MANAGEMENT OF GEESE 17 1 



goes broody the second time, it is as well to set her, for if 

 stopped again she may not resume laying. Occasionally a goose 

 lays for a whole season without going broody. 



Hatching and rearing goslings. In hatching goose eggs under 

 hens the hens are managed in just the same way as if they had 

 hen eggs. Each hen is given four or five eggs, according to 

 the size of the eggs and the size of the hen. A goose must be 

 set in the nest where she has been laying. If she is inclined to 

 be very cross if approached while sitting, she should be left to 

 herself as much as possible, care being taken that nothing can 

 molest her. With the help of the gander a goose can defend 

 her nest against almost anything likely to attack it, but some 

 eggs would probably be broken in the fray. 



The period of incubation is from thirty to thirty-five days. 

 The goslings sometimes chip the eggs two days before com- 

 pleting the process. They should be left in the nest until they 

 begin to run about. Then, if they are with a goose mother, 

 they may safely be left to the care of the old ones, and may 

 not even need to be fed. The early goslings with hen mothers 

 should be placed on sod ground where the grass is fine and 

 soft, in coops such as are used for little chickens, with a small 

 pen in front of each coop to keep them from wandering away. 

 This pen may be made of boards 8 or 10 inches wide, set on 

 edge and kept in place by small sticks driven into the ground. 

 It is best to give them only grass to eat the first day. After that 

 two or three light feeds of mash may be given daily, but they 

 should always have all the fresh, succulent green food that they 

 can eat. The coops and pens should be moved as often as is 

 necessary to secure this end. The goslings should also be con- 

 stantly supplied with drinking water. They will appreciate a 

 bath occasionally. 



Goslings grow very rapidly. In from ten to fourteen days 

 they are so large that they no longer need the hen mother and 

 she may be taken away. At this stage several broods may be 



