Ducks are placed in the water to induce the flocks to alight. 

 Hidden nearby on the shore or in his boat, the hunter is ready 

 to shoot when the Ducks, deceived by the decoys, stop to rest. 



After incubation begins, the male deserts his mate and 

 leaves her to hatch and raise the young alone, while he leisurely 

 wanders about with other drakes. When the female leaves 

 her nest to obtain food, she carefully covers her eggs both to 

 hide them and to keep them warm. 



Ducks can swim almost as soon as they are out of the 

 shell. After a day or two the mother takes the brood to the 

 nearest water and does not return again with them to the nest. 

 They spend the day with her in the water seeking food, and 

 at night she gathers them under her wings on the nearest land. 

 Like Chickens and Goslings, young Ducks are covered with 

 fine down for several weeks before their* feathers appear. All 

 kinds of Ducks, young and old, enjoy diving. Much of their 

 food is found under water, and, therefore, they frequently have 

 to stand on their heads while they are getting it. The Mallards 

 utter the familiar quack of the tame Ducks. 



Domestic Ducks are raised in large numbers on farms 

 and in poultry yards both for their feathers and for table use. 

 Like Geese they may be "picked" several times during the 

 warm weather as their feathers quickly grow again. Their 

 flesh is much prized for food. During the spring months they 

 are fairly good layers but their eggs do not sell well in the 

 markets. These birds are so fond of the water that they 

 should have an abundant supply of it. If ponds and streams 

 are not conveniently near, artificial pools should be provided 

 for them. 



71 



