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Show n j PROFIT WITH SMALL NUMBER OF GEESE , ' 1 . - - W i : : .- : I t -: r, .;: 1 r ; I V x - M TOULOUSE AND EM D EN ARE POPULAR BREEDS. pccially under hens, and the goslings are usually removed as soon as hatched and kept in a warm place until the process is ovcr, when they are put back under the hen or goose. Some breeders who hatch with both geese and hens give all the goslings to the geese. Hens with goslings may be confined con-fined to the coop and the goslings allowed al-lowed to range. The latter, especially if the weather is cold, are not usually allowed to go into water until they are several days old. In mild weather the liens are allowed to brood the goslings gos-lings for from seven to ten days, when the latter .are able to take care of themselves. Good-sized growing coops,, with board floors, should be provided for the goslings, and they must be protected pro-tected from their enemies, and given some attention when on range. Feeding Geese and Goslings. Geese are generally raised where they have a good grass range or pasture, pas-ture, as they are good grazers, and, except during the winter months, usually usu-ally pick up most of their living. The pasture may be supplemented with light feeds of the common or homegrown home-grown grains or wet mash daily, the-necessity the-necessity and quantity of this feed do-ponding do-ponding on the pasture. Goslings do not need feeo" until they are twenty-four twenty-four to thirty-six hours old, when they should be fed any of the mashes recommended rec-ommended for chickens or ducklings. Preparation for Market. Before marketing the young geese the average farmer can feed advantageously advanta-geously a fattening ration either while the geese are on grass range or confined con-fined to small yards, but it is doubtful doubt-ful whether it would pay him to confine con-fine them to individual or small pens and make a specialty of fattening unless un-less he has a special market or retail trade for well-fattened stock. Geese are usually killed and picked in the same manner a:? other kinds of poultry. Some markets prefer dry-picked dry-picked geese, while in other markets no difference is mnde in the price of scalded or dry-picked geese. When feathers are to be saved, fowls should not be scalded but should he picked dry before or after steaming. On most farms where geese are raised the feathers are plucked from the live fowls at some time prior to moulting. About 1 1-10 pounds per goose is the average yield of feathers. Teathers are worth from 30 cents to $1 n pound and the picking cost per goose is about 11 cents. Breeds. The Toulouse, the largest of the standard breeds of geese, is a good layer, producing from 20 to 35 eggs a year, is docile, grows rapidly, and makes a good market bird. However, Its dark pinfeathers make it a slightly less attractive market goose than the Emden. These geese are very massive mas-sive in proportions with short legs. The bill and feet are dark orange color; head, neck and hack of dark gray: breast light gray, but descending descend-ing lighter till beyond the legs and tail they are a pure white. This combination com-bination of colors presents a very attractive at-tractive appearance. They live to a good old nge and are easy keepers. (By H. M. LAM OX and A. R. LEE.) The goose industry is at present on the basis of small flocks raised on general gen-eral farms, few, if any, farms being devoted entirely to goose raising. In some producing" sections, however, the fattening of geese is conducted as a special business. For this business the geese are collected from general farms, usually over a large area, and are fattened for several weeks before being killed. Geese can be raised in small numbers num-bers successfully and at a profit on farms where there is low rough pasture pas-ture land with a natural supply of water. Pasturage is essential, to their success. Geese are generally quite free from disease and all insect pests, but occasionally are affected by the diseases dis-eases common to poultry. Grass makes up the bulk of the feed for geese, and it is doubtful whether it pays to raise them unless good grass range is available. avail-able. A body of water where they can swim is considered essential during dur-ing the breeding season and is a good feature the rest of the year. The market mar-ket for geese is not so general as for chickens. This should be considered in undertaking the raising of geese. The demand and the price paid for geese fattening is conducted on a large scale. Many geese are kept in the South for the production of feathers rather than for their flesh, but the demand de-mand for their feathers is not so good as it has been, making the business less profitable. Wherever possible the geese on a farm should have free range. Many farmers in the South keep them to kill the weeds in the cotton cot-ton fields. Houses. Except in winter or during stormy weather, when some protection should be provided, mature geese do not usually usu-ally need a house. Some kind of shelter, shel-ter, such as a shed open on the south side, a poultry house or a barn is usually provided by breeders in the South. Coops, barrels or some other dry shelter should be provided for young goslings. The goose houses should be kept clean and plenty of clean straw provided for the floor. Selecting and Mating. Geese, like other kinds of poultry, should be selected for size, prolificacy and vitality. They should be mated several months prior to the breeding season to obtain the best results ; therefore breeding stock should be bought in the fall. Goose matings are not changed from year to year unless (he results are unsatisfactory. A gander gan-der may be mated with from one to four geese, but pair or trio matings usually give the best results. The wild gander usually mates with only one goose. When mated, geese are allowed to run in flocks. From four to twenty-five twenty-five geese may be kept on an acre of land, and under most conditions ten is a fair average. Incubation. " Geese are fed a ration to produce eggs during the latter part of the winter win-ter or so that the goslings will be hatched by the time there is good grass pasture. They are allowed to make nests on the floor of the house, or large boxes, barrels or shelters are provided for that purpose. The eggs should be collected daily and kept in a cool place where the contents will not evaporate too freely; if kept for some time they may be stored in loose bran. The first eg'fe- are usually set under hens, while tlui last ones which the goose lays may be hatched either under hens or under the goose if she goes broody. If the eggs are not removed re-moved from the nest in which the goose is laying she will usually stop laying sooner than if they are taken away. Some breeders prefer to raise all the gosiimrs under hens, as goose sometimes become difficult to manage when allowed to hatch and rear their young, nens used for hatching goose pegs must be dusted with insect pow- I der and have good attention, as. in the I case of geese, the period of incubation j Is loncer than in that of fowls. Good 'cars niay be hatched in incubators and the goslings successfully raised in brooders, although this is not a common com-mon practice. The period of incubation of goose eggs varies from 2S to 30 days. Moisture Mois-ture should be addrd to the eggs after the first week if set under hens or In incubators; this is usually done hy sprinkling the egs or the nest with warm water. Four to six eggs are set r.r.der a hen and ten to thirteen under 5 goose. They may be tested about the tenth day, and those which are Infertile In-fertile or contain dead germs should ba removed. They hatch slowly, es- |
