Food Natural and Artificial 



257 



GEESE FOOD AND CARE 



The first food for young goslings in nature is 

 grass, and breeders prefer to provide this for the 

 young of the domesticated geese. Grass at pas- 

 ture is recommended. Moistened corn meal is 

 also recommended. Grit in the form of sand 

 or fine gravel should be provided. Cooked vege- 

 tables make an excellent food and may be fed 

 in the form of a mash. Bran, middlings, and 

 corn meal, mixed with cooked vegetables, are 

 highly recommended. As with ducks and chick- 

 ens, it has been found best to give some animal 

 food. Animal meal mixed with the moistened 

 corn meal is recommended for young geese by 

 many breeders. The food of breeding geese 

 should consist chiefly of natural food gathered 

 from the pasture. Insects, snails, and other 

 animal life are then consumed. If animal food 

 is not abundant, it may be supplied artificially 

 to good advantage in the form of animal meal. 

 It is essential to permit breeding geese to roam 

 at will over areas of considerable size. For 

 fattening geese, it is a general practice to con- 

 fine them somewhat closely in order to prevent 

 them from taking too much exercise. Europeans, 

 who have become so noted for fattening geese, 

 take great .pains to keep them quiet. Every 

 precaution should be taken to avoid any dis- 



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