The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-23
OSTRICH FARMING.
How the Husinrss is Carried ON la ~sath
AIrira-Tho IncHbattoh =Piurktna.

Formerly the ostrich was hunted by
T mr.. on horseback: hat Of late years the
T demand for the feathers uf these birds
has elevated the breeding and raising Of
ostriches to the position ot one Of the
great industries of Southern Africa.
Ten years agoa gentleman named Doug
lass, residing near GrahamstOwn. IN
Cape Colony, conceived he project of
what is now known as ostrich farming.
Z Having experimental with "A few Wild
birds, aud found that they would lay IN
confinement, lac next set To work 10 de
wise some method Of artificial Matching
For three Years he met with but little
success, but finally he invented the
/ patent incubator, since when he has
prosecuted ms scheme III n manner that
has made HIM famous.
By means of the incubator the eleven
birds with which the eXperimeu. 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 rs diamond mining or
sheep-raisiug. The farm of Mr.. Douglass
/ is situated a short distance from Gra-
acres Of rough ground, formerly devoted
to wool-growing. The country around
was, until within a short period, used as
sheep walks, but certain deterioration
in the grasses rendered il Improbable
for such purposes. The quality is yet,
however, sufficiently good 10 satisfy the
ostrich, a much less fastidlous creature
than sheep.
There are at present on the farm about
800 birds, which are allowed 10 run Ia
large enclosures. One Of these is 8, 900
acres in size, and has within il a troop
OF 240 birds. Ouce week they are al
hunted up by men ON horseback, armed
with large boughs Of thorn 10 keep the
binds off, as many are very savage, and
their kick is dangerous. One man goes
in front, with pack-horso loaded with
Indian corn, 10 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 biris-ior they DO not breed till
they are three years old--or those which
are not paired, run in hOcks Of thirty or
forty each. They are subject 10 diseases
which, of course. require attention, and
are apt 10 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, AZ
existing prices, ample returns for the
care bestowed upon them.
s..a .Ea Il ~G..f
Matching is 20 procure the eggs. For
this purpose the farmer provides himself
with an assortment of dummy eggs,
consisting OF egg shells blown aud filled
with sand. BY means Of these he is
usually successful in aliuring the hens
10 Law. The birds are 80 large and the
land is so open that there is little diih-
Guilty in watching their maneuyers and
obtaining the eggs as soon as they are IN
existence. As each egg Is worth from
$50 10 S25, there will IN course II time
be naturally much temptation 10 theft.
As vet, however, there ~ no market for
the reception of the stolen goods, and
10 steal an ostrich egg with no means for
Matching il would be q useless piece oi
dishonesty.
The incubator is rather an awkward
piece Of pine furniture, some eight or
nine feet long, AMI standing on four
legs. At each end thert are two drawers.
The eggs aIa first covered with some ar
raugement Of flannel, and arc then laid
IN the drawers, the latter being counec-
tad with screwlng apparatus, 10y means
OF which they are raised or lowered 10
the extent OF two or three inches. Above
the drawers, and extending over the
whole Of the upper part Of tho machine,
is a tank filed with hot water. Each
drawer, which contains about fifteen
eggs, when filled and closed, is screwed
up so as 10 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 Il lamps
are placed, which keep the temperature
Of the water up - the right degree. The
incubating room Is "a large building so
constructed as not 20 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 for
tracing results, which is by no means a
common gift. The ostrich turns her
egg frequently, so that each side of it
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 th- young bird is
choked. Again, when the moment ar
rives at which the young ostrich is ready
TO emerge from its shell il il frequently
necessary TO assist in this difficult per
fCrmance. After they are Introduce
into the world the young ostriches red
quIre the most tender care. Deprived
of the attentions Of their Natural guar
dian, il becomes necessary 20 replace her
by substitute, who is usually chosen
from among the coolies connected with
the farm. To each lot OF about thirty
birds man is told off, who from sunrise
TO sunset goes about in the lucern fields
with them, cutting up the lucern for
them, or breaking bones for them, and
/ finding them gravel and water. They
become immensely attached TO their
nurse, and, as a general thing, he is de.
voted TO them; for each bird when hatch
ed is supposed TO be worth not less than
$50. When full grown tie value OF an
ostrich is from $500 to 400. The birds
are plucked before they are n 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 ut proper intervals for
Eixteen years, and yet the quality of
their plumage does not depreciate.
/ When plucking time has come, the
necessary number of birds are enticed
/ by liberal display Of mealies-as maize
or corn is called in South Africa-into
1 pen, one side OF which is movable. The
birds will go willingly after mealies, and
will run about their rpaddocksaftera any one
they see. in the expectation of these deli
cacles When the pen is full, the nova
BILE side is Iun in, 80 that the birds are
compressed together beyond the power
Of violent struggling. They canuot
spread their wings, or make the dart
forward which is customary TO them
when about to kick. Then the men go
in among them, and, taking up their
wings, pluck or cut their feathers. Both
processes are common, but the former
il most so, ns being the more profitable.
There is heavier weight 10 sell when
the feather is plucked; and the quill
begins TO grow again at once, whereas
the process is delayed when nature IL
called upon to eject the stump. APP