Fig. 37.—Embden and African cross.
The first feed for goslings is grass, fed on sod; a small allowance of corn meal, slightly moistened, is also given them. Sand and charcoal are sometimes mixed with the corn meal. They are fed on the above food three times a day for a couple of days, when they are given a ration composed of equal parts by measure, bran, middlings, and steamed cut clover or cooked vegetables. This feed is given them morning, noon, and night, until they are 8 weeks old, when they are penned to be fattened for market at 10 weeks old.
To fatten young geese, place them in a pen, not too large, so that they will not exercise too much, and feed three times a day all they will eat up clean of the following: Corn meal mixed to a dry crumbly state, and beef scraps amounting to 20 per cent of the bulk of the corn meal. While fattening young geese they should be kept as quiet as possible; no excitement whatever should disturb them. When feeding approach them quietly, and do not irritate them in the least or they will not fatten, but will "throw out" or grow another crop of feathers. At 10 weeks of age, or when the tips of the wings reach the tail, they are ready for market and should weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.
When young goslings are to be dressed for market they are killed by cutting them in the roof of the mouth, severing the artery, or by stunning them by hitting them a sharp, quick blow on the head. The picker uses a box in front of him about the height of the knees, holding the bird with the left hand and clasping the feet and wings together; he places the head of the bird against the box and holds it in place with the knee. Pick the feathers from the body of the bird, then dampen the right hand and brush the body to remove the down. Leave about 2 inches of feathers on the neck, and also leave feathers on the wings at the first joint. Lay the wings against the body of the birds and tie a string around to hold in position. I lace the birds, when picked, in cold water for an hour or so to plump them; if they are in the water too long they are liable to bleach and become water-soaked. They are then iced up in barrels already to ship to market.
Young geese should be marketed in October. It is best to market all possible before cold weather sets in. It is much harder to dress a gosling in cold weather. The feathers set tighter, and in picking them the flesh is torn.
CROSS BREEDING.
The most satisfactory results are to be had by breeding pure standard-bred stock without crossing. But to those who are partial to crosses the following are considered the best to make: (1) Wild gander on African goose ([fig. 35]); (2) Embden gander on Toulouse goose ([fig. 36]); (3) Embden gander on African goose ([fig. 37]), and (4) Embden gander on White China goose. These crosses will give good growth and the young birds will dress well for market. Crosses should only be made for market purposes, and should always be bred from original stock.
FARMERS' BULLETINS.