Birds such as hens, ducks and geese are kept on farms for their meat, eggs and feathers.

Ducks and geese on farms are usually white or brown. Geese are bigger than ducks and have longer necks.

Ducks and geese are omnivores - they eat plants and insects.

Geese and ducks are very good at swimming. They have webbed feet which help them move easily through water.

When they are out of the water, ducks and geese waddle. The position of their legs and their webbed feet makes it tricky for them to walk.

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Webbed feet

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In the wild, ducks find food in the water. Some ducks swim underwater but most tip over and reach down to grab weed or small creatures in the mud at the bottom of the water.

Geese don’t find food in the same way. They graze in fields, eating grass, seeds and small insects.

Ducks and geese are expert flyers but taking off is difficult for them. They run along, flapping their wings, until they have gained enough speed to lift off into the air.

Ducks and geese often fly in large groups in an arrow formation, with one leader showing the way. They can travel hundreds of miles in one day.

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Ducks and geese are covered in feathers.

Ducks produce a special waxy liquid. They use their beak to preen themselves and spread this liquid over their feathers to keep them waterproof.

They also have smaller, softer feathers near their skin to keep them warm. We call these down.

A male duck is called a drake and a male goose is called a gander.

Male and female geese stay together as a couple for life but ducks have a new partner each year.

The bright colours of male ducks make them attractive to the females, who are much plainer.

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Ducklings and goslings hatch from their mother’s eggs. At first, they have soft yellow or brown baby feathers. These are replaced by adult feathers over the next few months.

Female ducks and geese protect their young by keeping them together in a group. Geese hiss at anyone who gets too close to their goslings.

Duck eggs can be eaten, just like hen’s eggs. They are bigger than hen’s eggs and make great cakes.

Duck meat is popular in French recipes and in Chinese meals. Some people eat roast goose at Christmas.

The down from ducks and geese is used to make soft, warm pillows and duvets.

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Eggs, feathers and meat

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