DUCKS, GEESE AND GUINEAS 117 



The ducklings, however, are very greedy, but their 

 rapid growth may be considered sufficient justifica- 

 tion for their astonishing appetites. No food 

 should be given for the first 36 hours, although 

 water should be provided and in a dish which the 

 youngsters cannot climb into. The activity of a 

 day-old duckling is surprising to people who are ac- 

 customed only to chickens. 



Bread soaked in milk or water and sprinkled with 

 coarse sand or chick grit may be fed four times a 

 day for three or four days and then a soft mash 

 gradually substituted. A good mash is made of 

 four parts bran, one part ground oats, one part corn 

 meal, two parts of green stuff and one part of 

 beef scraps. A little chick grit and charcoal may 

 be added. Some breeders put the grit in the water 

 dish, as the ducklings will usually pick it out. The 

 green stuff may be dandelions, lettuce, clover or 

 alfalfa. The mash should be crumbly and not wet. 

 It is well not to include the beef scraps until the 

 ducklings are a week old and to begin with some- 

 what less than one full part. 



When the ducklings are eight weeks old, cracked 

 corn and wheat may be fed at night. Whole corn 

 may be substituted when they grow old enough to 



