1 94 On the Rearing and Management of Poultry. 



nest provided for her ; having once laid in it, she will seldom 

 seek any other. 



When the goose is inclined to hatch she remains on the nest ; 

 during the first two or three days she seldom sits steadily, the 

 eggs should not therefore be given to her until the third day. 

 The time of incubation is about 29 days. With geese, as with 

 all poultry, during the time they are sitting the less they are 

 interfered with the better. When the goose leaves her nest, care 

 must be taken to supply a sufficient quantity of food and water, 

 and that she does not remain too long from her eggs — say 15 

 minutes. 



Goslings, being much hardier than the young of any other 

 poultry, do not require so much caution in assisting such as 

 make slow progress out of the shell. 



If the weather be fine, the goslings should be turned out into 

 a sheltered situation the first day after being hatched ; however, 

 at this season the weather is not always so charming, and I may 

 mention that we had a brood that came out a few years ago 

 during a time when the ground was thickly covered with snow. 

 The snow remained on the ground a fortnight, and I was 

 obliged to keep the goslings in the house during the whole time. 

 Grass, being an indispensable part of the food of goslings, we 

 were necessitated to procure for them pieces of turf. For the 

 first few days goslings should have porridge, potatoes boiled 

 and given when moderately warm, bread-crumbs, or curds ; and 

 should not have liberty to swim in water ; this restriction should 

 be gradually dispensed with. When seven or eight days old no 

 further care is necessary (unless in bad weather) beyond giving 

 them food. 



I cannot agree with those who say that " the rankest, 

 coarsest grasses constitute the goose's delicacy." Turn geese 

 into a pasture of various qualities of grass, and they will soon 

 show to which they give preference. I am not assuming, but 

 write from having observed that they are fondest of the sweetest 

 grasses. I have also observed them " waggling " through long 

 grass and drawing the heads of the grass through their bills in 

 order to procure the seed. The manner they turn their heads 

 to one side to do this is very amusing. How coarse soever grass 

 may be, geese will eat it, but to keep them well they must have 

 an allowance once a-day of something more substantial. A mix- 

 ture of boiled potatoes will answer the purpose; but by com- 

 paring the prices of these with the prices of oats, and by taking 

 the nutritious properties of both into consideration, we shall find 

 that the latter are at present prices considerably cheaper. 



It is the custom in some parts to take a portion of the feathers 

 off" the geese two or three times a year — a custom I strongly 



