122 POVLTBY FATTENING. 



to their wives and daughters. At one time the size was 

 small, geese weighing, when drawn and trussed, 10 lb. 

 to 12 lb. ; but, thanks to the attention given and the 

 greater care evinced in breeding, larger birds are now 

 obtained. Last Christmas Eve the average price in 

 Norwich market was Is. Id. per lb. This was for 

 well-dressed birds, drawn and trussed — in fact, ready 

 for the table. 



Geese are probably amongst the most easy fowls to 

 rear, and if they have passed their first stages will 

 obtain the greater proportion of their food, more 

 especially after harvest, when they are amongst the 

 best gleaners to be found. The method of fattening is 

 a very simple one. They should be put into a good- 

 sized shed littered with straw ; this should be in a 

 quiet place, and away from the sound of any birds 

 which are being kept for stock. Unlike turkeys, they 

 should not be allowed to see the outside, though in 

 some cases an open yard is arranged where the birds 

 are fed. They should be put up about three weeks 

 before being killed, as very often they will not begin 

 eating for a week afterwards. They should be fed on 

 soft food in the morning and corn in the afternoon, a 

 large trough of clean water being always at hand, but 

 not so that they can get into it. The soft food may 

 consist of barley-meal, mixed with Indian-meal and 

 pollard, and the corn of wheat and barley, which are 

 better if steeped. Plenty of grit should always be 

 provided for geese, both old and young. 



The following quotation as to the method of killing 

 geese, written by Mr. J. S. Eawson, is from my work 

 on " Poultry Keeping as an Industry for Farmers and 

 Cottagers ' ' : — 



