The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-05-17

ENGLAND FARM.
case Of geese. the period Of incubation
is longer than in that OF fowls. Goose
eggs may De hatched in incubators
and the goslings successfully raised in
brooders. although this is not . com.
mon practice.
Period Of Incubation.
The period OF incubation Of goose
eggs varies from IS to 50 days. Mois-
ture should be added to the eggs after
the first week II 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 hen and ten 10 thirteen under
goose. They may be tested about
the tenth day. and those which are in
fertile or contain dead germs should
be removed. They hatch slowly. espe-
cially under hens. and the goSllngs are
usually removed as soon as Matched
and kept in q warm place until the
process Is over, when they are put
back under the hen or goose. Some
breeders who hatch with both geese
and hens give all the COSlinCs To the
geese. Hens with goslings may be con.
fined TO the coop and the goslings al
lowed to range. The latter. especially
II the weather is cold. are not usually
allowed to go into water until they are
several days old. In mild weather tbs
hens are allowed to brood the gosling:
for from seven to ten days, when the
latter are able TO take care Of them
selves. Good-sized growing coOps
with board floors, should be provided
for the goslings, and they must be pro
tected from their enemies and giver
some attention when on range.
Feeding Geese and 6oslinss.
Geese are generally raised where
they have a good grass range or pas
ture, as they are good grazers and, ex
cept during the winter months, usually
pick up most OF their living. The pas
ture may be supplemented with ligh
feeds Of the common or home growI
grains or wet mash daily. the neces
sity and quantity of this feed depend
ing on the pasture. GOsllngs do no
need feed until they are twenty-foul
TO thirty-six hours old. when the!
should be fed any of the mashes rec
commended for chickens or ducklings
Preparation for Market.
Before marketing the young gees
the average farmer can feed advan
tageOusly a fattening ration eithe
while the geese are on grass range o.
confined TO small yards, but il is doubt
full whether 1t would pay him to con
fine them TO individual or small pen
and make a speciality of fattening IN
less he has a special market or retail
trade for well-fattened stock.
Geese are usually killed and pickle,
in the same manner as other kinds o
/ poultry. Some markets prefer dry
I picked geese. while in other market
no difference is made in the price o
I scalded or dry-picked geese. Whel
/ feathers are 10 be saved fowls shoul,
not be scalded, but should be picket
. dry before or after steaming. o.
most farms where geese are raised tn
. feathers are plucked from the liv
I fowls at some time prior TO mOltine
Ab0lt l 1-l0 pounds per goose is tn
average yield of feathers. Feather
are worth from 80 cents to 81 pound
and the picking cost per goose is abou
| IL cents.
Breeds.
Six breeds Of geese have been I'D
mitted 10 the American standard o
perfection, namely: Toulouse, Emder
| Chinese, African. Wild or Canada
and Egyptian. In addition TO tn
/ standard breeds there is the <s-calle
I MOngrel goose, which is a hybrid mad
] by crossing one OF these varieties 0
/ the common goose with wild gees
| Crosses of the varieties Of geese, e,
pecially OF the Toulouse and EmdeI
are occasionally made. but without an
1 apparent gain. The Toulouse. EmdeI
| Chinese and African are easily III
most popular breed of geese in thi
country, the first two greatly leadin
the other breeds. All economic breed
OF geese are Kept primarily for IN
[ production OF flesh and feathers. an
although their eggs are OCCASIONAL
used iar culinary purposes ON the far
there Is no demand FOR them for FOO