POULTRY RAISING GEESE 399 



Add cooked vegetables and corn meal occasionally. Mix with skimmed milk 

 or water into a crumbly mass. Have water and grit before them. Do not 

 allow the goslings in water until they are full feathered. 



Start the goslings on fresh, green grass, then gradually add a slightly 

 moistened corn meal to the ration. It is also good to mix a little sand and 

 charcoal with the corn meal. Feed this three times daily for about two days, 

 then change to the following ration : equal parts (by measure) of middlings, 

 bran, and steamed cut clover or cooked vegetables. Feed this three times 

 daily until the birds are eight weeks old then fatten for market. 



After the first twenty-four hours, give the goslings fresh, tender grass 

 to eat and water to drink. In a couple of days gradually begin feeding them 

 finely cracked corn, well scalded, and permit them to run on tender grass. If they 

 are confined, move their pen to a fresh grass spot every day. Feed them often. 

 During stormy weather they must have green feed, such as tender grass, finely 

 cut green oats, rye, or clover, given them. Protect them from rains until their 

 feathers are grown. After that they need only come home to get grain food 

 each night, when necessary. 



Fattening Geese. 



When geese are to be fattened they should be put in a pen small enough 

 to keep them from running around too much. They should be allowed from 

 eight to fourteen square feet apiece. Care should be taken not to frighten or 

 disturb them. If geese are irritated in the least they will not get fat, but instead 

 will grow another crop of feathers. When the tips of the wings reach the tail or 

 when about ten weeks old, they will be ready for market, weighing from eight to 

 ten pounds. It takes about two weeks to fatten young geese. 



Fattening Rations. 



Mix corn meal to a dry crumbly state and add twenty percent of this bulk 

 of beef scrap. Salt slightly. Feed all the geese will eat clean, three times 

 daily. During the middle of" the day the birds may receive some whole grain, 

 especially if it is soaked. 



Famous Watertown Method of Fattening. This method is given its 

 name because it is practiced mainly by the farmers around Watertown, Wis. 

 It is a new plan of fattening for this country, being started by some German 

 farmers, but it is very successful and we feel that it should be taken to other 

 farmers that they may reap its benefits. A demand for the geese, fattened in 

 this way, can soon be created and they bring a high price. The method 

 follows : 



The geese are fed and kept growing fast until about Thanksgiving time, 

 when they are confined and the process of fattening begun. As stated above, 

 the birds that have been running at liberty are naturally shy and timid, and 

 must be handled cautiously. The feeder must reconcile them to his presence. 

 Strangers should not be permitted around their pens and everything should be 

 done to gain their confidence. Feeding is begun gradually at first, the geese 

 being fed only a little, three times a day. The number of meals and the 



