Eight to fifteen eggs are laid and in some species at least, both sexes take part in the incubation which takes 24-30 days. Both parents care for the young and help feed them. The young, which are precocious, fledge in 42-60 days and normally are ready to breed in their second year. In many localities they are hunted for food and nests are raided for eggs to raise as food birds. Some species are also suffering from serious habitat destruction and the West Indian Whistling Duck, D. arborea , is listed as a threatened species in the ICBP checklist.
Some species have different roosting and feeding sites.
Most species are readily kept in captivity. Nearly all the species of Anatidae are strong flyers and equally strong swimmers. Many are migratory. Except for the Ruddy-headed Goose, Chloephaga rubiceps the Anatidae are unusual among birds in that they moult all their flight feathers at one time, leaving them flightless for several weeks. Most birds moult only 1 or 2 flight feathers at a time so can still fly during their moult.