Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-03-19
BY ANNA

(By ANNA GALIGHER)
In spite Of the fact that geese bring
less by the pound than any other poul-
try, they are profitable because it
lakes 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
Dr. wild animals one can usually count
On raising all the goslings Matched.
They r never troubled with lice,
gapes or other diseases that kill thou
sands of chicks every rear
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 a
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, foul 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
pasture a 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
ling's diet is sand. They must have ii
! several times a day; but 1t should
not be mixed with the food.
Better have 1t placed where they
have access to it all the time.
\ Gravel will not do. 1t must be
coarse, sharp sand. Broken sandstone
VIII do very well.
A gosling never will have bowe.
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 il
goslings and young ducks.
Goose eggs require from 2S to 8:
days to hatch, according to the variety
and method of Matching.
They require less time wher
hatched under geese than in any 9th
er way, but a goose makes a very poo
mother.
They are nearly always cross anl
will sometimes pick the goslings on
Of the shell before they are ready tt
hatch. Therefore it is best to use
large chicken hens for Matching gos
lings.
Small hens cannot keep the egg
warm enough. Goose eggs require
little more warmth than some othe
kinds of eggs.
For this very reason it is not ad
visable to give a hen more than sh,
can cover without spreading her wings
Seven goose eggs are enough for
large hen.
When the goslings begin to hate
they should be closely watched. Yer
often they need a little help. Tn
shell and lining of a goose egg ar
very strong and sometimes the go:
lings cannot break through.
About the time they begin to pi
the eggs should be dipped in waite
heated to 100 degrees F.
Take the eggs from under the her
one by one, and replace as soon a
moistened.
Sometimes the eggs will be pippe
! for a long. time before the gosling
will come out.
> Don't be in too great a hurry in ge
ting the goslings out of the shells
they are not ready to come out as til
shell is pipped, but see that there
. small opening to admit air.
: 1t sometimes happens that while tt
shell is pipped the lining still remain
nnbroken.
When this occurs, take a pin an
n very carefully puncture the membran
. Make a tiny opening, being caution
n not to injure the gosling.
After doing this. leave them undi
n turbed for awhile. If they are n
n Matched in "a hours, pick off q lit
d more of the shell and make the ope
d Ing a little larger.
d If the gosling is not out at the Ell
Maintain Soil Fertility.