526 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



likely to disturb their appetite and egg yield. For example, 

 mature stock that has never been fed on corn will not eat it 

 at first, and may never really learn to relish it, whereas if they 

 are brought up on a part corn diet it is one of their best-liked 

 grains. 



Feeding and Watering. — Under natural conditions, the food of 

 the duck is both animal and vegetable, consisting of fish, water 

 insects, grasses and so forth, therefore when the birds are raised 

 under a somewhat artificial environment this diet must be imi- 

 tated to secure the most satisfactory results. Unlike the hen, 



Fig. 324. — Ducks are heavy drinkers. 



the duck has no crop, the food passing from the bill to the giz- 

 zard; in consequence the food must be largely of a soft char- 

 acter. Too much hard food does not agree with these birds — 

 they will not thrive upon it, hence it is inadvisable. 



While a proper selection of the food is highly important to 

 secure rapid growth, the necessary ingredients are the simplest 

 grains, usually wheat middlings, wheat bran, corn meal and low 

 grade flour, to which should be added beef scraps and, where 

 necessary, shredded alfalfa or other green food. The following 

 is an excellent ration for breeders, whose food should not, of 



