do duck tours go in water

Boston Duck Tours – tickets, prices, timings, what to expect

If you want to explore Boston, Boston Duck Tours is the best way to see the city from land and water, and that too in the same vehicle. 

These giant and pop-colored amphibian vehicles will take you on a thrilling historical tour via long, busy Boston streets and the pristine Charles River. 

The tours are led by knowledgeable and entertaining guides who provide interesting facts and stories about Boston’s history, architecture, and culture.

Boston Duck Tours is a fun and memorable way to experience the city, and it’s a great option for families, groups, and anyone who wants to see Boston from a unique perspective.

This article explains everything you need to know before buying your Boston Duck Tour Tickets.

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Table of contents

What to expect from boston duck tours, where to book the tickets, how online tickets work, last-minute tickets, ticket prices, duck tour timings, how long is the boston duck tour, best time for duck tours in boston, where do duck tours depart from, route of duck tour boston.

Once you step into the truck cum boat, the ConDUCKtors will greet you and narrate all the legendary stories associated with the landmarks the amphibious vehicle passes by. 

Some of the tour’s highlights are the Boston Public Garden, Old State House, Museum Of Science, Boylston Street, Old South Church, Arlington Street Chruch, etc.

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Boston Duck tours tickets

You can book your Boston Duck Tours tickets online and offline 30 days before your visit. 

Ticket booths are at the Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium. 

But when you buy the tickets online , you can avoid the hassle of standing in long queues.

When you book tickets for Duck Tours in Boston, you select your preferred time of visit and date.

Immediately after purchase, your tickets get emailed to you. You don’t need to take any printouts. 

Now all you must do is, reach one of the three departure points – Prudential Center, Museum of Science, or New England Aquarium – at least 15 minutes before the time on your ticket. 

Since you have a ticket and are on time, you can show it on your smartphone and board the vehicle. 

A limited number of Duck tour Boston tickets are sold online at 8.45 am five days prior. 

If these tickets are sold out online, they won’t be available at the ticket booths either. 

Visitors aged 12 to 64 years pay the full Boston Duck Tour ticket price of $50 per person.

Seniors 65 years and above and guests with a Military ID qualify for a Boston Duck tour discount of $8 and pay only $42 for entry. 

Kids aged three to 11 years get a $14 discount on the full ticket cost and pay only $36.

Unfortunately, infants younger than three don’t get free entry – but pay a reduced price of $11.

Adult ticket (12 to 64 years): $50 Children ticket (3 to 11 years): $36 Military ticket (with ID): $42 Senior ticket (65+ years): $42 Infant ticket (up to 2 years): $11

Duck boat tours in Boston depart every hour, starting at 9 am or 10 am until one hour before sunset.

The ticket booths at Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium open 30 minutes before the first tour and close after the last tour departs.

However, we suggest you purchase a Boston Duck Tour ticket in advance to avoid last-minute disappointment. 

Boston Duck Tours are around 80 minutes long – n hour on land and 20 minutes in the water. 

There are no stops and breaks along the route. 

However, the tour duration may vary depending on external and uncontrollable factors such as weather, traffic, and ongoing construction. 

Boston’s Duck boat tour is a fantastic experience that takes you through the past and present of the city. 

If you plan to go sightseeing and witness the beauty of the city’s historic neighborhoods like Charlestown, Beacon Hill, Downtown, and Back Bay on these ducks, then late spring through early fall is the perfect time to do so. 

This tourist-friendly season falls between March and November when the weather is pleasant.

The cool breeze emerging from the womb of the Charles River brushes your hair, and the skyline soothes your body, mind, and soul. 

The rest of the months aren’t bad either – drive by the Boston landmarks and dive into the Charles River by booking your Boston Duck T our tickets today!

Will you get drenched? You won’t get drenched in water as the World War II amphibian vehicles splash into the charming Charles River. However, you may get a light spray of water right on your face depending on the speed of the truck cum boat and the direction and strength of the wind. 

Duck tours Boston has three departure locations: the Museum of Science, Prudential Center, and New England Aquarium.

Each location is conveniently located near public transportation. 

Museum of Science

The Museum of Science is located near Boston’s West End, the Bulfinch Triangle, and Charlestown neighborhoods, and it borders the City of Cambridge on the Charles River. 

The ducks boarding area is in front of the Museum of Science, next to the giant Tyrannosaurus rex! 

Address: 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114. Get Directions

New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a popular aquatic wonder in Boston. It is located on Boston’s historic Waterfront and is near Faneuil Hall.

Boston Duck Tours departs from the New England Aquarium’s driveway in front of the Whale Watch Booth.

Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. Get Directions

Prudential Center

Prudential Center is a huge shopping complex hosting nearly 75 stores, and the Boston Ducks depart from here.

Address: 53 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116. Get Directions

Multi-language tours Now you can experience Duck Tours in Boston in your language. All you need to do is wear the GPS headsets and quack; there you go! These language tours depart from the Museum of Science and are available in Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Cantonese & Korean.

The best way to explore the heritage and history of Boston is through Duck Tours Boston. 

The fun and entertainment begin when you hop on your “DUCK,” a World War II-styled amphibian vehicle that takes you on a land and water excursion.  

You’ll cruise by all the significant places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts. 

Some of the highlights are – 

• The golden-domed State House, which is the state Capitol and the seat of the government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• The historical Bunker Hill echoes the stories of the American Revolution
• The multi-purpose Fleet Center, which hosts different sports activities
• Boston Common, which is a perfect picnic site
• Newbury Street, which contains tonnes of restaurants and shopping centers

The DUCK transports you to different neighborhoods where you experience nature and man-made architecture a little closer.

Your ConDUCKtor will give you many little-known facts and interesting insights about Boston city. 

Their witty commentary will make your journey a lot more fun!

To know the path you will take, check out the tour’s route map .

What to wear during the trip For Duck boat tours in Boston, you need not wear a swimsuit. But proper clothing is a must because as the amphibian vehicle travel from land to water, there are chances of getting a little wet despite the ducks being heated and enclosed. Dress according to the weather on the day of your voyage. It is often breezy on Charles River.

Sources # Bostonducktours.com # Prudentialcenter.com # Tripadvisor.com # Wikipedia.org The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

Popular attractions in Boston

# Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum # Boston Trolley Tours # New England Aquarium # Boston Ghost Tours # Zoo New England # Codzilla Boston # Fenway Park tours # Boston Harbor Cruises # Whale Watching in Boston # Harvard Tours # Boston Duck Tours

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This article was researched & written by

Jamshed V Rajan

He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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Travel Tips for Boston Duck Tours

When to go, how to save on Boston's must-do sightseeing tour

TripSavvy / Violet Smirnova

More often than not, when family or out-of-town guests visit Boston , they all have the same to-do item on their list: a Duck Tour. And the request ranges across all ages – Baby Boomer relatives, friends who are busy executives, artsy friends, friends who are parents to kids of all ages. While this is an activity that many locals don't even experience until they have a friend or relative visiting from out of town, it's one you won't want to miss as a tourist.

Duck Tours are a unique experience that combines sightseeing and history while also getting to go out on the Charles River in the vehicle you just drove around the city in. If you want to see Boston via a Duck Boat , late-spring through early-fall is the perfect time to do so. They run from late March through late November, though peak season for all things related to tourism in the city is certainly during the summer months when the weather is nice and warm. Before you book your spot, follow these tips for making the most of your Boston Duck Tour.

Where to Pick Up

You've no doubt seen the Duck Boats' ubiquitous amphibious vehicles all around Boston, but there are only three places where you can pick them up for a tour: the Museum of Science , the New England Aquarium , and the Prudential Center . Choose the one that's most convenient for your own home base and/or sightseeing itinerary; all are near major tourist attractions, MBTA stations and dining.

How to Save

Are your fellow Duck Boat riders a bunch of early risers? If so, make an online reservation for the 9 or 9:30 a.m. tours from either the Museum of Science or Prudential stops and get an Early Duck discount. (Remember that online-only stipulation: If you show up in person to buy tickets for the early tours, you won't get the discount.) It's also worth noting that only a portion of tickets are released online, so it's still worth checking one of the ticket booths if tickets for the date you want to go are sold out online.

There's also the Ride & Save program for those also planning to visit the Museum of Science and New England Aquarium: Show your Duck Boats ticket and get discounts off the museums' admission, café, gift shop, and theaters. You can also get a free tour of Harvard Square with your Duck Boats ticket, plus numerous discounts at the Prudential Center and other Boston restaurants and gift shops. So save that ticket stub and put it to work – you can save quite a lot!

How to Dress

Duck Boats tour in rain or shine, and they do drive in to the river (although, truth be told, the splash is pretty minimal). Wear layers – it can be breezy out on the water, and if it's rainy, a light raincoat is always a good idea. The Duck Boats are heated and have weather protection, but it's not quite like being enclosed within a typical car or truck, so plan accordingly.

What You'll See

Once on board, the tour is about 80 minutes and guests stay on board the entire duration. Approximately 20 minutes of that is spent on the water, with an hour on land taking in many of Boston's historic landmarks and neighborhoods. What you see will depend on where you pick up your Duck Boat, but popular sites include the Boston Public Garden , Boston Common , Boston Public Library, Newbury Street, Quincy Market and the TD Garden . It's destinations like these that make Boston the great city it is.

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Everything To Know About the Boston Duck Boats and Tours

From Boston’s historic homes to the bustling waterfront, it can be a little overwhelming to make sure you hit all of the city’s most noteworthy sites . But there isn’t much of a better way to fit everything in than the Boston Duck Tours.

Since 1994, the “duck” boats have been a staple in the Massachusetts capital, carrying thousands of passengers in peak season across the city. Today, the fleet consists of 28 replica World War II amphibious landing vehicles that take you through Boston and into the Charles River. Here’s everything you need to know about one of Boston’s most popular tours.

Hit numerous sites in 80 minutes

With tours taking place every day from the end of March through the end of November, the Boston Duck Tours run every 20-30 minutes (depending on departure area) from 9am to about an hour before sunset. Passengers have the ability to get tickets and board at three locations, including the Prudential Center, Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium.

Once onboard, local drivers take guests on an 80-minute tour of the city, hitting numerous historical and significant sites along the way. You’ll slow down to see the Boston Public Gardens, Beacon Hill, JFK Residence, the Old State House and more than 20 other sites.

During the ride, the quirky ConDUCKtors spew out historical facts and interesting tidbits. Each guide takes on a different persona, bringing a unique – and often humorous – twist to the tour. There’s Bobby Oar, Vincent Van Duck, Robin the Riveter, Lenient Louis the Plunderless Privateer, Captain Super Swift and a crew of many other characters.

While the New England Aquarium boats take a slightly different route than the Prudential Center and Museum of Science rides, they see most of the same places. The Prudential Center and Museum of Science boats are also equipped to give tours in nine different languages and are wheelchair accessible.

Get on the Charles River

One of the more popular locations along the ride puts visitors right into the Charles. At different points on the trip (depending on your boarding spot), the “Duck” turns from truck to boat, and the drivers take passengers on a 20-minute glide over the river.

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Entering the river around the Museum of Science, participants see Boston’s West End and Beacon Hill neighborhoods from the water before cruising under the famous Longfellow Bridge. The excursion gives wide, sweeping views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines and intimately displays the Back Bay, including the beautiful Esplanade, before turning back.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be one of the several passengers picked to drive the boat along the river portion of the tour.

Ride in a little piece of history

While the present-day boats are all replicas, the Boston Duck Tours started with an original fleet of World War II amphibious landing vehicles that were converted for passengers. Code-named “DUKW” (which is where the current name comes from), the last original WWII vehicle was taken out of the fleet in 2014, but the company still owns one for special occasions.

The replicas are known as “truck ducks.” First built in Kansas, these models were purposely made for tourism and have a stronger hull with an enclosed top. The oldest boat dates back to 2006 with the newest being from 2014.

To localize the fleet, the company named each of the 28 duck boats after a Boston landmark or neighborhood, with the name painted along the side of the vehicle. Boats include Back Bay Bertha, Beacon Hilda, Espla Nadia, Olga Ironsides, Symphony Hal, Fenway Fanny and many others.

Ride in the same boats as Boston’s champions

Starting in 2002 with the New England Patriots’ first Super Bowl win, Boston Duck Tours and its boats became the “Official ChampionSHIP” of Boston’s four major sports teams. Whenever one of Boston’s teams wins a championship, the company sends out its “Rolling Rally,” a parade that consists of almost the whole fleet and welcomes the players onboard to travel around the city among crowds of cheering fans.

The duck boats have hosted the championship parade a total of 12 times between all four sports teams since 2002, including six times for the Patriots, four times for the Red Sox and one each for the Bruins and Celtics.

On the day of the championship parade, the summer tours are shut down, and all the boats go towards hosting the rally. In the case of the Patriots, whose Super Bowl parade is in the winter, the fleet is brought back into service for one day in February to celebrate. After you’ve experienced Boston Duck Tours, why not check out our list of the must-visit attractions in Boston .

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Boston Duck Tours Kick Off 2023 Season

The company is also looking to hire cdl drivers and mechanics, even offering a $4,000 sign on bonus for the ones who qualify., by irvin rodriguez • published march 31, 2023 • updated on march 31, 2023 at 12:49 pm.

Spring has sprung, which means Boston Duck Tours' new season is kicking off as well.

As of Friday morning, the iconic trucks were taking locals and tourists on amphibious tours of the city starting from the Museum of Science, Prudential Center and New England Aquarium.

STAY IN THE KNOW

"With the mild weather we experienced this winter, we are ready to hit the streets showing off our beloved Boston and the Charles River." said Cindy Brown, CEO of Boston Duck Tours, in a statement.

The company is also looking to hire drivers with commercial certification and mechanics, even offering a $4,000 sign-on bonus for those who qualify.

"Our biggest challenge the past few years has been staffing. Though a seasonal business, we offer competitive wages, year-round benefits, sign on and end of season bonuses," Brown said.

Duck boat carried hundreds of thousands of people last season and over 12 million people in the last 29 years, according to the company.

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Why Your Ducks Won’t Go in the Water (and What to Do About it)

Ducks are adorable, and boy do they know it! They quack and waddle their way right into your heart until you will do anything to nurture and protect them. For this reason, it becomes exceedingly frustrating when they refuse to swim in the small body of water located near your home.

Ducks swim, don’t they? Indeed they do. So, if you find yourself asking, “why won’t my ducks go in the water,” there may be several reasons causing this phenomenon.

1. The Pond is Dirty

Would you want to submerge your own body into a dirty, algae-infested pool? Well, as it turns out, neither will wee little duckies. 

While ducks feed on algae, water that is overrun with it can be unappealing to swim in. Also, even if the ducks loved the pond before, they may turn their noses up to it later if it becomes murky and dirty. There can be many factors involved, like the fact that they kick up a lot of mud as they swim around.

So, what can you do to keep your ducks healthy and happy enough to enjoy their pond?

Cleaning Your Duck Pond

You may have to clean your duck pond or water body every 5 to 10 years. You can wait for much longer intervals of time if it is larger than the average garden pond.

There are a few ways to clean your duck pond, from a complete drain and clean to simply netting up the debris that may have accumulated.

Other steps you may be able to take include:

• Aerating the pond to increase its oxygen levels and churn the water
• Adding fish, especially if there are aquatic plants in need of pruning
• Avoiding chemicals and use natural cleaning tools, like freshwater scavengers
• Removing dead foliage, twigs, and excessive duckweed growth

If the pond is artificial, you may want to investigate the possibility of using a water filtration system. You could also create a lovely waterfall from the fluid backflow, something both ducks and their human companions will appreciate.

Maintaining the Pond’s Cleanliness

Maintaining a pond that will keep your duckies happy is equally as important as keeping it clean. For artificial ponds, you may want to try:

• Introducing water lilies. This is a beautiful ideal as water lilies also prevent sunlight from reaching the pond’s bottom, which reduces algae growth.
• Routinely draining and refilling the pond. You can do this with either a manual or electric drainage system.
• Using chlorine and surfactants. Try to do this when the ducks are not in the water, as it can cause harm to their digestive systems or even kill them.

For natural ponds, you want to introduce friendly microbes like nitrates and/or aquatic fungi. Nitrates help with the growth of beneficial plants, and fungi balance the pond’s environment. 

2. Fear of Water

Yes, ducks are waterfowl, but that doesn’t mean they will adapt immediately to a pond or even enjoy swimming in it. If your duck seems aquaphobic, you may have to find gentle ways to introduce it to a watery environment.

First, establish where the fear stems from. It is a somewhat daunting enterprise as you can’t lean over and ask them what is wrong in “Duckese.” The problem is compounded if the duck used to enjoy the water and now shuns it.

It is beneficial for ducks to swim as it helps ducks preen and remove oil from the uropygial gland to the feathers, which allows ducks to remain waterproof and keep them afloat in deep water . It also helps keep their feet, eyes, and bills clean. It may be difficult to help your feathered friend get over its fear, but it’s worth it in the end.

What May Be Bothering Duckie

Several aspects may alter the duck’s behavior if they once loved the pond and now won’t go near it. Factors that can disrupt a duck’s love of swimming include the following.

• An abrupt change in the aquatic environment includes introducing plants, chemicals, or even tiny fish.
• The overgrowth of plants and algae could make it difficult for them to swim, especially if the pond is small.
• They are moving from a smaller to a larger pond or vice versa. Ducks, like most humans, apparently dislike change.

How to Fix the Problem

Once you isolate and hone in on the issue, you should be able to figure out a way to restore your fine-feathered friend’s faith in the swimming process.

For example, you could look into building an artificial pond , buying a small pool, or relocating the ducks elsewhere.

Other remedies might include:

• Trying to create a similar pond experience after moving your duck from a previous location.
• Reducing the aquatic and algae population. For instance, you can buy plant-eating fish and introduce them to the pond.
• Scattering food on the shoreline of a natural pond or introducing food into the water of an artificial one.
• Creating a waterfall, as ducks enjoy playing and splashing beneath a canopy of water.

Each situation is unique to the pet owner, but a little investigation is bound to turn up what is disturbing your ducks and causing them fear or alarm.

That said, a duck who has never gone into the water and seems reluctant to do so may have a different fear altogether.  

Don’t Push the Matter

There could be several reasons for the duck’s hesitancy. A newly transported duck or a duckling may have to get used to their new environment. Forcing the issue may cause more of a problem than it solves.

Believe it or not, even waterfowl like ducks could have underlying psychological reasons for their lack of trust in water. For instance, the duck may not feel safe or experience separation anxiety after removing a previous owner or other ducks.

Allowing the duck time to acclimate to its surroundings and find its way into the water will likely lead to your pet splashing about the pond in no time.

3. Animal Invasion

Sometimes, the main reason a duck may suddenly decide it doesn’t want to swim in a body of water may be due to new animals present. Have fish been added to the pond recently? Is there a new turtle or tortoise in residence? Have other waterfowls taken a liking to the water?

These animals may seem innocuous to you, but a duck may not understand that they present no real danger. This fear may be great enough to deter your duck from venturing in. 

While there are a few solutions to this problem, they aren’t the easiest to accomplish. First, if the pond is on your property, you can have the animals removed. Catching fish and even turtles or tortoises is one thing, but removing other aquatic birds could be tricky.

If the pond is not on your property, or if you can’t (or don’t want to) remove the other animals, then you could always build a new water source for your ducks. This could be as simple as a kiddy pool, with its water changed out each day.

Or, you could choose to build your own pond . It’s a bit of an involved process, but even novices at garden work should be able to do it with the right materials.

Final Thoughts

Ducks are complicated, noisy, quarrelsome, and complicated beasts. Even so, owning one can be extremely rewarding. When your duck behaves contrary to its nature, it is natural to fear something may be wrong.

In any case, a duck not liking water does generally not cause alarm and is easy to remedy. When and if there is a medical condition causing the dilemma, a duck owner could find holistic remedies to get your pet back on its flippers.

If you’ve been asking yourself over and over why won’t my ducks go in the water, remember that slow and steady wins this race. If a problem arises with your duck or duckling exhibiting fear of the water, be patient, and eventually, you will zero in on the issue.

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Do Ducks Need Water? Duck Water and Pond Requirements Guide

Do Ducks Need Water to Swim In?

Before I considered ducks for my farm, I had only ever seen them in the duck pond at the local park. I didn’t know whether ducks could live away from water or not. I had to start researching whether or not I would need a pond for my ducks or some alternative water source. In this article, I’ll share all I learned about ducks and their need for water.

Do ducks need water? Ducks require both swimming water and drinking water that needs to be kept clean in order to ensure good health. Besides drinking, ducks require a source of water where they can bathe as well as dunk their heads in order to keep their eyes and nostrils clear. As waterfowl, ducks also prefer water as a source of entertainment and leisure.

So, how much water do ducks need to bathe, hydrate, and have fun? Keep reading to learn more about the water requirements of ducks!

Why Do Ducks Need Water?

As waterfowl poultry, water is integral to both the mental and physical health of a duck. There are numerous important reasons ducks need water. Here’s what you need to know:

Ducks Need Water to Digest Their Food and to Stay Hydrated

Ducks need clean drinking water in order to swallow their food and feed properly.  Adult ducks can drink up to a liter of water a day due to feeding habits. Ducks will grab a mouthful of food, then a mouthful of water to wash down the food. Without drinking water, they cannot swallow their food, so it is vital to a duck’s health to provide them with adequate amounts of clean water.

Ducks Need Water To Bathe In

Ducks like to preen and groom their feathers, specifically while they’re in the water. This keeps the feathers in good working condition while contributing to the duck’s overall cleanliness. Ducks can keep themselves free of parasites and mites by taking regular water baths , similar to how chickens can clean themselves by rolling in the dust. 

In addition to this, ducks have a set of natural, water-wicking oils that coat their feathers to keep them from getting waterlogged after a swim. By submerging themselves in the water, they are able to distribute these oils, which are concentrated at the base of their tail, to the rest of their body. This helps provide them with a more effective natural barrier to water-logging . 

Ducks will also dunk their heads in water to clear their eyes and nostrils from dust and debris. A duck that doesn’t have access to an adequate water supply can suffer from respiratory problems as they are not able to clear their airways.

Ducks Need Water For Enjoyment

Ducks are water birds; they love swimming in the water! They will often splash around or play in the water for their entertainment. A happy duck is one who has adequate access to clean “playing” water, which keeps them inherently healthy and satisfied. 

Domesticated ducks that are not provided with access to recreational water supplies will become emotionally distressed and unhappy, which can lead them to become more vocal, sick, or depressed. The bottom line is that providing your ducks with a water source will keep them both physically and mentally healthy. 

Ducks Prefer to Mate in the Water

Lastly, ducks prefer to mate on the water, so if you’re trying to breed within your flock, providing them with access to a pool or pond every day is necessary. 

While ducks can mate on land, it’s kind of a last resort. By providing a safe and sanitary space for them to do their business, you increase your chances of getting more baby ducklings.

Ducks are prey animals, meaning it is in their nature to avoid danger. One way they do this is by staying in a flock. Ducks need to be kept with other ducks to feel safe. To learn more, visit my article Do Ducks Get Lonely? What You Need to Know .

How Much Water Do Ducks Need?

The answer to this question varies depending on the type of water you are discussing. Ducks need both clean drinking water and clean bathing water or recreational water to be happy. Ideally, these will be kept separate from each other to help the ducks learn that drinking water is NOT for splashing around in.

Drinking Water

As mentioned above, a duck can consume more a liter of water a day when eating and drinking. You can provide drinking water to them in a poultry waterer. Separating recreational water and drinking water will help to maintain cleanliness in water supply.

Recreational Water

As far as swimming water requirements go, ducks tend to be more flexible. The most important thing to remember when purchasing a pool or building a pond for your ducks to frolic in is that the water needs to be deep enough for them to bathe.

A good metric for recreational water for ducks is around 20-24cm (8-9.5 inches) deep, which gives the duck plenty of space to submerge its body and head under the water. Ducks need to clean their bills quite frequently, both during eating and after, so providing them with a safe, sanitary space to do this is vital to their wellbeing.

Do I Need a Pond For My Ducks?

Ducks are water birds, meaning they love to swim, play, and preen in sources of water. However, contrary to popular belief, having a pond is not a necessary requirement for having ducks. Most ducks will be happy with a kiddie pool or a large tub from a gardening supply store that’s filled regularly with freshwater. 

What Pool Should I Get For My Ducks?

To avoid this, all you need to do is get a pool with sloped edges and traction on the sides to help your ducks exit safely. Another tip is to supervise your ducks for the first few weeks that they are swimming in the water to make sure that they can exit safely. Once you know this for sure, it’s safe to let the ducks swim around without being watched.

Lastly, inflatable pools may seem like a good choice if you’re trying to watch your budget, but they are most certainly not. Ducks have sharp nails on their feet that can easily tear the plastic. If they don’t tear it trying to exit the pool, they may use their bills to bite at the shiny substance and rip holes in it for fun. It’s best to avoid inflatable pools for your ducks at all costs.

How much does it cost to own a duck? Get a complete overview by visit my article Duck Owning Cost: How Much It Costs To Own a Duck .

Water Cleanliness: How to Keep Your Duck Pool Clean

Ducks are not very clean birds; they like to frolic in the water and splash around, which soaks everything from the surrounding ground to the straw in their enclosures. Due to their simultaneous eating and drinking, they will often muddy or dirty their swimming and drinking water very quickly.

Change Your Duck’s Water Daily

Dirty water leads to unhealthy ducks and sickness, so it’s recommended that you change their swimming water daily, if not more depending on how quickly they dirty it. The best option is to place your duck enclosure and pond near an outside hose so you can quickly dump the putrid water on the ground, then refill the pool with clean water.

Invest in a Water Filter For Your Duck Pool

Another option is to invest in a filter for your duck pool or pond. A filter will work to remove debris and dirty water the pool and replace it with clean water. While you still may need to manually clean the duck pool on occasion, a filter is an effective way to maintain cleanliness for you ducks.

Separate Drinking Water and Swimming Water

One reason it’s a good idea to separate a duck’s drinking water from its recreational water is that bathing water can get very dirty very quickly. If a duck drinks dirty water, it has an increased risk of developing harmful infections or diseases.

Sometimes, ducks will even poop in their swimming water, and I certainly would not recommend giving poop water for your ducks to drink. It’s best to provide them with drinking water in a container or waterer that is easily discernible from their playing water.

You can buy ready-made duck waterers, or DIY them yourself, to keep the ducks from accessing their drinking water easily. Poultry waterers do not provide the space for a duck to dunk its head or bathe, so this will cause the duck to search for bathing water elsewhere. By separating drinking and swimming water, you’ll reduce the number of times you have to change their water in a day while protecting your ducks against harmful bacteria.

Do Ducklings Need Water to Play In?

Given that ducks are waterfowl, it would make sense that ducklings also need a small pool to bathe in, right? Wrong! Ducklings that are younger than one month old have not developed proper protection from the water and can become waterlogged or drown.

Ducklings do not produce the same oils that their adult counterparts do, meaning that they can’t wick away water after a swim . This, plus their fluffy feathers, can become waterlogged in ponds or pools, and contribute to them drowning or catching a cold from not being able to dry off after a swim. Once your ducklings are old enough, about a month old, it is perfectly safe to give them a shallow area to swim and play in. 

It’s important to note, however, that ducklings still drink a lot of water, so they require access to clean drinking water just like adult ducks. In fact, four baby ducks can drink up to one gallon of water a day! They are certainly thirsty little fellows. Before they can swim, just make sure that you provide drinking water in a waterer so that they don’t accidentally drown in their drinking water. 

Did you know that ducks like to sleep in the water as well!? To learn more, visit my article Where Do Ducks Sleep? Ultimate Duck Sleeping Behavior Guide .

Carmella Abel

Hello! I’m Carmella. I’ve spent my entire life around farm animals, and I created Savvy Farm Life to share the helpful information I’ve learned over the years. Thank you for stopping by, and best of luck with your farm!

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Are we jinxing a win by mentioning a Celtics parade? Previous Boston Rolling Rally routes

The Boston Celtics currently hold a 3-0 series lead on the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Championship.

Given the potential scrappiness of the Mavericks and their two star players - Luka Dončić and former Celtic Kyrie Irving - the series is far from over.

The Celtics will have the chance to close out the series in Dallas on Friday, June 14, but if a game 5 is needed, the series will return to Boston.

Last time the Celtics won the championship was in 2008 - representing the team's 17th championship banner in its history. A rolling rally parade was held, with Celtics players traveling throughout the streets of Boston in duck boats.

If - and that's IF - the Celtics win their 18th banner, where would the team's rolling rally be? That's not known yet, but its worth taking a look at the history of rolling rally championship parades in Boston.

What was the Celtics' championship parade route in 2008?

The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA championship against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. The winning game was on a Tuesday, and the rolling rally was held on Thursday.

The parade started "at the TD Garden and (went) past City Hall and Boston Common before ending at Copley Square in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood," according to the Brockton Enterprise .

What was the parade route for the Boston Bruins when they won the NHL championship in 2011?

In 2011, the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup in game 7. The winning game was on a Wednesday and the championship parade rolled through the streets of Boston the following Saturday.

The Patriot Ledger reported that in 2011, the duck boats (packed with Bruins players) started at TD Garden and proceeded down Causeway Street and onto Cambridge Street. The rally continued on to Tremont Street before taking a right on Boylston Street, ending at Copley Square in Boston.

What was the route for the last New England Patriots championship parade in 2019?

After the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, the duck boat parade was held on Tuesday. The rolling rally left from from Hynes Convention Center, and then headed up Boylston and Tremont streets toward City Hall, where players spoke.

What was the parade route for the Red Sox MLB championship in 2004?

The Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The series was won on a Wednesday and the parade celebration was held on Saturday.

"The (Red Sox) parade spanned the city of Boston and went up the Charles River, ending after the water portion of the parade was complete," according to the Boston Duck Boat website.

What are duck boats?

The Boston Duck Boat website states, " Boston Duck Tours , over the years, has had the honor and pleasure of hosting four of Boston’s sports teams in Rolling Rally Championship parades 12 different times," the first one being the first New England Patriots championship in 2002.

The website notes that duck boats "were originally used as Army vehicles and had great back decks. This way, the players could stand on and wave to the crowds below. It was close enough to get these players right up to their fans. But, also far enough to keep them from being mobbed by the crowds."

After shark attacks in Florida, experts urge beachgoers not to panic

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story mischaracterized CaringBridge. The nonprofit serves as a platform where individuals or caregivers can share health updates.

A pair of "exceedingly rare" shark attacks off Florida left multiple people injured last week, but experts say beachgoers shouldn't be alarmed.

The two attacks on two beaches in the state left three people injured in the span of just 1½ hours on Friday. The first victim, a 45-year-old woman, was swimming past the first sandbar of a beach in Watersound with her husband when the shark attacked. She had part of her left arm amputated and suffered "significant trauma" to her midsection. Watersound is on the Gulf Coast about 120 miles west of Tallahassee.

Two girls ages 15 and 17 were attacked less than 4 miles up the coast in Fort Walton as they swam in waist-deep water with a group of friends. One girl sustained "significant" injuries to her hand and leg, while the other took minor flesh wounds to her foot.

A third attack occurred the same day near the Hawaiian island of Oahu. A 25-year-old woman was taken to a trauma hospital in serious condition after a shark attacked her.

"It's rare, exceedingly rare, to have three victims in one day," South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford said at a news conference Friday.

More: Tiger shark vomits entire spikey land creature in rare sighting: 'All its spine and legs'

Experts say attacks rise with more people in the water

Shark attacks and fatalities rose last year. But experts say recent numbers are not out of the ordinary.

Researchers at the International Shark Attack File , part of the University of Florida's Florida Program for Shark Research, confirmed 69 unprovoked bites worldwide, up from the five-year average of 63 attacks. Thirty-six of those − more than half − were in the United States, and 16 of those were in Florida. The attacks killed 10 people, five more than the year before.

So far this year, shark bites have decreased, said Gavin Naylor, head of the research program and manager of the file. "This year has been very, very low, but it's ticking up now," he said.

Naylor said that when warm weather brings more people into the water, the chance of attacks increases.

Bait fish, which sharks feed on in the Florida area, also swim close to shore, raising the risk of a shark encounter, he said. "You have humans swimming in the water and sharks feeding on their normal food source and it's right in where the people are, and accidents happen," Naylor said.

Local officials still saw the back-to-back attacks as an anomaly.

Mackenzie McClintock, public information officer for the South Walton Fire District, called last week's incidents "very rare." The last death from a shark attack in the jurisdiction was in 2005, nearly a decade ago, she said.

"This is not something that we have ever experienced before," she added. She said 20 to 30 personnel responded to the attacks, including some medical responders that arrived in helicopters.

The two victims with severe injuries have a "fighting chance," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said at a news conference Friday evening.

In a post on CaringBridge , a mother of one of the teenage girls injured in the attack said she and a friend rushed to the beach when she heard the reports of a shark to find her daughter on the ground "lifeless her eyes closed mouth white and pale."

"The wound on her leg or all that was left of her leg was something out of a movie," she wrote.

A spokesperson for the family declined to comment further to USA TODAY.

More: Pair of massive great white sharks surface off Florida coast within a minute of each other

Bull sharks, common to Florida, likely behind attack

McClintock said officials don't want to speculate on what kind of shark was behind the attack. But Naylor said a bull shark was almost certainly behind it. The species is one of two, along with the tiger shark, that swim close to the Florida shoreline, he said.

He said local deputies told him after the attacks that drone footage captured bull sharks swimming close to the shore. Sixty to 70 sharks could swim near the coast every day, he said.

"It's not unusual. And they mind their own business."

Better water quality also could contribute to shark attacks, according to shark researchers at the university . For instance, improved water quality around New York could have factored into the first reported shark attack in the New York City area in more than half a century last year.

The August attack, at Far Rockaway Beach in Queens, seriously injured a 65-year-old woman . New York authorities said several shark bites also were reported earlier in the summer.

In the wake of the Florida attacks, fire officials warned beachgoers not to "underestimate the open water and any of the marine life that could be present," according to a Facebook post from the Fire District on Sunday. Lifeguards on Dune Allen Beach continued to fly purple flags, indicating the presence of dangerous marine life. Authorities also closed the beach but for for less than 24 hours.

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.