SOMETHING ABOUT GEESE 



Geese are, of all fowls, easiest to raise where grass is abundant, 

 for they are grazing animals. Among the various breeds raised in 

 this country the Toulouse is the most profitable goose to raise. It 

 grows the largest, matures the quickest and is not so much of a 

 rambler or flyer as the other varieties, and as it does not take so 

 readily to water it grows more rapidly and accumulates flesh faster 

 than other varieties, and is not so noisy. 



There seems to be a steady demand for the beautiful large, gray 

 Toulouse variety. They deserve every word of praise given them. 

 They have been known to live to a great old 'age. I have had a 

 friend in England who had a goose that had been more than a 

 hundred years in the same family, and even at that age produced 

 as many fertile eggs as any in the flock. In fact, that goose had 

 more broods each year than any other goose in the neighborhood. 



There are many points about raising geese that can be learned 

 only by experience and a little practice is worth a world of theory. 

 Intelligent and systematic breeding is sure to bring both pleasure 

 and profit to the breeder. 



Hatching and Feeding 



For hatching goose eggs, if setting hens are used, keep them 

 free from lice by dusting with insect powder every week, and put 

 from four to six goose eggs under every hen. After eight days 

 test-out, leaving four fertile eggs under every hen to hatch. Goose 

 eggs should be sprinkled every fourth day after the twelfth, with 

 warm water. In hot, dry weather, float them in water for one and 

 a half to two and a half minutes. If incubators are used, float al- 

 ways. At the last float hold the pip up so as not to drown the gos- 

 ling inside the egg. If the gosling remains and dries in the shell, 

 it should be helped out. Break away a little of the shell, and if the 

 lining does not bleed the gosling is ready to come out. Wring out 

 a cloth in water as hot as you can bear your hands in, wrap the egg 

 in the cloth and leave for a few minutes. You will find the gosling 

 will come out bright and clean. Keep the goslings warm until they 

 are dry and can run around. When they are twenty-four hours old 

 put them in a box, the bottom covered with sand, and feed them 

 often with a crumbly mash of one-third corn meal, two-thirds bran 

 and a pinch of sand. 



Goslings are Healthy 



No other young in the whole tribe of domestic poultry is so up- 

 to-date and healthy as a young gosling. Given a tender grass plot 

 and a bit of warmth, it goes merrily on its way, nipping a living 

 and asking favors of no one. They eat daintily, preferring grass 

 to all other foods. With their chatter they are ready to meet you, 

 take a few mouthfuls of food, and, with the same old tune, they 

 lazily saunter away in search of grass and more rest. 



Geese are turned out to pasture just the same as cattle, their 

 bills having serrated edges which enable them to graze. They 



