Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-08-17


The goose industry is at present on
the basis of small flocks raised on gen.
eral farms, few, If any, farms being
devoted entirely to goose raising. In
some producing sections, however, the
fattening of geese is conducted as a
special business. For this business
the geese are collected from general
farms, usually over large area, and
are fattened for several weeks before
being killed.
Geese can be raised in small num-
bers successfully and at a 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 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
as 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 a 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 sorae 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 to
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 fiocks. 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 a 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
a cool place where the contents will
not evaporate too freely; If kept for
some time they may be stored in loose
bran. The first eggs are usually set
under hens, while the last ones which
the goose lays may be matched either
under hens or under the goose If 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 goslings 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 incubators and
the goslings successfully raised in
brooders, although this is not COM
mon practice.
The period Of incubation of goose
eggs varies from % to 80 Gays. 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
be removed. They hatch slowly, es-