fterwards rub the tongue with a little salt, and the disorder will be
removed.--GEESE require a somewhat different management. They generally
breed once in a year; but if well kept, they will frequently hatch twice
within that period. Three of these birds are usually allotted to a
gander; if there were more, the eggs would be rendered abortive. The
quantity of eggs to be placed under each goose while setting, is about a
dozen or thirteen. While brooding, they should be well fed with corn and
water, which must be placed near them, so that they may eat at pleasure.
The ganders should never be excluded from their company, because they
are then instinctively anxious to watch over and guard their own geese.
The nests of geese should be made of straw, and so confined that the
eggs may not roll out, as the geese turn them every day. When they are
nearly hatched, it is proper to break the shell near the back of the
young gosling, as well for the purpose of admitting the air, as to
enable it to make its escape at the proper time. To fatten young geese,
the best way is to coop them up in a dark narrow place, where they are
to be fed with ground malt mixed with milk; or if milk be scarce, with
barley meal mashed up with water. A less expensive way will be to give
them boiled oats, with either duck's meat or boiled carrots; and as
they are very fond of variety, these may be given them alternately.
They will then become fat in a few weeks, and their flesh will acquire a
fine flavour. In order to fatten stubble geese at Michaelmas time, the
way is to turn them out on the wheat stubble, or those pastures that
grow after wheat has been harvested. They are afterwards to be pent up,
and fed with ground malt mixed with water. Boiled oats or wheat may
occasionally be substituted.--DUCKS are fattened in the same manner,
only they must be allowed a large pan of water to dabble in. Those kept
for breeders, should have the convenience of a large pond; and such as
have their bills a little turned up will generally be found the most
prolific. In the spring of the year, an additional number of ducks may
be reared by putting the eggs under the care of the hen, who will hatch
them as her own brood.--TURKIES, early in the spring, will often wander
to a distance in order to construct their nest, where the hen deposits
from fourteen to seventeen eggs, but seldom produces more than one brood
in a season. Great numbers are reared in the northern counties,