The Mallard hen was just out of this image, closely watching over her young. The ducklings had grouped themselves together as if posing for this shot and I gladly snapped the photo. Mallard Facts: Once on the water, the female leads her brood to feeding areas. The young find their own food, which at first probably consists of small crustaceans, or hard-shelled creatures, such as water fleas, insects, and tiny plants like duckweed.