Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-03-18
OBJ ANNA GALIGHER.)

(by ANNA
In spite Of the fact that geese bring
less by the pound than any other poul-
try, they are profitable because 1t
takes less grain and less work to
bring a goose to marketable size than
is required by any other fowl.
II 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 II
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 a
little ground feed once or twice day.
During the first few days after
Matching they should be fed stale
bread, moistened In sweet skim milk
or water, four times 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 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
lings diet is sand. They must have 1t
several times a day; but 1t 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 well.
A gosling never will have bowe
trouble if plenty of sand is provided
unless there is something wrong will
the feed. Never allow the feed to fer
ment. In the hot weather 1t Is APP
to sour if allowed to stand from one
meal to another.
Sour feed will cause commissions II
goslings and young ducks.
Goose eggs require from 20 to 81
days to hatch, according to the variet!
and method Of Matching.
They require less time whel
Matched under geese than in any 9th
er way, but goose makes a very poo
mother.
r They are nearly always cross AM
will sometimes pick the goslings GU
l. of the shell before they are ready t
hatch. Therefore 1t is best to us
large chicken hens for Matching go'
q lings.
Small hens cannot keep the egg
: warm enough. Goose eggs require
4 little more warmth than some othe
| kinds Of eggs.
Il For this very reason 1t is not a.
| visable to give hen more than sr
Il can cover without spreading her wing
i Seven goose eggs are enough for
ri large hen.
Il When the geslings begin to hate
ii they should be closely watched. We
r often they need little help. II
. shell and lining of goose egg a
very strong and sometimes the &c
lings cannot break through.
About the time they begin to
:, the eggs should be dipped in wat
r heated to 100 degrees F.
g Take the eggs from under the HI
4 one by one, and replace as soon
f. moistened.
q Sometimes the eggs will be pipr
n for a long time before the goslir
!y will come out.
Y Don't be in too great hurry in
IT ting the goslings out of the shell
e ay they are not ready to come out as
up shell is pipped, but see that there
q small opening to admit air.
1t sometimes happens that while
Y shell is pipped the lining still rema
" unbroken.
When this occurs, take a pin
= very carefully puncture the membrt
u Make a tiny opening, being cauti
not to injure the gosling.
u After doing this, leave them un
I, turbed for awhile. II they are
AMI Matched in "a hours, pick on a
- more of the shell and make the o