The Columbus journal., 1910-12-28


attention and little or no outlay for
buildings. The two great objections
To- geese are the noise they make and
the fact that they almost spoil a pas
ture iOr other stock. Cattle or sheep
do not like to Craze after geese have
gone over the grass. Yet there should
be a place for them on many more
farms than now keep them. Under
the right conditions. geese give bet.
ter returns than most other farm
poultry. but if you do not understand
their nature and do not know how to
care for them. they are often the
least profitable.
BY nature geese are more like cat
tie in habit Of feeding than like poul-
try, writes Mrs. r. Il. Rushing in the
Country Gentleman. They are essen
TALLY grazing animals. and too much
grain will spoil them. Pure air is
even of more importance to geese
than to cattle. They will not thrive
II shut up In buildings. II you have
not good pasture. do not try to keep
geese. or at least to raise many Cos
hngs. They can be kept in yards. II
fed an abundance of fodder corn,
green rape. clover or other succulent
feed; but this adds greatly to the eI-
pense of raising them.
While green pasture Is very impor-
tant for maintaining the old geese. 1t
Is indispensable food for young COS
grass in abundance at all times during
the day. from the first day they eat
to the time they are feathered and
have grown their wings. After that.
those intended for market may be
penned and fed green stun and grain.
but those intended for breeding should
continue to have the pasture and free
range. II q large flock is raised. quite
q large pasture IL needed to sustain
them.
II takes geese almost as long to at
tain full development a II does cat
tie or sheep. but they remain profit
able for many years. Yearling geese
are very poor breeders; two-year-Olds
are better, and they only reach their
best at three years Of age. If one
wishes to make a start In breeding
geese. the best plan is to buy breed
ing stock early in the fall They must
not only become accustomed to their
new quarters, but to each other. for
geese do not mate readily. and IL put
together after Jan. l will often fail
to breed that year. Old. well-mated
geese III the highest quality are the
cheapest and most profitable to buy.
The best way. however. to get a start
with young geese is to order them be-
fore they are Matched. Have the large
early-hatched specimens selected for
you and delivered early in the fall.
They must be kept at least one year
without much profit. and two years be-
fore they do their best, but in this
way one knows the age of the flock
and in the end will be likely to &c;
much better results.
Two geese are usually sufficient for
one gander. and they often do better
IN pairs during the breeding season.
The breeding season begins usually
about Feb. LIST but sometimes one
will begin TO lay as early as Decem-
her. then stop. and begin again In
February. They usually lay from Is
10 20 eggs before becoming broody.
As soon as they show an inclination
to- sit they should De removed, placed
in a box for few days. with water
ioi drink. bur given TO food After
Ills. put them back in The yard again
and they will soon commence laying
Cue g:iuder will driT" I'll others out
al the pen. il they can get out. or III
jure Them quite severely If they can.
;nt get ont a. the way. Leave one or
w." gees" "ir!, the boss saTGrr and
-er:Cyc The others to another zen. and
N ii. same va. continue To single |
mTt p@irs ar tTiUs until you have them /!