22 PARADISE VALLEY POULTRY RANCH 



The sex may be determined by inspecting the sexual organs or by the ac- 

 tions of the geese at mating time. The sphincter muscle which closes the 

 anus of the female is folded and winding or sinuous if stretched, while a 

 light pressure on the corresponding section in the male will make the 

 sexual organ protrude. This test is more easily made on a mature male 

 and in warm weather. In common geese the male is lighter colored than 

 the female. 



A gander may be mated with from one to four geese, but pair or trio 

 matings usually give the best results. The wild gander usually mates 

 with only one goose. 



When mated, geese are allowed to run in flocks. From four to twenty- 

 five geese may be kept on an acre of land, and under most conditions ten 

 is a fair average. Wherever possible the geese should have free range. 

 Many people in the South keep them to kill the weeds in the cotton fields. 



Toulouse geese will breed when about two years old, but do not mature 

 for another year. The females are usually kept until they are twelve to 

 fourteen years old, or as long as they lay well, but ganders are not gen- 

 erally kept after they are eight to nine years old; wild ganders, however, 

 are kept as long as they will breed. Geese are usually best for breeding 

 when from three to five years old. 



INCUBATION 



Geese are fed a ration to produce eggs during the latter part of the 

 winter (about February 1) or so that the goslings will be hatched by the 

 time there is good grass pasture. They are allowed to make nests on the 

 floor of the house, or large boxes, barrels, or shelters are provided for that 

 purpose. The eggs should be collected daily and kept in a cool place where 

 the contents will not evaporate too freely; if kept for some time they may 

 be stored in loose bran. The first eggs are usually set under hens, while 

 the last ones which the goose lays may be hatched either under hens or 

 under the goose if she goes broody. If the eggs are not removed from 

 the nest in which the goose is laying she will usually stop laying sooner 

 than if they are taken away. The desire to sit can usually be broken up 

 by confining her to a to a slat-bottom coop, with water to drink, but no 

 feed, for two to four days. Some breeders prefer to raise all the goslings 

 under hens, as geese sometimes become difficult to manage when allowed 

 to hatch and rear their young. Hens used for hatching goose eggs must 

 be dusted with insect powder and have good attention, as, in the case of 

 geese, the period of incubation is longer than in that of fowls. Goose eggs 

 may be hatched in incubators and the goslings successfully raised in 

 brooders, altho this is not a common practice. 



The period of incubation of goose eggs varies from twenty-eight to 

 thirty days. Moisture should be added to the eggs after the first week if 

 set under hens or in incubators; this is usually done by sprinkling the eggs 

 or the nest with warm water. Incubators should be run at a temperature 

 of 101.5 to 102.5 F., or about 1^ lower than for hens' eggs, and the eggs 

 should be cooled longer. Four to six eggs are set under a hen and ten to 

 thirteen under a goose. They may be tested about the tenth day, and those 

 which are infertile or contain dead germs should be removed. They hatch 

 slowly, especially under hens, and the goslings are usually removed as 

 soon as hatched and kept in a warm place until the process is over, when 

 they are put back under the hen or goose. Some breeders who hatch with 

 both geese and hens give all the goslings to the geese. To keep a record 

 of their age and breeding the web of the feet of the goslings should be 

 punched when hatched. Hens with goslings may be confined to the coop 

 and the goslings allowed to range. The latter, especially if the weather 

 is cold, are not usually allowed to go into water until they are several days 

 old. In mild weather the hens are allowed to brood the goslings for from 

 seven to ten days, when the latter are able to take care of themselves. Some 

 breeders assert that polliwogs in pools will poison young goslings unless 

 the mash or drinking water has been slightly salted before the goslings are 



