GOOSE RAISING. 11 
must be dusted with insect powder and have good attention, as, in 
the case of geese, the period of incubation is longer than in that of 
fowls. Goose eggs may be hatched in incubators and the goslings 
successfully raised in brooders, although this is not a common 
practice. 
The period of incubation of goose eggs varies from 28 to 30 days. 
Moisture should be added to the eggs after the first week if set 
under hens or in incubators; this is usually done by sprinkling the 
eggs or the nest with warm water. Incubators should be run at 
a temperature of 101.5° to 102.5° F., or about 1^° lower than for 
hens’ eggs, and the eggs should be cooled longer. Four to six eggs 
are set under a hen and 10 to 13 under a goose. They may be tested 
about the tenth day, and those which are infertile or contain dead 
Fig. 8.—Flock of Toulouse geese. 
germs should be removed. They hatch slowly, especially under hens, 
and the goslings are usually removed as soon as hatched and kept 
in a warm place until the process is over, when they are put back 
under the hen or goose. .Some breeders who hatch with both geese 
and hens give all the goslings to the geese. To keep a record of 
their age and breeding the v T eb of the feet of the goslings should be 
punched when hatched. Hens with goslings may be confined to the 
coop and the goslings allowed to range. The latter, especially if 
the weather is cold, are not usually allowed to go into water until 
they are several days old. In mild weather the hens are allowed to 
brood the goslings for from 7 to 10 days, when the latter are able to 
take care of themselves. Some breeders assert that polliwogs in 
pools will poison young goslings unless the mash or drinking water 
has been slightly salted before the goslings are turned out to pasture. 
