DUCKS AND GEESE 



a shriller cry than the goose whose cry consists of a 

 harsher sound. Some goose raisers claim that they 

 can distinguish the sex of mature geese by the body 

 shape, the underline of the body of the gander from 

 the tail to the point where the legs join the body 

 being nearly straight, while in the goose this line 

 tends to round out with the fuller development 

 of the abdomen. This difference is more marked 

 during the laying season than at other times. Con- 

 siderable experience is necessary in order to distin- 

 guish sex by any of the means described and the 

 really sure way is by an examination of the sexual 

 organs or by observing the actions of the geese when 

 mating. 



Upon examination the sphincter muscle which 

 closes the anus of the female when stretched will 

 be found to have a folded appearance. If the gan- 

 der is placed upon his back and pressure applied 

 around the anus, the penus will protrude. This test 

 is more easily made on a mature than on an imma- 

 ture gander and is also easier to make during warm 

 than during cold weather. 



Purchase of Breeding Stock. Geese when mated 

 usually stay mated permanently. Matings are not, 

 therefore, changed from year to year as a rule so 

 long as they continue to give satisfactory results. If 

 it becomes necessary to make new matings or to 

 break up old matings, this should be done in the fall, 

 so that the birds will be thoroughly used to the new 

 order of things by the time the breeding season ar- 



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