The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-09-21

(By H. NJ. LAMON and A. r. LEE)
The goose industry is at present on
the basis Of small focks raised on gem
eral farms, few, if any, farms being
devoted entirely to goose raising. In
some producing sections, however, the
fattening of geese is conducted as q
special business. For this business
the geese are collected from general
farms, usually over a large area. and
being killed.
Geese can be raised in small num-
bers successfully and at & profit on
farms where there is low rough pas
ture land with a natural supply Of
water. Pasturage is essential to their
success. Geese are generally quite free
from disease and all insect pests, but
occasionally are affected by the dis
eases common to poultry. Grass makes
up the bulk of the feed for geese, and
it is doubtful whether it pays to raise
them unless good grass range is avail
able. A body of water where they
can swim is considered essential dur
ing the breeding season and Is a good
feature the rest of the year. The mar
ket for geese is not so general as for
chickens. This should be considered
In undertaking the raising of geese.
The demand and the price paid for
geese fattening is conducted on large
scale. Many geese are kept in the
South for the production Of feathers
rather than for their flesh, but the de-
mand for their feathers is not so good
MS it has been, making the business
less profitable. Wherever possible the
geese on a farm should have free
range. Many farmers in the South
keep them to kill the weeds in the cot
ton fields.
Houses.
Except In winter or during stormy
weather, when some protection should
be provided, mature geese do not usu.
ally need house. Some kind of shell.
ter, such as shed open on the south
side, a poultry house or barn Is
usually provided by breeders in the
South. Coops, barrels or some other
dry shelter should be provided for
young goslings. The goose houses
should be kept clean and plenty OF
clean straw provided for the floor.
Selecting and Mating
Geese, like other kinds of poultry
should be selected for size, prolificacy
and vitality. They should be mated
several months prior to the breeding
season to obtain the best results
therefore breeding stock should be
bought in the fall. Goose matings are
not changed from year to year unless
the results are unsatisfactory. A gan.
der may be mated with from one &c
four geese, but pair or trio matings
usually give the best results. The wild
gander usually mates with only one
goose. When mated, geese are allowed
to run in flocks. From four to twenty
five geese may be kept on an acre OF
land, and under most conditions ten
Is fair average.
Incubation.
Geese are fed q ration to produce
eggs during the latter part Of the win
ter or so that the gOslings will be
Matched by the time there is good
grass pasture. They are allowed to
make nests on the floor Of the house
or large boxes, barrels or shelters are
provided for that purpose. The eggs
should be collected daily and kept In
cool place where the contents will
not evaporate too freely; If kept for
ho cfn In
bran. The first egfH are usually set
under hens, while the last ones which
the goose lays may be Matched either
under hens or under the goose II she
goes broody. If the eggs are not re-
moved from the nest in which the
goose is laying she will usually stop
laying sooner than if they are taken
away. Some breeders prefer to raise
all the gosiings under hens, as geese
sometimes become difficult to manage
when allowed to hatch and rear their
young. Hens used for Matching goose
eggs must be busted with insect pow
der and have good attention, as, in the
case Of geese, the period Of incubation
Is longer than in that of fowls. Good
eggs may be Matched In lncubators and
the goslings successfully raised In
breeders, although this is not COM
mon practice.
The period Of incubation Of goose
eggs varies from % to 30 days. Mois-
ture should be added to the eggs after
the first week If set under hens or
In incubators; this is usually done by
sprinkling the eggs or the nest with
warm water. Four to six eggs are set
under a hen and ten to thirteen under
a goose. They may be tested about
the tenth day, and those which are In
fertile or contain dead germs should
~ removed. They hatch slowly, es-