The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-03-19
(By ANNA GALIGHER.)


(By ANNA GALIGHER)
In spite of the fact that geese bring
lees by the pound than any other poul
try, they are profitable because ii
takes less grain and less work to
bring goose to marketable size than
Is required by any other fowl.
If there is no danger from hawks
Or wild animals one can usually count
On raising all the goslings Matched.
They are never troubled with lice,
gapes or other diseases that kill thou
sands of chicks every year
In fact, they will live and thrive if
they only get half a chance. This
means that they should not be housed
Or fed with other poultry.
Geese eat very slowly as compared
with other fowls, and beside there are
several kinds of feed which are not
ed to their needs.
instance, the commercial Chick
hole wheat, cracked corn, etc.
IS will not thrive on any of
That they need is plenty of
raSs from the start and a
ind feed once OF twice day.
the first few days after
they should be fed stale
moistened in sweet skim milk
ter, four times a day.
.fter they begin to eat grass with
apparent relish they need very little
other feed until old enough to fatten
for the market.
goslings is composed of equal parts
cornmeal, oatmeal and bran, moisten-
ed in skim milk.
This should not be fed oftener than
twice day, and if there is plenty of
pasture little of the above mixture
given in the morning will be sufficient.
They will fill themselves so full of
grass during the day that when they
come in at night they are nearly ready
to burst, or at least they appear to be,
for often they are full to the throat.
A very important part of the Cos
1ing's diet is sand. They must have it |
several times a day; but it should |
not be mixed with the food.
Better have it placed where they |
have access to 1t all the time.
Gravel will not do. 1t must be
coarse, sharp sand. Broken sandstone |
will do very we'll
A gosling never will have bowel
trouble if plenty of sand is provided,
unless there is something wrong with
the feed Never allow the feed to fer
ment. In the hot weather it is apt
to sour if allowed to stand from one
meal to another
Sour feed will cause commissions in
goslings and young ducks.
Goose eggs require from % to 80
days to hatch, according to the variety
and method of Matching
They require less time when
Matched under geese than in any 9TH
er way, but goose makes very poor
mother.
They are nearly always cross and
will sometimes pick the goslings out
of the shell before they are ready to
hatch. Therefore it is best to use
large chicken hens for Matching Cos
lings.
Small hens cannot keep the eggs
warm enough. Goose eggs require
little more warmth than some other
kinds of eggs.
For this very reason it is not adj
visable to give hen more than she
can cover without spreading her wings.
Seven goose eggs are enough for a
large hen. 7
When the goslings begin to hatch !.
they should be closely watched. Very
often they need little help. The /.
Iheu and lining of goose egg are =
very strong and sometimes the Cos :,
ings cannot break through.
About the time they begin to pip =
he eggs should be dipped in water T
1eated to 100 degrees F. +
Take the eggs from under the hen,
me by one, and replace as soon as n
noistened. O.
Sometimes the eggs will be pipped o.
or I long time before the goslings "
vill come out. c,
Don't be in too great hurry in get
ing the goslings out Of the shells; sc
hey are not ready to come out az the 1t
hen h pipped, but see that there Is ia
small opening to admit air.
Il sometimes happens that while the g
hell Is pipped the lining still remains tn
nbroken. W
When this occurs, take pin and n
cry carefully puncture the membrane sc
lake ! tiny opening, being cautious
ot to tnjure the costing
After doing this. leave them undis-
lrbed for awhile. II they are not ~