DUCKS AND GEESE 



from 5i to 6 ounces each, while eggs of the Cana- 

 dian and Egyptian are the smallest of the standard 

 breeds, running from 5 to 5^ ounces each. 



Color of Goose Eggs. In general goose eggs are 

 whitish in color but may shade to a gray or buff 

 tinge. The Wild or Canadian sometimes lay eggs 

 which are off the white, showing a considerable 

 green tinge. 



About Geese and Matings 



Broodiness. All of the breeds of geese with the 

 exception of the Toulouse may be classed as broody 

 breeds, that is to say, they will make their nests and 

 hatch their young if given a chance to do so. Not 

 infrequently individuals of the Toulouse breed will 

 do this also but as a rule they are not dependable 

 for this purpose. 



Size of Mating. In making the mating it is usual 

 in order to secure best results to use one gander with 

 from two to four geese in the Toulouse, Embden and 

 African breeds. In fact, better results will be se- 

 cured in these breeds where not over 3 geese are 

 used and in many cases the geese are mated in trios 

 or even in pairs. In the Chinese geese a somewhat 

 larger mating can be employed, one gander being 

 used with 4 to 6 geese. The Wild or Canadian and 

 the Egyptian geese in most cases pair only. 



Age of Breeders. Geese can be retained and will 

 give good results as breeders for a longer period 



152 



