244 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



them are, even the older members of the flock 

 are not secure. 



For a gander and his three or four partners 

 there should be an allowance of room not less 

 than eight feet in length, by six in width ; the 

 height need not be more than is sufficient for 

 the person who cleans it to stand upright ; and 

 beneath the eaves an open space should be left, 

 securing perfect ventilation, while it prevents 

 the rain from driving in during windy weather. 

 Barred windows at the side would permit a 

 more, thorough access of air in summer; and 

 the floor can not be made of any better materi- 

 al than gravel well rammed down. But if it is 

 necessary to employ stone for this purpose, care 

 should be taken that the surface should be 

 smooth, since full-grown geese, from the bulk 

 to be sustained on their wide-spreading feet, are 

 easily injured by a rough floor, and lameness 

 may often thus ensue. For the young goslings 

 dry floors are necessary; as the bath, which 

 with the older birds so generally precedes the 

 retiring to their night's rest, would soon convert 

 an earth floor into a mass of mud. Where 

 these precautions have been taken, a little straw 

 shaken down, and renewed every other day, will 

 secure a most comfortable abode. 



But other lodgings must be provided for the 

 goose and her brood, as likewise for the young 

 birds when they have left their mother, and 

 are in a course of feeding. 



In the former case nothing is better than a 

 well-ventilated, secure compartment, about three 

 feet square, in which, by timely arrangement, 

 it maybe so managed that the goose shall com- 

 mence laying ; but if the ordinary indications 

 of that season have not been taken advantage 

 of, and the first egg should be laid in the or- 

 dinary house, it is better to allow her to re- 

 main there than incur the risk of rendering her 

 unsteady in the nest by removals. We would, 

 however, advise transferring her to her proper 

 abode when the goslings are ushered into life. 

 It is not from any misapprehension of the gan- 

 der's disturbing her on the nest that it is advis- 

 able to allow her this separate apartment, for 

 that rarely happens ; and usually, indeed, he 

 performs the part of a vigilant guard while his 

 consort is engaged in incubation; but when 



hatching-time comes round, his own anxiety to 

 protect his offspring brings him and the other 

 geese, who share this feeling, into dangerous 

 proximity with the brood ; and thus, not unfre- 

 quently, are the latter overwhelmed with kind- 

 ness. 



A separate house has also been suggested for 

 the goslings when they have ceased to be under 

 maternal superintendence. Natural affection, 

 indeed, does not then usually cease with the 

 parents, but food of a better quality is required 

 to push them on ; and this they may just as 

 well have by themselves. 



Care of the Goslings. The head of a gosling 

 protruding from beneath the mother's wings, 

 on or about the thirtieth day, induces greater 

 watchfulness on the part of the attendant ; but 

 interference is seldom required, since the young 

 birds are stronger in freeing themselves from 

 the shell than any other kind of poultry. This 

 is indeed fortunate ; for however gentle in her 

 previous demeanor, the goose now declares her- 

 self the most uncompromising opponent of all 

 who approach the nest, including even those of 

 her own race who have long been her compan- 

 ions. Hence the great advantage of the sepa- 

 rate hatching-pen, previously recommended. "I 

 never interfere with their hatching till the last 

 moment," says a writer in the " Poultry Book," 

 " for their bill is very severe ; and on one occa- 

 sion my poultry-woman nearly lost the tip of 

 her finger from such an attack." Meddling 

 with them, indeed, except only when there is 

 urgent apparent necessity from the weakness of 

 the young, or the want of caution of the parent, 

 would be more likely to do harm than good, no 

 less to the brood than to the operator, for the 

 goose not only becomes at that period a savage 

 opponent, but is so heavy and powerful a bird, 

 that lifting her from her nest is not easily ac- 

 complished without such struggles as throw eggs 

 and goslings in utter confusion. 



On the first day after the goslings are hatch- 

 ed they may be let out, if the weather be warm, 

 care being taken not to let them be exposed to 

 the unshaded heat of the sun, which might kill 

 them. The food given them is prepared with 

 some barley or Indian meal, coarsely ground, 

 bran, and raspings of bread, which are still bet- 



