CARE OF GOSLINGS 535 



stincts broken up, whereupon she will join the flock and again 

 commence laying. After she lays the second clutch and becomes 

 broody, she should be discouraged again, and made to complete 

 the third laying. The second and third clutches are not apt to 

 be so large as the first, being one to three eggs less. 



Nests. — Geese make their own nests from straw on the floor 

 of their houses, if they are encouraged to do so, otherwise they 

 may lay outdoors or in remote spots where the eggs are likely 

 to spoil. By the time the goose has completed laying a clutch 

 of eggs, she will have lined the nest with a thick covering of down 

 plucked from her breast, which makes a nice warm place for the 

 goslings to hatch. From ten to twelve eggs is the correct number 

 to place under a goose, and care should be taken that the broody 

 one is not too warlike in her attitude. If such is the case, she is 

 very apt to crush her eggs, especially during the last few days 

 of hatching, when the shells become more or less fragile. For this 

 reason many goose breeders prefer to have the hatching done by 

 hens, giving the hens about four eggs each. It is well to give 

 the first eggs laid by the geese to hens, or they may be hatched 

 in incubators with good success. 



Hatching. — From twenty-eight to thirty days are required to 

 incubate goose eggs, and they require a great deal of moisture, 

 much the same as duck eggs. They should be sprinkled at fre- 

 quent intervals, and given plenty of time to cool after the first 

 week. 



When the hatching is done by geese, the little goslings should 

 be carefully removed from under the goose as they are hatched, 

 allowing but one to remain to reassure the mother; otherwise 

 the great weight of the goose is apt to crush them, or she will 

 trample them. The goslings may be kept in a warm box, and 

 when the hatch is completed and they are sturdy enough to 

 walk about, whicb is usually on the second day, and at which 

 time the yolks have been absorbed, they may be given back to 

 their mother. The goose and her brood should be housed in a 

 sheltered spot, and the mother confined for the first week, at 

 the same time giving the goslings their freedom, which prevents 



