DUCKS AND GEESE 



should be fed twice a day throughout the winter 

 and should be given rather sparingly, depending on 

 roughage to make up the bulk of the feed. Vege- 

 tables, clover or alfalfa hay, chopped corn stover or 

 silage make good roughage for this purpose. Com 

 silage is a fine feed if it is not moldy and does not 

 contain so much com as to be too fattening. 



About three weeks or a month before it is desired 

 to have the geese commence laying, which should 

 be at such a time that the first goslings hatched will 

 have good grass pasture, a mash should be added to 

 the feed to stimulate egg production. This mash is 

 generally fed in the morning with the vegetables or 

 roughage and may consist of three parts bran or 

 shorts, one part corn meal and one-fourth part meat 

 scrap. If available buttermilk or skim milk can be 

 used to mix the mash and replace the meat scrap. 

 Another mash for this purpose consists of corn meal 

 one-fourth part, bran two parts, and ground oats one 

 part, mixed up with skim milk or buttermilk. 



Grit and oyster shell should be kept where the 

 geese can help themselves particularly during the 

 laying season. Drinking water must be available at 

 all times and if a natural supply is not available, 

 must be given in drinking fountains or dishes which 

 should be so arranged that the geese cannot get 

 their feet into the water. When they can get into 

 the drinking water, they will quickly get it into a 

 filthy condition. 



When the geese are running in a field with horses 



170 



