WATER FOWL 253 



for as are inferior birds and give very much better 

 results. Where farmers have been raising common 

 geese at a profit there are excellent opportunities 

 for them to raise pure-bred geese at a greater profit, 

 because the pure breds not only attain larger sizes 

 and, as a rule, lay larger numbers of eggs, but the 

 young are easier to rear and there is a fairly good 

 demand for both eggs and birds for breeding. The 

 prices for market geese, breeders and eggs are all 

 excellent, so that there is every reason why pure- 

 bred ones should replace inferior geese. 



GEESE NEED PASTURAGE 



As already indicated, geese cannot be kept in 

 confinement, because, like turkeys, they must have 

 range, but, unlike turkeys, they are not rovers. 

 They can be counted upon to come to their shel- 

 ters regularly; they have a great love for home. 

 For this reason they are easily kept on even small 

 range and with almost no trouble as to fencing. 

 Their chief food is vegetable matter which they 

 prefer to pick in their wanderings. They also 

 enjoy water, animal life, snails, slugs, worms, in- 

 sects, etc., which they can secure. While it is true 

 that they enjoy water and marshy places, they 

 greatly prefer dry quarters in which to sleep. 

 Since they are hardy, their shelters need not be as 

 carefully constructed as those used for chickens. The 

 principal thing is to secure dryness at all seasons 

 and shelter from winds during cold weather. Geese 

 do not make their quarters foul so quickly as ducks 

 do, but it is just as essential that their shelters be 

 kept clean. Straw and refuse hay, sawdust or 

 shavings are equally useful in the sheds. What- 



