POULTRY YARD

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 8

POULTRY YARD

Geese.

The choice of stock is the first thing to be considered ; whatever breed be chosen we must have a gander unrelated to the geese which are mated with him. It is also necessary that he be a lively, active bird ; age does not need to be taken' into account with either goose or gander (provided the goose be over one year oldj. They do not need to be changed on account of age. 1 have seen a goose with a full brood when she was over 40 years old, and I also had a' gander from which large flocks were reared when he was about 20 years old. Breeding stock need not be changed so long as they are faithful, and the progeny easily reared. Three geese may be mated with each gander. A little oats should be given them in. spring time, and, clean water is absolutely necessary in the breed-; ing season. I remember my first stock of geese ; * they were purchased from a then famous exhibitor— an Embden goose and a pair. of. Toulouse. During spring our pump (the only available supply of water) was out of order, 1 and ' the plumber delayed us so long in getting a new one that the greater part of the breeding season was over before the geese had a. constant supply ' of, clean water. Every egg hatched' was sterile except five, which were laid during very wet weather. ' After the birds got fresh water every egg they laid produced a bird. We mention this ■ as it may explain the cause of so many failures of goose eggs. There is also need of watchfulness that the eggs are not too old when hatched. I never set an egg over three weeks old. They should be placed in fresh bran or clean chaff, with the large end down, and left in a cold, dry room. The best mothers and hatchers are geese, but large hens or turkeys will do well. I always try to get four or five hens to sit at the same time, and put five eggs to each. When the birds are eight days old I give each hen a dozen, and if any of ray geese has ceased to lay they will readily take to the goslings, though they have not hatched them. In case I had no goose ready to put with them I would place an old gander in the lawn where the hens are penned, and he will always know his offspring, and before many days will cover them with his wings, and take them away from the hens, retaining his possession with no little pride during. the whole summer. There are several breeds of geese; the principal breeds we have are Embden and Toulouse. There are also the Norfolk, Canadian, and Poland geese. During the last few years the Italian goose has been introduced, and it bids fair to outrival both our popular breeds— the Embden and Toulouse.

' The Toulouse goose is a large, corpulent, gray bird— by far the largest of the^oose species in outward appearance, though it is not really larger than the Embden. These two breeds have the outward characteristics of the Cochin and Dorking. The Toulouse is a large, loosefeathered bird like the Cochin, looking larger than it really is. The Embden is a compact, close-feathered bird like the Dorking, which when dressed is larger than would have been expected from its live appearance. The Toulouse is a very prolific bird. The goose will lay from 30 to 50 eggs in a season. She rarely hatches ; but when the eggs are set under large hens immense flocks can be reared from a stock of three geese aud a gander. I have known as many as 105 birds reared in a season from three geese. The goslings are fairly hardy. They need but little care after the first 10 days, when they should be sheltered from °trong sun and cold rain. They should get plenty of oatmeal or grits and a pan of clean water. It is better to coop either the hen or turkey while sheia with goslings, lest she ramble too far or allow her brood too freely to water, which is likely to give the young birds cramps. When they are three weeks old they "are past danger, and can be put into large flocks, or, as we stated above, the whole lot put with an old gander, which will do better for them than any mother ; besides, he will take them away from the yard and give no trouble. The Toulouse goose is a late maturing bird, and should not be killed till after harvest.

The Embden is white all over ; its eye is a light blue, its carriage sprightly and active. As we have stated, it is larger when dressed than it looks when living; it seldom attains the great size of the, Toulouse, but very fine weights have been made by ahq w birds. At Birmingham an Embden gander some years ago scaled 341b. Such weights are uncommon, we might say rare; but really good birds will weigh 201b, Or

up to 241b. A large flock of these pure whites looks very grand. .quired; I ( know. nothing better than<a cross between these two majestic breeds, .which is generally'larger^ and hardier than either bred purely. If they are ' crossed, I would prefer to use a Toulouse gander, as the Embden goose is a good sitter and mother. She rarely lays more than 16 or 20 eggs', often only 10 or 12, but she will hatch these well, and take away her brood, and give uo trouble. ! ' The^ Italian geese are of two varieties^ — the ! white and spotted. They have spread greatly, and are exceedingly popular. Mrs Christie : kindly sent the writer a large box of eggs, from which a few very nice birds have been reared. They are a medium-sized bisfd, between the size of 'the common goose and Toulouse. 'The spotted, \ birds, • principally white, /have gray beads, and a gray spot on each thigh, and fa few gray feathera on, the back between the wings. Their flesh is "better than 1 that of any goose I know ; their feathers are also better, and they ■are' hardier, and "grow faster than any other geese. Each goose will lay about 70 eggs in a season. The Italian combines the 1 be^t laying and best table qualities, also the best feathers. I believe 'ttiis'iß the coming variety, and am confident that great .popularity 'awaits it in the near future. — Home paper.