The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1922-02-24
During

Geese Need Little Feed Outside of
prepared by the United States Department
OF Agriculture)
During the holiday season, when
the unctuOus goose graces the largest
available platter, is the time TO think
of the ACCESSIBILITY Of growing a bunch
of these profitable birds for the tables
that will be spread for hungry fam
lilies another year The goose pop
ulation in the United States, has been
on the decline in recent years, but
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture expresses the opinion that
there are many farms on which a few
can be raised on pasture and other
feed that will scarcely be missed. AL
though the demand for feathers is not
what it once was, and the eggs are
not in demand for cooking. these birds
are worth while as producers of de-
licious meat. The objection has been
raised that the meat is too oily, but
this condition is largely due to i'm
proper cooking, to failure to remove
the surplus fat of the abdominal cav
ity, and to not sl1imming off the grease
while cooking.
Where there is low, rough pasture
land with a natural supply of water,
geese can be raised at a profit. They
are generally quite free from disease
and all insect pests, but they are Oc-
casiOnally affected by the diseases
common to poultry. Grass makes up
the bulk of the feed and it is doubt
full whether it pays to raise them if
good grass range is not available. a
body of water where they can swim
is considered essential during the
breeding season and is good thing
during the rest of the year.
The market is not so general as for
chickens. but the demand and the
price are unusually good in localities
where goose fattening is conducted
on large scale. However, a few
geese are desirable on many farms
where there is no such market. Elk
cept in winter and during stormy
weather, mature geese have little need
for q house Breeders in the North,
and some in the South, use a shed
open to the south as a protection in
winter Coops, barrels or other shell
Ter are needed by goslings. The
houses may be kept clean by supply
ing plenty of straw for bedding.
From 4 to 25 geese may be pastured
on an acre of land the number depend
ing upon the quality of the pasture.
Ten geese to the acre is a fair aver
age. Free range should be used
wherever possible. In the South many
people use geese to help in keeping
down the weeds in the cotton fields.
I--sg.--
geese should get a ration suitable
for egg production so that goslings
may be Matched at about the time the
first pasture is available. Nests may
be made on the floor of the house, or
in large boxes barrels or other shell
tiers. It is desirable TO collect the
eggs daily and TO keep them in a cool
place where the contents will not
evaporate too rapidly; if kept for
some time they may be stored in loose
bran.
The first eggs are usually set I'M
der hens, while the last ones the
goose lays may be Matched either I'M
der hens or under the goose if she
goes broody. If the eggs are not re-
moved from the nest where she is
laying she will usually stop laying
sooner than if they are taken away
daily. The sitters may be broken up
if they are confined to a slat-bOttOm
coop, with water TO drink but no feed,
for two to four days.
Some breeders prefer to raise all the
goslings with hens, as geese sometimes
become difficult to manage when al
lowed TO hatch and rear their young.
Hens used for Matching goose eggs
must be busted with insect powder
and have good attention as the period
Of incubation for goose eggs is longer
than for chicken eggs. Goose eggs
may be Matched in incubators and
the gosling raised in brooders, but this
is not a common practice.
From IS to 80 days are required to
hatch goose eggs. Moisture should be
added after the first week If the eggs
are set under hens or in incubators,
warm water being sprinkled on the
eggs or the nest. IncubatorS should
be run at temperature of 101.5 to
1925 degrees Fahrenheit, or about Ia
degrees lower than for hens eggs,
and the eggs should be cooled longer.
Four to six eggs are put under hen
and 10 TO IL under a goose. They
may be tested about the tenth day,
and those that are infertile or con-
tain dead germs should be removed.
Goose eggs hatch slowly, especially
under hens. and the goslings are re-
moved as soon as Matched and kept
in a warm place until the Matching
Is over, when they are put back under
the hen or goose.
After the eggs are all Matched some
breeders give all the goslings TO the
geese. Hens with goslings may be
kept In coops and their charges al
lowed TO range. but they are not al