South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-12

states Department or Agri-
culture.
There is a growing demand for
the goose as "A table bird. It's flesh
is sweet and tender. When crate
fattened the liver of a goose is con-
sidered a great delicaCy. Goose fat
IS used for various purposes. The
feathers are valuable as a by-pro-
raise. Some claim geese are taking
the place OF turkeys on the farm.
Goose eggs are large in size and
usually thick i'm shell. They may
be Matched with hens, turkeys, geese
or incubators. AS a rule natural in
cubation gives better results than
the artifcia. method. The period OF
Matching ranges from 2S to 80 days
it varies with the season, method Of
incubation, and other conditions.
When a goose first begins 10 lay.
the eggs should be removed from the
nest as fast as they are laid. This
induces the goose to continue lay
ing. A barrel turned on its side, or
"A large box with half of one side
knocked off. makes an ideal nesting
place for a goose This should be
placed in an open shed or poultry
house. Dry hay is a good nesting
material.
If. hens are used for Matching. not
more than four eggs should be set in
the early part of the season. A
large-size hen will cover five or six
eggs successfully in warm weather.
The best hens for Matching goose
eggs are the heavier breeds. like
Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes.
They should be set in a sheltered
place and disturbed as little as pos
sible.
Where a turkey or goose is used
for Matching. either bird will cover
u or Is eggs If the nest is Access
sible. the gander will sometimes as
sist I'm incubating. While incubating
is going on. the goose should be
disturbed as little as possible. She
should have plenty Of food. water
and green stuff near by.
AS the time for Matching APP
proaches, when hens or turkeys are
used, the eggs should be sprinkled
daily with warm water. This is es-
pecially necessary in dry weather
Sprinkling is not necessary when a
goose is used for Matching. because
the body OF a goose exudes sufficient
moisture
Caring Tor the GOSlings.
The object OF moisture is TO soften
the shell for the goslings to break
through easily. During incubation
the hard shell becomes more or less
with plenty OF moisture the process
OF disintegration takes place more
readily If the weather aAd the
sitting bird do not provide sufficient
moisture. il must be supplied arti-
ficially TO give best results.
Where moisture has not been
supplied i'm sufficient quantity, the
gosIings sometimes need help in get
ting out of the thick shells. This
not only requires care, but it has TO
be done at the right time. If blood
appears as the shell and the mem
brane are broken away. the egg
cubation. \ few more hours of
natural heat and the blood Will be-
come absorbed. The gosling can
then be helped out by moistening
the shell which will break away
easily.
Some goslings viii hatch out many
hours before the others. When dried
of these should be removed. They
may be placed in a flannel-lined
basket and kept in a warm place.
When first Matched goslings are
tender little things. They must be
kept from being chilled. or bowel
troable may follow The first day
or two is the critical period OF their
life. At this time they need rest
and warmth more than anything
else.
Feeding the GOslingS.
Goslines need no food for the
first day or two. Nature provides
for their nourishment for about As
hours by the absorption of the y0lk.
After this they should be given
little bread and milk. this makes an
excellent first food a mixture Of
corn-meal and bran thoroughly
baked and moistened with milk is
also good The same feed will do
for goslings as for ducklings.
As the goslings start tO grow they
must have range and plenty of green
food. That is why the farm has the
advantage over a restricted poultry
plant in the raising OF geese. They
require little or no meat If allowed
freer range. for they are the best Of
fOragers for animal food
A good mash consists OF equal
parts Of ground corn and oats. bran
and middHngs To this may be add
ed some rolled cats or oatmeal. I
crushed rice and wheat Some poul-
trvmen add little sand and char
coal 10 the mash. Personally. I
believe goslings Will thrive just as
well If they are permitted 10 help
themselves 20 sand. grit and char
coal. II they do not have free
range. such materials should be
kept before the goslings in hoppers. ]
They also need plenty OF water.
Where grass is plentiful gOslings
need little or no other kind OF green
stun. II confined 60 Yards. chopped
aupleS lettuce or onions