The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-03-11
By ANNA GALIGHER.)

In spite of the fact that geese brinl
less by the pound than any other poul
try, they are profitable because i
takes less grain and less work t.
bring a goose to marketable size thar
is required by any other fowl
If there is no danger from hawks
or wild animals one can usually coun
on raising all the goslngs 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 il
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
suited to their needs.
For instance, the commercial chick
| feed" whole wheat, cracked corn, etc
Goslings will not thrive on any OF
these. What they need is plenty OF
tender grass from the start and q
little ground feed once or twice a day
During the first few days after
Matching they should be fed stale
bread, moistened in sweet skim milk
Or water, four times a day.
After they begin to eat grass with
apparent relish they need very little
other feed until old enough to fatten
for the market
A good grain ration for growing
goslings is composed Of equal parts
cornmeal, oatmeal and bran, moisten
ed in skim milk
This should not be fed oftener than
twice a day, and if there is plenty OF
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
ling's diet is sand. They must have il
several times day; but it should
not be mixed with the food
Better have it placed where they
have access to it all the time.
Gravel will not do. 1t must be
'oarse, 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 ii 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 IS 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 nearir always cross and
will sometimes pick the goslngs out
Of the shell before they are ready to
hatch. Therefore 1t 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.
When the goslings begin to hatch
they should be closely watched. Very
often they need a little help The
shell and lining Of goose egg are
very strong and sometimes the Cos
lings cannot break through
About the time they begin to pip
the eggs should be dipped in water
heated to 100 degrees f.
Take the eggs from under the hen,
one by one, and replace as soon as
Sometimes the eggs will DE pipped
ior loHB Tune UelOTe the gOSllnBS
will come out.
Don't be in too great hurry in get
ting the goslings out of the shells;
they are not ready to come out as the
she'll is pipped, but see that there is
a small opening to admit air.
1t sometimes happens that while the
shell is pipped the lining still remains
When this occurs, take a pin and
very carefully puncture the membrane
Make a tiny opening, being cautious
not to injure the gosling.
After doing this, leave them undis-
'urbed for awhile. II they are not
hatched in "a hours. pick off a little
more Of the shell and make the open
ing a little larger.
IL the gosling is not out at the end
Maintain Soil Fertility.