Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1904-06-30
Summer Care Of Geese.

They should have access to plenty of
green forage, plenty of water to drink.
The adult birds need no shelter. and
can live on grass alone, but they rel
ish a little grain and should be fed
small quantity at least once day
At night is good time, after the
chickens and turkeys have sought
their perches. In late summer or
early fall If the drouth dries up the
grass geese need little more grain.
One must gauge the feed by the quaint
ity and succulency Of the forage
Whole corn will do very well for the
grain; that is all we use.
An adult goose seldom dies of any
sickness. True, the very old birds
drop off, but the per cent of loss is re-
markably small with any reasonable
care The flock must be fed grain
and vegetables, clover or fodder dur.
ing the winter and early spring, be-
fore there is green forage. The breed
ing birds should be mated, one male
to from one to three females. We
put the different matings in separate
lots, but they will do very we'll in
HOOKS OF ten to fifteen birds. 1t Is
natural for geese to choose but one
mate, hence we must not attempt to
make one male take too many females
or we Will not get the best results.
Geese (our experience has been alto.
gether with the pure bred Toulouse)
commence to lay early in March in
our climate, time depending on
weather conditions. A little straw
thrown around in odd corners will
furnish nesting for the geese. The
female makes no attempt to hide her
nest or stink away to It; she sits on
1t in full view, but she covers up the
eggs. Robbing her nest has no effect
on her, she will not change; she lays
about every SO hours. The eggs
should be gathered soon after laying,
early in the season, or they will get
chilled. Set them on end In box OF
sawdust or excelsior In the cellar, or
some cool place (not too cold), and
keep till ready to set. Some turn the
eggs daily, but we do not If they are
to be kept only reasonable time. We
set them under chicken hens and rear
the goslings with same hens. They
hatch In 20 TO 80 days; II eggs are
kept warm enough 2S days Is suffi
cient' Inc little goslings should not
DC ied I'LL tney are AZ to ~ hours old;
IL Is no harm to let them nip a little
grass OF green vegetable tops earlier,
as tnis VIII not hurt them. For the
IrsI week or Two feed three or four
times DAY on little corn bread
soaked and crumbled, or little chick
1000 MADE into a mash same as for
young chicks. AT first they are very
DAINTY and eat very little, but In
TWO or three weeks they are quite
raVenous' Always give plenty OF
drinking water, but not to swim In
heep tnem dry; see that they nave
good warm coop with a dry board
moor and that they are shut up warm
ana snug at night After they are ten
uays oiu tney can De let range aDaul
ou slass WIN lnelr mother l"netner
sue DO goose OF mem OF tney can De
Iaiseu N snnaii poaru pens ny moving
'uen "nen iorase Decones snort
AFTER ABOUT three weeks a mash oil
corn meal small quantity OF mid
dHngs or bran or both Is good add
ton TO the meal and VIII make
good grain food; Feeding two or three
times DAY, according to size and
the ability OF the gosling to get for
age. Remember gosling Is helpless
and tender till 1t gets Its feathers,
but with good care and feed every lit
Tie downy bird can be raised, and,
ai.er tney are tnree or TOUR weeks
olo' one can Ieed them and rush
CROWN 10 MS hearts content provid'
ing wafer forage ana grit are at all
times accessible
A good Toulouse gosling will weigh
or . pounds, while a chick of the