IIOME AND . FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
7
Raising of Geese on the Farm
A FEW generations ago breeding
and raising geese was one of
the most common branches of
poultry culture In this country. The
feathers were used to make pillows
and feather-beds.
-At the present time the raising of
geese is not so extensively engaged
in as that of ducks. While the geese
cannot be raised in as large numbers
as ducks, they can be handled with
profit On many farms there are
places that are worthless for cultiva
tion that could be utilized with ex
cellent results In rearing geese. Many
farmers are profiting by this and add
ing considerably to their incomes each
year. And many more might do
likewise.
The care and attention necessary
are small items when compared with
the returns. The cost of food Is also
proportionately small In comparison
with that of other birds bred and
reared for market.
Adult geese having range will gath
er the greater portion of their food,
consisting very largely of grasses, In
sects, and other matter from the
fields and brooks. During this time
the cost of keeping them Is simply
the value of the grass they consume.
However, during the breeding and
laying season, they should be fed In
addition to the grass, a ration twice
a day, consisting or shorts and In
dian meal, equal parts, thoroughly
moistened with cold water, but not
too wet lest it produce diarrhea.
The mass should be dry enough to
crumble. Do not feed more than they
will eat uu clean each time.
A Grazing Fowl.
The goose Is naturally a grazing
fowl. The. bill is provided with sharp,
interlocking, serrated edges, designed
to easily cut and divide vegetable
tissues, and the tongue at the tip Is
covered with hard, hair-like projec
tions, pointing toward the throat,
which serve to quickly and surely
convey the bits of grass and leaves
Into thflthroat. Geese should have
a liberal supply of crushed oyster
shell, grit and charcoal. Also all the
pure water they will drink.
When mating, for best results the
number of geese with one gander
should never be more than three, and
usually it is better if there be only
two. Geese have a strong attachment
to their home, and removal at the
breeding season usually has an in
jurious effect up on the egg yield and
the fertility of the eggs. When once
mated they are very much attached
to each other and seldom prove un
faithful. Therefore, mismating and
rematlng are often unsuccessful un
less old mates are separated beyond
sight and hearing of each other. The
females are reliable and productive
breeders for many years, but the gan
ders often become unreliable after
seven to nine years. When they
should be replaced with young ones.
Much care should be taken In the se
lection of the breeders. If possible
have them two years old (especially
the geese), large and vigorous.
Necessary Nests.
Early In February make large,
warm nests barrels placed on the
sides, with clean straw, are good If
they are comfortable In their quar
ters and are not disturbed, they will
lay In the same nest every year. Do
not neglect to gather the eggs early
in the morning as they are easily
chilled, the goose covers the eggs
with the nesting material on leaving
the nest but when It is cold weather
this will not bo sufficient protection
from the cold.
When the goose becomes broody
after the first laying, keep her away
from the nest for a few dajB, and she
will begin laying again. Incubate
their first laying with chicken hens,
giving them four to six eggs, accord
ing to the size of the hen. Have your
sitting hens free from lice. Treat
them with a good insect powder every
week. Sprinkle the eggs with warm
water twice during the last week they
are hatching, and oftener in dry, hot
weather will dovno harm. Twenty
eight to 30 days' incubation is re
quired for hatching.
Grass is the most important of all
foods for young goslings, therefore,
it is best not to have the goslings
hatched before there is a good supply
of grass, as they devour quite an
amount of it.
Feeding Young Goslings.
The first problem with young gos
lings is, what is best to feed them to
, produce fine, large, neaitny mras.
True, there are about as many bills
of fare as there are poultry raisers.
It is best that no feed bo given until
. they are 24 hours old, then they may
be given a light feed of rolled oats,
dry, some water to drink and care
Bhould be used tliey do not gel damp
or tread in the water. Here the uso
prove very satisfactory. Prepare a
food by using one-third cornmeai and
two-thirds bran, dampened (not wet),
mixed and baked. It is not necessary
to bake it very long, just so that it Is
thoroughly heated. If it is prepared
properly it Is very crnmbly when
done. After It is cool add one table
spoonful of bone meal to every gal
lon of the food. It is best to prepare
the food fresh every day. Feed this
food alternately with rolled oats for
nearly one week, after which the oats
can be abandoned, and the prepared
food used only. Soda, a very little
salt, and good grit added to the food
every few days prevent Indigestion
aud bowel trouble. Bran is quite in
dispensable as a bone forming ele
ment, and grit should be provided at
all times. Feed often while they are
young four times a day until they
are three weeks old, and three time's
thereafter will be sufficient. As soon
as they can eat cracked corn and
wheat, the prepared feed tnay be fed
in the morning only. Keep plenty of
fresh water at their disposal.
Be sure to have plenty of shade, as
they suffer greatly from heat. Do
not give them crowded quarters, the
more range the better. They should
be protected from extreme heat of
sun, from showers or storms. Tbey
should have dry bedding at night and
should not be crowded or huddled'
together. Like other poultry they
need plenty of room.
Things Not to Do.
Don't expect the hen to lay well and
molt at the name time.
Don't let the drinking troughs set
dirty.
Don't feed second quality grain and
expect first quality results.
Don't let the lice get the better of
you for want of a few minutes' work
a week.
Don't let the houses go more than
a week without cleaning.
Don't let the hens go through the
molt without all the green feed they
can eat.
Don't let every dope fakir that comes
along get a few dollars from you for
some nostrum that la claimed to give
you a veritable gold mine in the fgg
yield. Why Isn't that man in the
poultry business himself?
Don't see your hens going light and
blame It onto luck. There Is some
thing wrong that you can probably
remedy.
Don't wonder that your neighbor Is
having better success than you are.
See if his houses aren't built better
than yours.
Detecting the Layer.
There are many so-called systems
of detecting heavy layers by certain
parts of bony structures, but they are
in no sense true, for they claim, that
certain things are fixed aud perman
ent in any Individual, whereas these
are more or less modified by im
maturity, changes to maturity, etc.,
and no system other than the trap
nest ever could or ever will tell just
how many eggs a hen will lay in 3G5
days or longer. Some systems can
tell the fowl that is laying but the
number of eggs laid by the hen is
mere guesswork. Chicago Herald.
T ruining for Show.
The secret of having birds tame
and in condition that they will pose
in the show coop is to train them
for a few weeks before showing.
Place them In a coop similar to the
exhibition coop and handle them
often. Feed them in these coops and
hold choice bits of food, such as meat,
near the top of the coop, so that
they are compelled to reach for it.
This will get them in the habit of
coming to the front of the coop and
standing erect when anyone ap
proaches It. Memphis Commercial
Appeal.
GKTTIXG THE BRKEDEKS IX COX
DITIOX. Everything will dep.? on ttva con
stitutional vigor of the bree&iwe as to
just what kind of stock will c raised
this year. The biggest trouble will
be with body lice. Powder will not
keep the birds entirely free. Every
bird Is at least 2 5 per cent deficient
in earning power. Llce-0 has done
more for putting profits into the poultry-yard
than anything that has ever
been introduced into tho poultry
business. It absoltely keeps the
birds free from lice and a ROc tube
will last the average breeder one
year. It will Increase chick ftrowth
wonderfully and is a guaranteed cure
for scaly legs. A circular telling of
whatit. Is doing for other breeders
mailed on request. Large tube 50c,
postpaid. The Lice-0 Co., 286 ifc
Washington St., Portland, Or. Adv.
A Complete Course in
Poultry Husbandry
FREE to readers of
The (ir0nrYimAr vein inn rrt- I
Idaho Farmer
' In our issue two weeks hence we will begin a new series
of poultry articles prepared for us by
Prof. Frederic H. Stoneburn
for seven years Professor of Poultry Husbandry at the Con
necticut Agricultural College, a teacher, lecturer and inves
tigator of international reputation.
This feature will appear weekly and will constitute an
interesting and comprehensive course in poultry husbandry,
just the practical information which Professor Stoneburn
has given to thousands of students in the classroom.
Each article will be complete in itself each will deal
with current activities in the poultry-yard each will be full
of money-making advice which you can. apply in your own
work, no matter whether you are keeping few or many fowls.
If you are considering taking up poultry-keeping in the
future, you should study these articles. They will give you
the facts regarding the industry and will set you right.
The attractive and helpful illustrations will be made by
Mr. Edward Magargee, one of the world's leading poultry
artists.
Start with the first article. Read each carefully. Pre
serve them all in a scrapbook, thus securing an unequaled
text-book on poultry culture that is strictly new and up-to-date.
These valuable contributions appear exclusively in
The Or eg on-Washing ton
Idaho Farmer
-.M.I -IU .-.-Sl
9
SOLD BY
JUBILEE HATCHERY,
D. M. HOI.BROOK, Prop.
41.1 Jesntip Street, Portland, Or. particulars.
THE JUBILEE
FOR QUALITY
I would not give one cent for
an incubator that brings off a
)M0 per cent hatch without
knowing it. brought off 100 per
ci-nt strong vitality - vigorous
chick.
Profesror W. R. Graham, of
the Ontario Agricultural College,
report:) 60 per cent more mor
tality In dry machines than moist
incubators.
In the JIB11.KE that warm,
fresh, moist oxygen-laden air
flowing through the egg cham
ber brinsH chicks that thrive
and grow to maturity. Write for
A V lOI I"! From Re1s' per 100 '18-00
UJt. I ULU Heavy Rooks, per 100 18.00
C I pf C larera White Leghorns, per 100 12.00
1 1 V IV O While Wyandotte, per 100 1-S.OO
Pacific Poultry Co.
105 Seneea Street, Seattle, WnftklnKton.
ni 1 ru LOSSES SUKIY PREVENTED
111 lil ,K to Cttsrt Blaaklaa Pllll. I.ow
If M4t V I, rtrlred. tmh. rrll.ble; preferred bj
Western stoctaui'n because they pro.
m tMt wKtrt ather vaeainas falli
. m ' wrila tor hookW and tciinmnlj.
I W I m 10-iosa pkts. Blaeklef Pill $1.00
M4mM MMssa akas. Blttklea PilH 4.00
lTe any injector, but Cutter's beFf.
Tha sujwriortty of Cutter products is due to over it
eon of aperlxlirinf in vaeciasa and serums wHy.
Insist on Cutter's. If llnolitalua'ile, order itlrrrt.
THE CUTTER LABORATORY, Berkeley, California
WF. A It K CASH IHYF.HS FOR YOUll
I'Ot I.TRV, KHGS, VI: VI, AND
HOGS. NO COMMISSION.
Highest Prices Always Try Us
PATTKRSON CO.,
M Front Street, Porttaad, Or,
Reference: Northwest National Lnk.
Our Baby Chick
Hatchery
will start January 1. Place your order
now for chicks fvom high-bred WH1TU
LEGHOHN egg -producers. Some of
our birdj have a recurd of 280 eggs.
Catalogue ami prices on application.
Pip
FREE frTRiAL
Hot n l of pi .'ink. .St-lt ReKk.lat.nf,, thick
Nurture Scfe-rv Ump. tted th rrrtorrwtt.-. best
construct of tktrt wtlli ill ovtr with uSeitoe
1 UARAKTt D I11' "" - So wtipl thit imbodr cu
faikt tun ruuhet Gel our iKtlogur trui low delivered pric
Broor from 9I.TC up
tt Hclona Incubator Co., Toledo, Washington
J. .. Ill K MTNOItf AN AM)
i; viuu:i hoiks
Stock and esg for sale. Good laj ins strain
N. I.. MILKY, Box 2fl, Rx, Or.
SWEETS
WEI) T.arsp culihnted Men-
ilal wMte and yellow, direct
rom growor. prirvs and cn-
If AlirTI cular huw to grow ft "Kreo. '
I I 81V Tn '""IN V SltKKH N,
V li V 1 lilt 1--Blnlottlli Ry, ii. k. No. .
fJ TD S. C. W. LEGHORNS
2S7h
4.
Y? S.I KKI!
.AY MOKE and PAY MORI!
Than any other Klill HKliKI)
7. tiiHKl Will KfeonlH.
':kkh for llntrhiria; From
1. C. W. l.lClillOKN, B. ROCK
V. ORI'INUTONS.
Irtiniln Poultry Co.
ItoNcburx, O r.