DUCKS AND GEESE 



may be given a sitting of eggs. Four to 6 goose eggs 

 will constitute a sitting for a common hen. The hen 

 should be confined to the nest being let off only once 

 a day for exercise, feed and water. 



The sitting hen must be given good care, being 

 even more particular in this respect than when she 

 is sitting on hens' eggs as the period of incubation is 

 longer. In addition to being careful to see that the 

 hen comes off her nest for food and water she should 

 be dusted 2 or 3 times during the hatch with some 

 good insect powder to keep her free from lice and 

 therefore contented to stay on the nest. Two or 3 

 days before the goslings hatch she should be dusted 

 with especial care so that the goslings will be free 

 from vermin. 



On account of the large size of the eggs the hen 

 should not be depended upon to turn them and this 

 should be done by hand once or twice daily. 



Hatching with Geese. All breeds of geese will 

 hatch their eggs although some are more persist- 

 ently broody than others while there is a consider- 

 able difference in individuals in this respect. Tou- 

 louse and Chinese are perhaps the least broody of 

 the breeds and are sometimes termed non-broody. 

 The eggs laid by geese are generally gathered as 

 laid. If this were not done they will become broody 

 and stop laying quicker than they do under this 

 treatment. 



The goose should be allowed to make her own 

 nest. Often she will do this in a barrel, box or other 



174 



