Geese. 733 



of white around beak where it joins on to head; body, medium grey; 

 back, wing, and tliigh leathers finely hieed with very light grey 

 (almost white) ; legs and feet, dark orange. The gander weighs 

 10-12 lb., goose G-8 lb. 



(It will be noticed that male and female are entirely dissimilar 

 in colour. This, of course, is an advantage, as it makes the selection 

 of the sex very easy.) 



Management of the Breeding Stock. 



The gander will mate with several females. It is better to have 

 as few males as possible in tlie flock, as this avoids quarrels. In the 

 smaller breeds of geese one gander to three geese would be sufficient, 

 and in heavier breeds, such as Embden and Toulouse, one gander to 

 two geese. It is necessary when changing matings to do so in Novem- 

 ber or December, as ganders do not change affections readily. 



-^fjc /'-"' Mating. — Goslings, or yearling geese, should never be 

 bred from ; two-year-old birds are far better. If the female be three 

 or four years old it is sometimes an advantage to mate a young gander 

 of fifteen to eighteen months to such old geese. 



The goose family live to a great age, and good specimens may 

 be bred from up to their tenth year, or even later, but, speaking 

 generally, geese are at their best breeding condition at from three to 

 hve years. 



Housing. — Houses for geese need not be expensive structures: 

 the lean-to is best suited to their requirements. It must be built of a 

 size to accommodate tlie required number ; approximately 4 feet 

 floor space should be allowed for each adult bird. The house should 

 be open-fronted, having two ends, back, and roof, the front covered 

 with wire netting and facing sunrise ; the floor should stand about 4 

 inches above surrounding soil, and should be constructed of material 

 easily kept clean and, above all, dry. Geese contract disease if 

 allowed to sleep on a damp floor. To avoid this the floor should be 

 covered with deep litter, which should be changed from time to time. 

 Geese delight in cleanliness, and will not enter a filthy house if they 

 can avoid it. 



Situation. — Geese can best be kept in places adjacent to grass- 

 lands, vleis, or along the banks of rivers where short succulent grass 

 is easily obtainable. Water, while beneficial, is not absolutely essen- 

 tial ; a running stream, natural vlei, a river, dam, or small artificial 

 pond will serve their purpose, (ieese keep in better condition w^hen 

 swimming water is within reach. 



Feeding adult birds. — Variety should be observed in feeding. 

 Geese have a special liking for grass, and a quantity of this w411 have 

 a particular bearing on the amount of other food given ; where short 

 succulent grass is plentiful for the greater portion of the year geese 

 need be fed in the evening only, but where grass is scarce it will be 

 necessary to feed them twice daily. Where this is practised, a mash 

 consisting of bran one part, mealie half part, should be mixed 

 with boiled vegetables and fed at the rate of 3 oz. per bird in the 

 morning; the geese should then be driven on to the land and kept 

 there during the day. The evening feed may consist of any usual 



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