Ducking the issue

So many phrases we take for granted emanate from the old country ways: hen-pecked, mother hen, pig-headed, hog tied etc etc.

Now another common phrase has been explained.

I've said before that ducks are bad parents: this week, we've had two clear examples of what that means: firstly a little duckling was cast aside by its mother, was then picked on by another duck and its mother totally ignored it. In the end I took it indoors to try to strengthen it up but it sadly died anyway. Then there's this little yellow job: all the time on its own out in the pond and, today, even in the pen on its own. Mother? What mother. She's apparently totally given up on it.

Her offspring. Her issue. Ignored. She's about her business in the pre-broody fashion. So, clearly, in years gone by ducks were known for ignoring their little ones (issue, to use the biblical term) ---- hence "ducking the issue"..