The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-06-01

Pnsturage Is essential to the sue
cessful raising Of geese, according to
Farmers Bulletin No. TOT, recently is
sued by the United States department
OF agriculture.
The industry Is at present on the
basis Of small fiocks raised on general
farms, few, IL any, farms being devot-
ed entirely to. goose raising. In some
producing sections, however, the fat
tening of geese is conducted as a spe-
cial 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, says
the bulletin, on farms where there is
low rough pasture land with a natural
supply of water. Geese are generally
quite free from disease and all Insect
pests, but occasionally are affected by
the diseases common to poultry. Grass
makes up the bulk of the feed for
geese, and 1t Is doubtful whether it
pays to raise them unless good grass
range is available. A body of water
where they can swim Is considered es-
sential during the breeding season and
Is good feature during the rest of the
year. The market for geese is not so
general as for chickens. This should
be considered in undertaking the rails
Ing of geese. The demand and the
price paid for geese are usually good
In sections where goose 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 demand for their
feathers is not so good as it has been,
making the business less profitable.
Wherever possible, the geese on farm
should have free range Many farm
ers in the South keep them to kill the
weeds In the cotton fields.
Houses.
Except In winter or during stormy
weather when some protection should
De 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 usu-
ally provided by breeders in the North
and Is used by many in the South.
Coops, barrels, or some other dry shell
ter should be provided for young gos-
Iings. The goose houses should be
kept clean and plenty of clean straw
provided for the floor.
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 and 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 gam
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 five to twenty
five geese may be kept on an acre of
land, and under most conditions ten
Is fair average.
Incubation.
Geese are fed ration to produce
eggs during the latter part of the win
ter or so that the goslings will be
hatched 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
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
aging sooner than If they are taken
away. Some breeders prefer to raise
I'll the goslings under hens, as geese
sometimes become difficult to manage
Xhen allowed to hatch and rear their
Joung. Hens used for Matching goose
eggs must be busted with insect pow
der and have good attention. as, in the