250 POULTR T- CRA FT. 



377. Profit in Geese. Growers say that geese are more profitable than 

 ducks, but cannot be grown in such quantities. Goslings green geese 

 are produced at about the same cost as ducks (6 cts. to 8 cts. per pound) when 

 they are fed heavily ; at less cost when they have good pasture. The prices 

 for good stock range from 35 cts. per pound at the beginning of the season, 

 in June, down to 15 cts. later. Some growers sell the goslings at five or six 

 weeks of age to fatteners. It is reported that in a series of years, one, per- 

 haps the largest grower in New England, received for goslings at this age an 

 average price for each year not lower than $1.09, and from that up to $1.17. 

 In this case the cost of raising the goslings, aside from the labor, was not 

 great ; but it is to be observed that the breeding stock from which he produced 

 in one season nearly eleven hundred goslings, represented an investment of 

 about $500, possibly more. In sections where there is not much demand 

 for geese, the profit is never large, even when the expense of growing them is 

 small, for prices are usually low. Growing mongrel geese hybrids of the 

 wild and domestic goose is for those who have skill and facilities for it, the 

 most profitable kind of goose raising. Mongrel geese of 12 to 14 Ibs. weight 

 sell readily at the holiday season for double the price of other geese. 



378. Shelters and Fences. Geese need little shelter, a low shed to 

 protect them in bad weather being sufficient. A fence of almost any kind, 

 wire, boards, or pickets, will do for geese. The height for the heavier breeds 

 need not be greater than two or three feet. For those better able to fly, the 

 fences should be higher. It is sometimes necessary to clip one wing of each 

 bird. 



379. Kinds of Geese. The kinds of geese are: common, crossbred, 

 grade, pure bred, Standard bred, and mongrel. As applied to geese, some 

 of these terms are not used in the same sense as when applied to chickens 

 (IF 68). 



Common geese are presumably descendants of early importations 

 brought from Europe by settlers. They are usually rather small, hardly 

 larger than good sized ducks of the Pekin, Aylesbury, or Rouen breeds. 



Cross bred is applied by goose breeders to the offspring of cross matings of 

 pure breeds, and also to the offspring of thoroughbreds mated with common 

 geese. 



Pure bred, thoroughbred, and Standard bred have the same signification 

 as in ^[68. 



are true hybrids, and sterile. They are produced by crossing 

 wild and domestic geese. 



