Homestead Duck and Goose Production
(Page 7 of 10)
Of the other varieties, the China (both white and brown)
has proven most practical for small quantity goose
production and this breed is gaining in favor, especially
on the Pacific Coast.
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Some, goose fanciers have obtained wild Canadian geese and
have crossed them with domestic varieties. The beginner
must be warned, that even though this cross makes for
excellent meat, all goslings produced by such a union are
sterile and therefore are of no value as breeders.
STARTING WITH GEESE
There are three methods of starting with geese: [1] Day-old
goslings may be purchased, [2] a pair of trio of mature
geese ready to breed may be obtained or [3] a setting of
fertile e. may be purchased and if setting chicken hens are
available they may be set under these hens. All three
methods are satisfactory . . . however availability of the
stock in question be the deciding factor.
DAY-OLD GOSLINGS
Goslings are not fed until they are from 28 to 36 hours old
and their first feed may be made up of stale bread that
been soaked in either water or milk, corn that has been
cracked and scaled or mash that is made up of four parts
corn one part middlings and soaked in either water or milk.
Green grass makes up most of the feed for both goslings and
mature geese and they will require only a very limited
amount during their entire growing period.
When the young goslings come from the hatchery they may be
successfully brooded under geese, chicken hens or under an
artificial brooder. The geese themselves are by far the
best for this purpose and each goose will look after from
14 to 16 goslings. If chicken hens are used they may be
given from 10 to 12 goslings depending on the breed and
size of the hens in question. After the hens have taken
care of the youngsters for two or three weeks the goslings
will get along nicely without them. As to artificial
brooders, this is most difficult, for young goslings should
be put directly on green range and when confined to brooder
houses their advancement is retarded considerably. If
however, it is necessarv to brooder the gosling= they
should be started at 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first
week, 85 for the second, 75 for the third and then turned
out to range.
HOME-GROWN GOSLINGS
Geese can be most aggravating when one considers them from
a mating standpoint. Unlike most animals of the barnyard
kingdom, geese are by nature monogamous. Especially is this
true in the wild state where it is said that Canadian geese
mate but once and then for life. As any observant goose
hunter can testify, a Canadian gander who has lost his mate
will search for her continually and seldom mates again.
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