POULTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 181, 31 July 1895, Page 3

POULTRY.

Goosß-RAisiNG.-:Geeß^ as ap article of food are more highly esteemed in Europe fchaii in this country. Nevertheless the iuicy meat is most toothsome, and a larger demand fdribmighb: readily be^deveipppd. Under, suitable conditions, .these water fowl. ,are very,:profitable. If- ■ giyen, .the range' of a good pasture,-with plenty of water, they needled' care .an^tentipn than turkeya. or , chickens. i^jFH*&?% hardy, easily raised, and less subject to disease, or lice,. whilb tteir food is less .«■ pensiVe. Their feathers should pay the Expense of thbir" keep, the Returns from thiei birdas themseheß ( i.beinf2t3.clear/,propD.» The Toulouee and the Embden are cue

besWihqW;!!i (breeds^of^geeseift arid there Us more money in raising them thari in.the small mongrel Btock ofteri; soen,:. as ; they produce twice as much' meat and feathers and fatten more readily! for market; The ToulouHe are the largest i^geeeo -known. They, jh,ave;grey ; ■piurnaEjejrana are*,quieb arid gentle in disposition. TheEmbdeQa-are-pure white, a circumstance which causes them to be preferred by? many; They are somewhab smaller than ..the Toulouse -arid./ytheipv rplumago is * more compacb. A good cross e> for > the>fmarket is ; a Toulouse ;> gander , . and : Bmbdeii •"goqa'e. Geese begin: to' lay twhens about ; a -year old. gander.; is;; besb (for purposes after his second year, and he will remain in/vigor, ; for.several seasons. Old geese .better' mothers than young ones and should be' kept for breeding arid laying. .When firsb' commencing to lay, geess aVe.apb to be irregular, but as they mature they will lay regularly and give a litfcor of 15 or 20 egga befor^'atbemptingbo ■sib.. Oeese average about 45 eggs ;in-'a year, bub, occasionaUy run up to 60, 'or even 70. j rather thin in flesh anld have a free'grass range: _ Newly'habcned goslings d 6 nob require food for the first 24' hours. They ehould be fed on hard boiled eggs,'chopped fine, stale bread soaked in milk,_ s'culded meal,; boiled potatoes, etc., and kopfiaway fromHtfie! water for the' -first fortnighlt, and' housed in a dry place until strong enough to run .'"_ about ', well. Gee^se require grass as ds cattle and should have it in abundance. Tfiey also feather out more quickly : when permitted .to run a oo green pasture, and, have plenty of water. Under these conditions they should.produce a'good crop of feathers every ten weeks? -- They ishould. npb';be' plucked while laying, as ib is impossible for them to inoulb and produce sfcrohg eggs at the same time. If tße feathers are ripe 6hey will come easily and are.,dry at-the. quill end. . If soft. and .bl^y l < ''t(iey'.'tn'ußt'ibe^:lefb.i':f6rL!BbtfeV^'n.e longer. Before marketing geese must be fattenedi .This ; process will' occupy from two to three weeks. They should be pub in a darkened place with, sufficient light for them to see toeatvaind be given all the oats and pornmeal they can consume. They must' not be separated like fowlsj as they are very sociable and pine-awa^ if kept in solitude. ; As sobnasi the desire ■ for., food slackens, they should be as they are as fat as they "will get, and will lose flesh instead ofgaining it.. '.'■ ' ' ' ' .