THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9304, 3 January 1896, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

GEESE. [Bγ Faxcie::.] " Weekly Press and Referee." The goose is the most profitable fowl that can be raised where one has favourable conditions. It is therefore a little odd that here in New Zealand, where so many have the facilities, so few go in for geese. In the hope that many may see in the goose the means of adding to their income I pen the following.

The goose (anstr) is a genus of web-footed birds belonging to the family Anatidea. The many varieties of Ornamental and Economic Geese are descended from <she or other of the wild species, of which there are several. When the Goose was first domesticated is not known, but as there are records of it being cultivated by man many centuries ago it is probable that the Goose was among the first of domesticated birds.

There are one or two varieties of what are known as Ornamental Gee 33 to be found tn this colony. It is, however, only of the economic varieties that are in New Zealand I will speak of here. These are the Embden, the Toulouse and the Chinese Goose. As and the Chinese Goose the least of the three, already indicated none are largely bred,

The Toulouse goose, which derives its name from a city in the south of France, 13 he largest of the three varieties mentioned. The colour is dark gt-ey on the neck which shades off slightly towards the back. The body and breast are a lighter grey. The wings are the colour of the neck, shading off lighter again to the bally, where it becomes gradually white. The bill is the colour of sunburnt flesh and the feet a deep orange red. The average weight per pair is about sixty pounds. -

The Embden Goose takes its nama from Embden in Westphalia, Germany. The plumage of this variety i 3 pure white, and consequently the feathers are of more value than that of the Toulouse. The bill of the Embden is of a dark flesh colour, the feet a deep orange and the eye a bright blue. In weight it is hardly so heavy a3 the Toulouse though the taller of the two.

The Chinese Goose so called, because it first came from the country of that name, is only about half the size of the Toulouse. Thereare two varieties, white and a brownish grey and white. The head of the Chinese Goose is rather small; the bill is orange colour with a large knob of the same hue at its base. There is also a muflfof feathers and skin under the throat, and the carriage is exceedingly graceful, and more swan like than that of the two larger varieties. The keel of the Chinese Goose does not drop so low as that of the heavier breeds, and the gait is therefore lees waddling and awkward. Anyone who has land can keep geese at very little cost, and that means much, for on the cost of keep depends the profit of poultry keeping. What geese require is plenty of green food and a little grain during the breeding and fattening seasons, with enough water to drink and bathe in. On the farm where the grass is wanted for horses and cattle, the fanner must not run hie geese with these animals. The geese would thrive all right, but the other stock would not touch the fodder that had been soiled and trampled down by the geese. But the fact of the grass paddocks being used by the horses and cattle does not bar the farmer from keeping geese at little coet. On the farm there are in season tho fields oi stubble and on them geese will do well. The farmer can also feed a large number of birds on his surplus hay, mangold wurtzels, turnips, carrots, potatoes, cabbages, peas, beans, &c. Geese thrive well on these foeds. Then those who do not cultivate their land can keep geese. On tussock land, fern land, in the swamp among the fiax and weeds, in the bush among the green leaves and small fern, geese can always find their tucker. Where there are no ponds or streams, water should be supplied in large flat tubs.

Giving the conditions indicated the management of geese is simple. The stock birds must be in their second year at least. If under fourteen or fifteen months the eggs will be infertile. An old bird and a young one do best. If looked after geese will breed to a great age, there being instances of their fertility at over forty years of age. One male to two, or, at the most," three females, is how they should be mated. When mated the birds will make their own nests and rear their young without any interference. There is no need to coddle them; their hardiness is proverbial. Cats will keep away, for the gander is ever on the watch, and he is too many forpussy. In places where confinement, vermin, wet, cold and dirt bring on disease among other fowls and wipe them out, geese remain untouched. In fact a goose that dies from natural causes is as much a rara avis as a dead donkey.

The Goose seldom lays until about a year old, and the period of incubation is about thirty days. The Toulouse and Embden Geese lay from six to a dozen egsjs and then Bit. Chinese Geese lay between thirty and forty eggs, so that if these birds are smaller than the other two varieties, they make up for it in being more prolific. If the eggs are taken away and the birds have an allowance of grain in the spring, they will lay more, perhaps double the number of eggs mentioned. Sometimes they lay straight on and sometimes go broody after laying one lot and then lay again. Geese are not good sitters, and they object strongly to being interfered with when sitting. If the eggs are taken away four will be enough to put under the ordinary fowl to sit, but ten or a dozen may be put under a turkey hen. The young birds will thrive with no more looking after than the letting them run on the same sort of range as the adult birds. To fit them properly for the market, however, it pays to provide them with more than good grazing, and when first hatched to feed them on a mixture of chopped vegetables and oats, barley, or perineal. Onion, leek, or turnip tops will do to be chopped up and mixed with any of the above meals. Boiled meat and grain added to the above when two weeks old, or when about to be fattened, is the material to get them fat and plump for the market. Brewers' grains are also good. The fattening process should occupy from five to six weeks, and a liberal supply of water and the foods mentioned will get them fat and plump. The goslings are ready for the table three months after being hatched.

Geese find a ready sale in all countries, but of course there are seasons which command better prices than others. The raiser must etudy the best season to market. The prices given in the best seasons are very high. Goose hams are much sought after, and in the older countries the gizzards, heads, and feet are sold in sets called giblets. A giblet pie is very nice. The livers of geese are much sought after by epicures and the famous pat£ dt fait grax of Strasburg is an esteemed delicacy. This is made from the livers of Geese that have been kept in an apartment of very high temperature. The high temperature enlarges the livers. But money can be made out of Geese apart from what their flesh brings. Their quills are still in demand for writing with, while their down is of some value. In Europe and America the birds are picked for their down six and eight times a year. They don't bother much about picking Gmm in this country until they are

dead, yet there is money in the business. Each Goose if picked, say, eight times a year, will yield about two pounds of feathers. This will realise from four to six shillings itself not to speak of the flesh. And as they live to a ripe age when not used for culinary purposes a good many shillings can be got from the pickings of one Goose. Speaking of the age a Goose jives to, Willoughby mentions an instance of one that lived eighty years, and had to be killed then because it was so mischievous. The Ganders do not live so long usually as the Goose. They are too bad tempered for that.

Geese are noted for the noise they make Xear a house this is a bit of a nuisance, but there is no need to keep them near a house. Should any one go near them at night they at once start their clamour whether the purpose of the intruder be good or evil. It was to this trait of the Goose's character, that Rome of old owed its preservation from the onslaught of the Gauls. The cackling of the Geese confined in the Capitol put the Romans on their guard, and through the timely warning given, the invaders were driven back, for this the Geese at the Roman Capitol were declared sacred and treated ever afterwards with respect by the Romans. When this is considered and the fact that Geese need little care, are hardy and profitable, the popular idea that the Goose is a silly bird, will be regarded as erroneous.