Yol. 1 XXVIII. 
Published Weekly by The Rural Publishing Co., 
333 \V. 30th St., New York. Price One Dollar a Year. 
Entered a> Second-Class Matter, June 26, 1879, at the Post 
Office at New York. N. V., under the Act of March 3. 1879. 
No. 4528. 
NEW YORK. 
APRIL 5. 1910. 
Rhode Island Geese 
Questions About This Wise Bird 
J UDGING from the numerous in¬ 
quiries we receive there must 
l»e a renewed interest in goose cul¬ 
ture. The time was when Rhode 
Island was noted for its fine 
flocks of geese, and we under¬ 
stand that their College Exten¬ 
sion Department at Kingston is 
endeavoring to show poultry 
raisers that they can still raise 
goslings easily and at a good 
profit. Several time we have sent 
D. .7. Lambert, the Poultry Club 
Agent of Rhode Island, queries 
about geees, and in response lie 
has sent us the following notes 
and accompanying pictures: 
Which breed of goose is most 
popular? 
“The Gray Toulouse, White 
Embden, Gray African, Brown 
China. White China, Wild or 
Canadian and Egyptian, are pop¬ 
ular in order named. The Tou¬ 
louse are the largest and the 
most rapid growers: adult gan¬ 
ders will weigh around 25 pounds 
and a goose 20 pounds. The 
Embdens average six pounds less 
for matured birds, while the 
Africans are around same size. 
The Cliinest geese are about one- 
half the size of the heavyweights, 
but are much more prolific lay¬ 
ers. The Wild or Canadian gan¬ 
ders, distinguished by a black 
stripe down the back of neck, are 
used principally for crossing on 
the Toulouse and Embden for 
market goslings. The flesh is 
said to be of a gamy flavor. 
These wild ganders are easily 
tamed if the flights of one wing 
are clipped. The Egyptians are 
small and not common.” 
What kind of buildings are re¬ 
quired for geese? 
‘‘Young goslings need shelters 
from the wind and rain, also 
for protection against rats, 
minks, weasels, skunks and other 
animals. But adult geese will 
thrive best out in the open, night 
and day, provided they can* find 
shelter under a shed in case 
there is a very cold wind or 
severe snowstorm.” 
Will the goose replace the tur¬ 
key in Rhode Island? 
"This result has been fre¬ 
quently mentioned on account of 
the serious mortality among tur¬ 
keys as a result of the blackhead 
disease. Turkey poults are very 
hard to raise, while the goslings 
are the easiest of all kinds of 
domestic poultry.” 
What is meant by proper facili¬ 
ties for raising geese? 
“Moist land with a continuous 
growth of soft, tender grass, not 
ll'/iite Embden—a Popular Breed. Fig. 150 
<Pl\c Well-known Toulouze. Fig. 151 
needed foikother farm animals. A 
swimming pool is almost, an essen¬ 
tial for breeders, but not necessary 
for growing geese. Young goslings 
grow best when yarded in mov¬ 
able pens on the lawn with water 
for drinking purposes only. If 
these yards are moved frequently 
the goslings will clip the lawn 
better and closer than any me¬ 
chanical mower ever invented.” 
Why are adult geese preferred 
to young for breeders? 
“Because they do not mature 
during the first year. The young 
goose will lay small eggs, which 
produce small, under-size gos¬ 
lings. A yearling gander is some¬ 
times mated to older geese, but 
it is better to use an older one. 
They may be paired, or two >>r 
three females to one male. When 
once well mated they generally 
remain true to each other, even 
though they run in large flocks 
later in the season.” 
How may we ascertain the sex 
of geese outside of the breeding 
season? 
“This is a difficult matter with 
some breeds, unless you know 
your birds. Two ganders are 
sometimes shown as a pair, and 
those supposed to be ganders 
have afterwards laid eggs. In 
all breeds the males are invari¬ 
ably larger and of more upright 
carriage than the females. The 
head and neck of the gander is 
coarse and masculine, while that 
of the goose is slenderer and 
more genteel. The gander is bold 
and defiant, while the goose is 
shy and reticeut. The gander 
will often chase a small dog or 
animal, while a goose will run 
from it. Aside from these dif¬ 
ferences, the only sure test is to 
handle and examine them sepa¬ 
rately.” 
Is it best to let geese sit on 
tlieir own eggs, or should they be 
incubated by a hen? 
“The goose will generally lay 
in a box or barrel, provided for 
a nest, unless there are other 
more secluded places. They pre¬ 
fer a nest where they can cover 
the eggs with small twigs and 
straw. They will lay every day 
for a while, if the eggs are re¬ 
moved promptly: these can be set 
under common liens, five eggs 
each, and the goose allowed to 
cover a dozen when she later be¬ 
comes broody, although the com¬ 
mon hen makes the best mother. 
When artificial methods are 
used, a liberal amount of mois¬ 
ture must be provided through¬ 
out the hatch, especially during 
the fourth week. Whether eggs 
are set under hens or in ma¬ 
chines, they must be turned by 
