The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14

value of feathers, $I2, 800; grand total
in four years, $50, 4UO.
Mr.. SKetchley explained that ten pei
cent OF the total productive value
might he deducted Tor expenses. An
ostrich will commence breeding about
six years of age, and the speaker had
known of oStrlcheS breeding up to the
age OF eighty years. Mr.. SKetcnley al
luded to The twenty-five ostriches now
in Central Park, which, he said, were
brought from South Africa by way OF
BuenoS AyreS. The bringing OF oS-
triches to this country, he said, was a
very serious business. The utmost care
was necessary to he taken in order to
prevent their getting sick and dying.
were sent out from South Africa some
time ago, only twenty-eight lived to
reach buenoS AyreS.
In answer to question as to what
per centage Of young chicks could be
raised to aproductlve age, Mr.. Sketchley
said that with care anu under favora-
BILE circumstances a farmer might raise
every chick ; at any rate, not more than
eight or nine per cent of the chicks
ought to be lost. When young
ostrlches begin to lay if they
are allowed to sit naturally
they will lay from twelve to fifteen
eggs and then commencetO sit. They
SIT for forty-two days, after which
they will not begin to lay again for
three weeks or a month. If the eggs
are taken away as laid, and iucubated,
the ostriches will lay up to thirty
eggs without stopping, and if fed
well will begin again in two or three
weeks. The number of eggs each
bird Will lay varies from forty to
ninety per annum. Mr.. Sketchley
said: From what l have seen of
California 1 believe it would be the
most suitable place in this country
for the production of ostriches, al
though l have no doubt they would
do We'll in Virginia, Florida, Texas,
Colorado. and other parts where but
little frost is had, + 1t is
promised to form company here for
the Needing OF these birds in Cali
fornia. Now, l am so far convinced
that they will do well there that
have offered to take the entire man.
agement of them for three or four
years, with no salary, but percent
age on the profits after expenses"
As an example of what had been
done by artificial Matching, Mr..
Sketchley said that during the year
from June 80, 1872, to June 80, 1873,
one set of three birds, one cock and
two hens, laid 1888 eggs, which pro-
duced 133 chicks; of these Is died, leav
ing lis young birds. Seventy-four of
the birds were sold at three months
old for 916 each, and estimating the
remaining Al birds to have been worth
only e12 each, a return is shown from
one set of birds of 91676. The next
year the same set of ostriches laid lib
eggs, producing n chicks, and the first
six months of the third year they laid
81 eggs, producing 81 chicks, being
more than 80 Per cent. After this the
cock was killed, by a thoughtless man,
for his feathers.
DIR. j. Protheroe, who ownes the
twenty-five breeding ostriches now in
Central park, and who brought them
from South America, to which coun-
try they were brought year ago from
South Africa, spoke briefly on the sub
ject Of the care and breeding of os-
triches. The speaker called attention
to the fact that young ostriches re-
quired no artificial food. They would
feed themselves by grazing until they
were separated for breeding purposes.
DR.. Protheroe expects to take his os-
triches to California very soon.
The Rev. j. J. Lightbourn was. not
in favor of raising ostriches for their
feathers. He said that such an indus
try fostered vanity and extravaganza,
and he did not believe in it. When he
plucked a feather from goose he
slept on it, but feather plucked from
an ostrich did nobody any real good.
He would not raise tobacco, and he
would not raise ostriches.