glance, it doesn’t — until you put them near water. An incubator-hatched duckling will sink like a stone the moment it hits the water, sending up only a few bubbles. A duckling that hatched under its mother can be swimming within hours.
So what’s the difference — different instincts?
Not quite. It’s all about feather condition. If you pluck a duck or goose, it will sink like a rock. Feathers give birds buoyancy, but they need to be oiled to work properly.
But where in an incubator could a duckling get its feathers oiled? There’s no opportunity. While snuggling under its mother, a duckling rubs against her oiled feathers and picks up that protective layer of oil. That’s why it doesn’t sink. Simple as that.
