i?52 PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION 



especially during the breeding- season. They are 

 very thirsty creatures and should always have 

 abundant drinking water, especially during the 

 warm weather. Geese are by far the cheapest and 

 easiest of all domestic fowls to raise. They require 

 but little shelter at any time, and if given plenty of 

 pasture will gather the larger portion of their food 

 from the fields. 



An ideal pasture, such as is not desirable for 

 animal grazing — a marsh, especially one with a 

 stream running through, or bordering a pond — is 

 admirable. Farmers are realizing the fact that it 

 pays to utilize such waste land by raising geese 

 upon it. Not only does such land not pay taxes 

 ordinarily, but it is often a distinct disadvantage to 

 the farm. When used for a goose pasture the loss 

 can be wiped out completely and the geese sold 

 from it made to yield a handsome profit. In fact, 

 since the original breeding flock may be kept for 

 many years, the only cost of keeping a flock of geese 

 would be for the winter care and for the attention 

 demanded by the goslings until they are able to 

 take care of themselves. The goslings would pick 

 up nearly all of their living from the waste land, 

 and nearly all the money they would bring in the 

 market or when sold for breeding purposes would 

 be clear profit. 



Many more geese could be raised in this country 

 and still the demand would not fail. Each year 

 geese are becoming more popular as table fowls. 

 Very large, young geese, when well fattened, com- 

 mand a premium in the markets. In goose grow- 

 ing as well as in other lines of poultry production 

 the value of good breeding stock cannot be over- 

 , estimated. Good stock is as easily fed and cared 



