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The Breeding of Geese. 



[Nov., 



quite satisfactorily without swimming water, and unfertile eggs 

 are the exception. 



As this article is written with the object of encouraging the 

 breeding of geese for market purposes, no apology is made for 

 drawing special attention to this particular breed, which is un- 

 doubtedly the " utility " goose of the future. The birds are 

 very active foragers and extraordinarily quick growers, and if 

 reared on grass and then run on the stubbles after harvest are 

 very profitable to sell as " Michaelmas " geese. 



Eoman geese generally come into lay towards the end of 

 January or early in February. Although they are rather 

 addicted to broodiness, and will generally go broody four or five 

 times during the season, if shut up at once they are easily 

 broken of this, and the writer has frequently had them laying 

 again in 7 or 8 days. If required to hatch their own eggs 

 they make very reliable sitters and splendid mothers. If it is 

 wished to break them of broodiness they should be taken the 

 first night they remain on the nest, put in a raised coop with 

 slatted bottom and fed liberally, when they will soon re- 

 commence laying. 



The writer has little knowledge of either Embden or Chinese 

 geese. The former are white and better layers than Toulouse, 

 though not so large: they are frequently crossed with the 

 Toulouse for producing market geese with good results. 



Breeding and Feeding. — In making pens for the breeding 

 season one gander may be mated with three geese. Second 

 or third season geese are most suitably mated to a 

 year-old gander, though good results may be obtained from 

 first-season early-hatched geese of the Eoman breed if mated 

 to a second-season gander. It is preferable if the breeding 

 stock can be given free range and swimming water, but the 

 writer keeps a large number of pens of Eoman geese for pedi- 

 gree purposes and all are kept in confined pens during 

 the breeding season without swimming water. In spite of 

 this the birds are prolific as layers and their eggs are very 

 fertile. This method, how^ever, is not so satisfactory as regards 

 the Toulouse breed, which, to give the best results, requires 

 free range and water to swim in. 



Through the breeding season, particularly where geese are 

 kept in comparative confinement, the birds should be fed 

 liberally to obtain a maximum production and the best hatching 

 results. During this period one good feed of grain and one of 

 soft mash are given each day. 



