The Poultry Run

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 August 1915, Page 3

The Poultry Run

THE EMDEN Ul/OSE

He t ween tho two popular varieties of geese—Emden and Toulouse—there is very little to choose in point of meiit although there is considerable difference in colour and contour. While the predominant colour of the Toulouse is gi ey, that of the Emden vis pure while, spotless throughout, and of tho two tho Emdem is tho more gracoful. Its head is characterised by length and strcngthness, the bill being short and stout. Doth bill and legs are orange in colour, and the eyes light blue. The body is long, broad, well-rounded and plump, and the neck swan-like, but rather thick. The body is not carried bo close to the ground as that of the Toulouse, and its attitude is more upright, sprightly, and defiant. In the ordinary way the Emden attains to a weight averaging 201k in the gander and 181b in the goose, but it m capable of reaching a much greater weight. In producing the best goslings for table a cross between,; the two is mostly found satisfactory, in heavier and larger progeny.' ".Only a first cross is desirable,""' however", as beyond that stage degeneration is apt to show itself in any subsequent generation.

GOOSE HEARING. Goose rearing is not so much indulged in as the mster industry of poultry, yet to anyone who goes in J»vr mixed poultry farming it will be found a profitable 6ide-line. Of course, geese are principally fed tor the table, and their eggs are not much in demand, nor is there a large markot lor them.

THE MATING QUESTION.

Where- the breeder desires to raise geese for the table, one gander to a large flock will not answer. The proper proportion is one to ioiur in order to ensure fertile eggs. In crossing the gander preference should be given to one that is large with an active style of walking. The eyes ought to be clear and bright, and hk voice should be loud when he makes it heard. He should he bold in demean-

our. Weight should be the principal consideration when choosing the gocse. She should be steady in body and with a broad foot. Tea to twenby eggs is the number luid 10 to 50 may be obtained in a season. Geeso may be made to lay, and even hatch three times a year; but any forcing will, as a rule, in the end turn out badly. The best way is to have two good clutches in the y«ar. The season lor laying begins about the end of February, or tho beginning of March. THE HATCHING TIAIJSS.

When the goose is ready to lay she will be noticed carrying straws from one place to another. She does this to form a nest, and she should be watched to see where she makes this. Once she has laid in the nest she seldom changes it, and is not likely to stray away. Once the goose shows signs of hroodiness a nest can be made of straw with a little hay as a lining, and so formed that 6he will not tlirow the eggs over the side when turning them. It is not necessary to get rid of the gander during the tiuio of hatching. Fifteen good-sized eggs eau be oovered by a goose. An essential point is not to touch the eggs during incubation. The food should bo left near the nest, lor if tho eggs oncu get cold it is probable that the •bird will abandon hatching altogether. A good plan is to remove the earliest hatched goslings from the nest, for sometimes the mother bird will leave the nest after the nrst-eoinere make their appearance, and leave the others to their fate. The youngsters begin i to chip the shell in about 2d uays', time.

GOSLINGS AND GRAZING. The goslings ought not to be fed tor twelve hours after they have left the shell. The first meal should consist of bread soaked in milk. Geese should be allowed as much room as possible. They should not bo confined, as they require plenty of room to walk ■about. It is for this reason that only the man with plenty of space should go in for breeding them. It is very good to have a pond that they can frequent, at> the bathing keeps them clean and prevents them from becoming too fat. Geese are grazers and gress is a necessity with them. It does not matter very much about the quality of it, as the worse grass found around swampy land is as much relished by them as the finest upland hay.