Ducks are a type of waterfowl classified in the following order; Family Anatidae and Order Anseriformes. The characteristics of ducks vary by the breed. They all have webbed feet which are placed towards the rear of the animal which makes them excellent swimmers. They have a layer of very soft and warm feathers often called down. The outer layer of feathers is not soft but is generally shiny and some of them are colored prettily. The males are called drakes and are easily identifiable by one or two feathers in front of the being curled up. The females are called ducks of hens and are not as brilliantly colored as the males. The ducks of hens also do not have the curled feathers by the tail.
One of the chief ways ducks eat is by dabbling in the bottom of a shallow part of a lake, pond, or river. They eat minnows, worms, and any thing else that is edible.
Ducks migrate to the south in the fall and go north in the spring. An interesting fact about ducks is that they never forget where they were born. They also generally go to the same places every year when they migrate.
The female will make a nest and lay up to a dozen eggs in it. She also layers the inside of the nest with down from her chest which makes the nest extra soft and the temperature more stable. It takes about twenty-one days for the eggs to hatch. When they hatch the ducklings do not have any feathers. They are all covered with soft down. As soon as they are able to waddle they start to swim.
Ducks are also a favorite animal to have on a farm. The most ancient civilizations had ducks as pets. Most of them are very hardy and can provide eggs for the owners to eat.
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