GEESE.

GEESE.

Breeds ........... 299

General Management . .... . 299

Kinds..........., 299

Raising of Geese ........ 299

The two principal breeds of domesticated geese
are the Gray or Toulouse, and the White or Emb-
den, concerning which we quote from local author­
ity: “We very much prefer the Gray or Toulouse
to the White or Embden, being larger and hand­
somer. We have had a Toulouse gander which
weighed 24 pounds, a weight never, we are sure,
attained by the White bird. They are also better
shaped as a rule, and every way a more profitable
variety. The forehead should be flat, and the bill
a clear orange-red. The plumage is a rich, rich
brown, passing into white on the under parts and
tail coverts.

“ The Embden goose is pure white in every
feather, and the eye should show a peculiar blue
color in the iris in all well-bred birds. White or
cross-bred geese require a pond ; but the Toulouse,
with good grass around, will do well with only a
trough of water, and will require no extra feeding,
except for fattening or exhibition.”

The only foreign varieties requiring mention are
the Chinese and the Canada geese, both of which
appear to be medium between the geese proper and
the swans, which they resemble in length of neck.

The Chinese goose is of a generally brown color,
passing into light gray or white on the breast, with
a dark brown stripe down the back of the neck.
The voice is very harsh and peculiar. This bird is
not a good grazer, and is best raised in the farm­
yard. The Canada goose, also, is not a good gra­
zer, and does best near marshes and ponds, in
which circumstances they will thrive and be found
profitable.

General Management.—The raising of geese is a
very simple process, and can be made quite profit­
able where there are proper surroundings. They
may be raised with only sufficient water for drink­
ing ; but it is better to have access to water if
possible. No more than four or five geese should
be allowed to one gander, and such a family will
require eight feet square of space. To secure
even stock, three geese are allowed to the gander.
Each nest should be about two feet six inches
square, and the goose will always lay where she laid
her first egg. There should be a separate nest for
each goose, and thus the eggs when laid can be
left: otherwise they should be removed daily.

Geese should be set in March or early April, as
it is very difficult to rear the young in hot weather.
The time of hatching is between twenty to thirty-
four days. Each goose should be induced to come
off daily and take a bath ; besides, she should have
good food and water, or hunger will compel her to
eat her eggs one by one. The gander is usually
kept away, but it is not necessary as he has no
grudge against the eggs or goslings.

Old geese make better mothers than young ones.
The geese should be allowed to hatch out entirely
by themselves. They should be fed on boiled oat­
meal and rice, with water from a pond and from a
shallow dish ; they should not be allowed to swim
for a fortnight, during which time the goose should
be kept under a very large coop. After two weeks
they will be able to shift for themselves, except for
being sheltered from severe rains, until they are fully
fledged, and should be fed twice a day on corn.

When first commencing to lay, geese are apt to
be irregular; but as they mature they will lay with
more regularity, and will be worth a litter of from
15 to 25 before declining to sit.

Breeding-geese should be kept rather thin, and
have free grass range. When breeding, the goose
will remain upon her nest after laying; she should
have a deep nest, soft and firm to sit upon.

Old geese are very apt to be ugly when they have
goslings, and will very often destroy young ducks’
chickens with a stroke of their strong bill. They
should have their coops removed from other poultry
to do away with this danger. Geese are peculiarly
inquisitive birds.

Rats are to be especially avoided in the vicinity
of geese, as they will devour young goslings or
other young poultry if they have the opportunity.
The fox is also an enemy of the goose, as well as
the skunk and weasel. The building therefore in
which geese are kept should be thoroughly pro­
tected from such torments.

The house for geese should be similar to that of
the duck, and is not necessarily an expensive struc­
ture, but should be built warm and dry; when prop­
erly cared for, geese will generally have no disease
whatever.

For fattening geese, corn meal and potatoes mixed
into a thin mush is as good a food as can be given.

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