The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-05-09
OSTRICH FARMING.
How the Business Is Carried ON in south
Africa-The Observation-Disclosures

Africa-The Jncubation-PluckinE.
Formerly the ostrich was hunted by
men on horseback; but of late years the
demand for the feathers of these birds
has elevated the breeding and raising Of
ostriches to the position of one of the
great industries Of Southern Africa.
Ten yearsagoa gentleman named Doug
lass, residing near Grahamstown, in
Cape Colony, conceived the project Of
what is now known as ostrich-farming.
Having experimental with few wild
birds, and found that they would lay in
confinement, he next set to work to de-
wise some method of artificial hatching
For three years he met with but little
success, but finally he invented the
patent incubator, since when he has
prosecuted his scheme in manner that
has made him famous.
By means Of the incubator the eleven
birds with which the experiment was
first tried have been increased to 900,
and these being scattered throughout
the district, have made ostrich farming
nearly as popular among the residents
of Cape Colony as diamond mining or
sheep raising. The farm of Mr.. Douglass
i; situated short distance from Gra-
Jamestown, and occupies about 1900
acres of rough ground, formerly devoted
to wool l-growing. The country around
was, until within short period, used as
sheep walks, but certain deterioration
in the grasses rendered it improbable
for such purposes. The quality is yet,
however, sufficiently good to satisfy the
ostrich, q much less fastidious creature
than sheep.
There are at present on the farm about
300 birds, which are allowed to run in
large enclosures. One of these is 5000
acres in size, and has within it troop
of 240 birds. Once week they are all
hunted up by men on horseback, armed
with large boughs of thorn to keep the
birds off, as many are very savage, and
their kick is dangerous. One man goes
in front, with a pack-horse loaded with
Indian corn, to lead them. The farm
itself is divided into paddocks, and, with
those which are breeding, one cock with
two hens occupies each paddock. The
young birds-for they do not breed till
they are three years old-or those which
are not paired, run in focks of thirty or
forty each. They are subject to diseases
which, of course, require attention, and
are apt to damage themselves, sometimes
breaking their own bones and getting
themselves caught in the wire fences.
Otherwise they are hardy creatures,
which can stand much heat and cold,
can do for long periods without water,
require no delicate feeding, and give, at
existing prices, ample returns for the
care bestowed upon them.
The first necessity in artificial ostrich
Matching is to procure the eggs. For
this purpose the farmer provides himself
with an assortment of dummy eggs,
consisting of egg shells blown and filed
with sand. By means of these he is
usually successful in alluring the hens
to lay. The birds are so large and the
land is so open that there is little diff
Guilty in watching their maneuvers and
obtaining the eggs as soon as they are in
existence. AS each egg is worth from
500 to S25, there will in course Of time
be naturally much temptation to theft.
AS yet, however, there is no market for
the reception of the stolen goods, and
to steal an ostrich egg with no means for
Matching it would be a useless piece OF
dishonesty.
The incubator is rather an awkward
piece of pine furniture, some eight OF
nine feet long, and standing on four
legs. At each end there are two drawers.
The eggs are first covered with some ar
raugement of flannel, and are then laid
in the drawers, the latter being connec-
ted with screwing apparatus, by means
of which they are raised or lowered to
the extent of two or three inches. Above
the drawers, and extending over the
whole of the upper part of the machine,
is tank filled with hot water. Each
drawer, which contains about fifteen
eggs, when filled and closed, is screwed
up so as to bring the side of the egg in
contact with the tank. In this way the
necessary warmth is applied. Below the
machine and in the center of it lamps
are placed, which keep the temperature
of the water up to the right degree. The
incubating room is a large building SC
constructed as not to be affected by
change of weather. Here several incu.
bators are at work. The work of hatch.
ing the eggs is most complicated, and
requires not only care but capacity fol
tracing results, which is by no means @
common gift. The ostrich turns hel
egg frequently, 80 that each side of il
may receive due attention. The ostrich
farmer must, therefore, turn his eggs.
This he does about three time day. A
certain amount of moisture is required,
as in nature moisture exudes from the
sitting bird. The heat must be moder
ated according to circumstances, or the
yolk becomes glue and the young bird il
choked. Again, when the moment ar
rives at which the young ostrich is ready
to emerge from it's shell it is frequently
necessary to assist in this difficult per
formance. After they are introduced
into the world the young ostriches re
qulre the most tender care. Deprived
of the attentions of their natural guar
dian, it becomes necessary to replace he
by substitute, who is usually choser
from among the coolies connected will
the farm. To each lot of about thirt,
birds man is told off, who from sunris,
to sunset goes about in the lucern field
with them, cutting up the lucern fol
them, or breaking bones for them, ant
finding them gravel and water. They
become immensely attached to theil
nurse, and, as general thing, he is de
voted to them; for each bird when hatch
ed is supposed to be worth not less thai
$50. When full grown tie value of al
ostrich is from $500 to 400. The bird
are plucked before they are year old
but the age at which they cease to yield
their periodical harvest of graceful
plums has not apparently yet been de
termined. There are ostriches on Mr.
Douglass farm which have been robbed
of their feathers at proper intervals TO
sixteen years, and yet the quality O