POULTBY. 



123 



EMBDEH OR URi:.MEN GEESE. 



lant guardian. About fifteen ega;s will be found as many as a good- 

 sized goose can properly cover. Do not meddle with the eggs during 

 the incubation, and do not meddle with the goose; but, as she is some- 

 what heavier than the hen, yon may leave her food and drink rather 

 nearer to her than is necessary with common poultry, as, if she chanced 

 to absent herself from the eggs suflSciently long to permit them to cool, 

 she might become disheartened, and desert her task altogether. It is, 

 however, unnecessary to put either vinegar or pepper in her food or 

 ■water, as recommended by some, or, in short, to meddle with her at all. 



The goose will sit on her eggs for nearly two months; but the neces- 

 sary period of incubation being but one, the early hatched goslings 

 must be removed lest the more tardy might be deserted. About the 

 twenty-ninth day the goslings begin to chip the shell ; and if their own 

 powers prove inadequate to their liberation, aid may be rendered them, 

 and that, also, with much less risk than in the case of other young 

 birds, the shell and its membranes being very hard and strong, and the 

 young themselves also hardy, and capable early of enduring hardship. 

 The best plan is to have the eggs set, of as nearly as possible equal 

 freshness, that they may be hatched at one time. 



On first being hatched, turn the goslings out into a sunny walk, if 

 the weather will permit of such procedure ; but do not try to make 

 them feed for, at least, twelve hours after leaving the shell. Their food 

 may then be bread soaked in milk, porridge, curds, boiled greens, or 

 even bran, mixed with boiled potatoes, taking care not to give the food 

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