WATERFOWL 25 1 



It would be necessary to have farm range with plenty 

 of pasture and sufficient water for the birds. It would 

 not be necessary to have a small lake, as spring water 

 or pond water is sufficient. Geese, as a rule, do not 

 require much grain, as the young feed almost entirely 

 on pasture. 



Our best goslings are grown to about five months 

 of age with less than one peck of grain each. After 

 that age, if good weights are desired, furnish them 

 with grain food. The mature or breeding stock should 

 be fed very lightly during the spring and summer 

 months, as overfattened specimens are usually entirely 

 worthless as breeders. The leading varieties for both 

 market and egg purposes are the Toulouse, Embden, 

 African, White and Brown Chinese. As a general 

 purpose goose, in my opinion, the Toulouse leads all 

 other varieties ; the Embdens are about the same size 

 as the Toulouse, but much poorer layers. The Chinese 

 are a smaller goose, but the best layers of any variety. 

 We have produced large numbers of young Toulouse 

 at six months of age, weighing on an average of 

 thirty-two to thirty-five pounds per pair, and Chinese 

 averaging at six months of age, when in good flesh, 

 twenty-four to twenty-eight pounds per pair. To 

 obtain the best results in hatching it is necessary to 

 use common hens to hatch and care for the young 

 goslings. After the goslings are eight weeks old they 

 may be safely turned in the field with the old geese. 

 The young goslings after a week old should have free 

 access to plenty of fresh, green grass, when no grain 

 food will be required. Young goslings are very rapid 

 growers and at eight weeks old will be over one-half 

 grown, if properly cared for. 



Considerable revenue may be obtained from the 

 feathers by picking the mature specimens some four 

 or five times during the spring and summer months. 



