282 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [April 2, 1908. 



The merits of the Miisc-ovy lias of late years become i^'enei'ally ackiiow- 

 k'dyt'd, the one-time patrons of the goose for the .Sunday dinner now in- 

 variably asking for the Muscovy drake, in spite of it costing more money. 



Chapter IV. 



Breeding Geese. 



From what has been said, it will Ik' seen that the climate for goose breeding 

 is but erratically suitable. Tlify lay but a small number of eggs in com- 

 pai'ison with other' poultry, and, at best, the market is not a good one. With 

 till these handic<i])S they ai'e still jjatronised by a few suburban poultry 

 keepers, some of whom Iiunc no reason to couijilain of the linancial I'esults, 

 wliile other.s treat tlicm in sin-li a way that profits cannot be expected. 



Geese are essentially grazers, and wlicic the grass is good can live on it 

 alone the year I'ound, but, whether house-fed or not, extensive grass land, 

 rt)adside, or j)addock is necessary. Whei-e the ground is unenclosed they 

 often wander long distances. They keep togethei- like sheep, and return 

 home in the evening. Water to swim in is not rccpiircd for tlie young stock, 

 but to secure fertile eggs it is an essential. 



Thi'ee geese are usually given to one gandei'. The goose, although living 

 to a great age, counnences to bi-eed early, the best results coudng from those 

 from two to four years of age. Still they breed uj) to twelve years or over, 

 infertile eggs being rare even at that age. 



There is often ditticulty in distinguishing the sexes. The ganders, however, 

 are usually thicker in the neck, and coarser looking ; the geese rounder and 

 fuller at the stern. 



In England it is usual to house geese in the winter : such, however, is not 

 necessary in Australia, they having a special desire to keep in the open. A 

 piece of low swampy ground with ponds or waterholes is excellent for them ; 

 at the same time they delight to rest on a sunny bank. 



Geese lay from twelve to twenty eggs. When they want to sit, some 

 breeders jiut the first laying of eggs under hens, and allow the goose to sit on 

 the second or third laying of eggs ; she will cover eleven or twelve : a hen 

 will cover from five to seven eggs. Muscovy ducks are sometimes used here, 

 and cover eight to ten or twelve. Geese eggs can also bo successfully 

 hatched in incubators. If the goose is allowed to hatch the eggs, she must 

 be fed daily near the nest, and the gander will protect her most courageously. 



Twenty-eight days is the usual time required to hatch the eggs, but it is 

 often thirty days befoi-e the hatch is complete. "When hatched the goslings 

 do not require any food for twenty-four or thirty hours, and, if hatclied by a 

 goose, can be safely given to a broody hen, who will usually rear the lot ; the 

 goose will then lay a .second or third lot of eggs. If the young are left with 

 the goose, she occasionally treads on some of them, this being asoided if they 

 are given to a hen. 



The first food for the goslings may be stale bread crundjs moistened, fresh 

 pollard and bran, or oatmeal ; all should be made crumbly, not sticky. 



