The weekly union record., 1865-07-29
THE UNION RECORD.
How to Raise Geese.

c. n. Bennett, in the Country Gen
tleman, says that of all our domestic
birds, none are so profitable as geese,
where there are facilities for keeping
them for there are none which can do
SO much for themselves when alive,
and that none that can come to so little
waste when dead. Unlike the fowl, all
parts of the goose are equally good.
besides which, every feataer is of val
ue, greater than that of every other of
our domestic birds.
The profits to be derived from geese
feathers is not anywhere to be neglec-
ted it is now and always has been an
important article and commands fair
price. An acquaintance Of the writer,
who is particular in keeping his feath-
ers clean, finds ready market at the
highest price. A common goose will
yield from 10 70 II ounces, while the
Bremen variety, being of larger size
and always white, yield on an average
from one to three ounces more feathers,
and of a better quality, having more
down attached to them than the COM
mon brown goose.
Geese have been accused of poison
ing and rendering the spots where they
feed offensive to other stock but the
secret of this is very simple. A horse
bites closer than an OK; sheep goes
nearer the ground than horse; but
after the sharpest shaving by sheep,
the goose will polish up the turf and
grow fat upon the remnants of others.
Consequently, where geese are kept in
numbers on small area, little will be
left to maintain any other grass eating
creature. But if the commons are not
short, it will not be found that other
grazing animals object to feed flock
of geese.
The best locality for keeping geese
is wild range, for where water and
grass are plenty we need go no farther.
Water of such size and depth as will
permit at least daily paddle" is es-
sential for stock birds, for here they
resort as soon as they are set at liberty
from the place of their nights rest.
The presence Of water appears essen
tial to the fertility of the eggs.
We will suppose that the goose
keeper, for there are those who are
not farmers), commence operations by
purchasing ten geese in the Spring be-
fore they begin to lay, at one dollar
each. Eight of the ten geese for two
should be gapders), will have on an
average ten goslings each; but allow
ing one-half for paper calculation, and
probably less through the season, it will
leave us with flock of fifty, old and
young, worth, when dressed for the
market, not dollar, the original cost,
but half this sum, and you have $25.
In addition to this, every old goose will
yield one pound of feathers, and every
young one three fourths Of q pound,
making in all 10 pounds, which, added
to the SS5. gives US $50 20. We say
net profit, for there is not one goose
keeper in ten that feeds his geese, eth
er old or young, after the grass has
started in the Spring, until fatening
time in the Fall =; and then their quills
will often more than pay for their food.
The above calculation is made, hav-
ing reference TO the usual mode of
managing this fowl, which is no man.
agement at all. Because, in the first
place, they have generally no place to
obtain their food but on the open COM
mon, except such as they too often steal
from meadows, to the great injury Of
the standing grass and to the feelings
of the owner, and very frequently put
ting their own necks in jeopardy.
But, on the other hand, if the owner
will provide good, warm and dry house
for the accommodation of his geese
while laying and Matching, and attach
ed to this pasture, where they may at
all times have access to green grass
and small stream or pond of water,
with due attention and the right bird,
which in our opinion is the Bremen, and
our word for it, with only ordinary
good luck, be will receive more than Or
dinary profit on the care bestowed and
capital invested.
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