614 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



sary for successful duck raising. The duck, being smaller, can be 

 raised in a more limited space than can the goose, the latter needing 

 free range and water, while the former has been proved to do equally 

 well without water. 



While the goose can not profitably be raised in as large numbers 

 as the duck, still it can not justly be termed unprofitable. There 

 are many places on a farm that are worthless for cultivation that 

 could be utilized with excellent results for goose raising. Fields 

 that have streams, branches, or unused springs on them could be 

 turned to good advantage by making them into goose pastures. 

 Many farmers are profiting by this and adding to their incomes an- 

 nually. The care and attention necessary for raising geese are very 

 small when compared with the returns, and the cost of food is also 

 proportionately small in comparison with the cost of food used for 

 other birds bred for market, A goose on range will gather the 

 largest portion of its food, consisting of grasses, insects, and other 

 animal and vegetable matter to be found in the fields and brooks. 



The simplest kinds of houses are used for shelter ; these should 

 be built after the plans of those given for ducks, but should be pro- 

 portionately of larger size to accommodate comfortably the num- 

 ber of birds to be kept. Geese are long-lived birds, some having 

 been known to attain the age of 40 years, while birds 15 and 20 

 years of age are not uncommon. They retain their laying and 

 hatching qualities through life. Ganders should not be kept for 

 breeding after 3 years of age; young ganders are more active and 

 insure greater fertility of the eggs than old ones do; besides, gan- 

 ders become more quarrelsome as age advances. 



The feathers of geese are an important source of revenue and 

 find a ready sale in the markets. A goose will average about 1 pound 

 of feathers a year. The feathers should be plucked when there is 

 no blood in the ends of the quills; this can be readily ascertained, 

 as they will then leave the flesh without hard pulling. Almost all 

 breeds of geese are good sitters and attentive mothers, and if left to 

 themselves will make their nests, much as when wild, and hatch a 

 large percentage of their eggs. But hens are now more frequently 

 used for hatching goose eggs; as by taking the eggs from the goose 

 when laid and giving them to hens to hatch, the goose will lay a 

 greater number of eggs than if she were permitted to sit. 



All breeds of geese, except perhaps the Egyptian, are to be 

 recommended to farmers who keep a limited number in addition to 

 other poultry and allow them the freedom of the farm; but when 

 goose raising is to be more extensively engaged in, the African 

 goose is to be especially recommended. It is the quickest to mature, 

 most prolific, and the easiest to handle of all the varieties. (F. 

 B. 64.) 



Mating and Setting. In breeding African geese mate two 

 geese to one gander, and it will be still better if pairs are used to 

 secure better fertility of the eggs. Those who contemplate raising 

 geese should secure their stock in the fall, so that the birds may be- 

 come accustomed to the place before the breeding season begins. 



