Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1883-11-08
OSTRICH FARMING.
An Attempt to Raise the Giant Birds
for their Epafha1.s in this COuutrY-

An Attempt to Raise the Giant Birds
for their Feathers in this Country.
AS already stated, a few days ago
MIR. Charlton Jones. of Sylvan Lake,
Florida, left New York City with
three pairs of ostriches, which ne
recently received from Nuhia. Mr..
Jones intends to raise ostriches for
the feathers. Although the climate
of Florida is not quite like that OF
Nubia, yet he thinks it is very prob
able that the giant birds will thrive
and multiply in their new dwell
ing place. In different places in
north and south Africa there are
many eostrich farms, where the
birds are raised specially for their
feathers. Their Feathers are usu-
ally cut off once a year, but ostriches
which receive special care yield an
nually two and even three crops OF
feathers.
When it is considered that os-
triches live from forty to. fifty years
and that yearling birds yield a
ketabIe feathers, it is clear til. t an
ostrich farm ought to be profitable.
The artificial breeding Of ostriches is
perhaps the best paying branch of
agriculture. About three years
ago chicks Just out of the egg were
sold at $50 to S25 apiece; at one
month Of age thay brought $50 to
S35. az sig months. S65 TO 800;
al q year, 810o to 415o, and at two
years about $3.50. A pair of os-
triches Of full age-that is, five
years oll-tllen commanded $500 to
$3.50. But now, az the number of
ostrich farms has been greatly in
creased, a pair of good ostriches can
be bought at $500. "a
The ostriches yielding the best
feathers are found in North Africa,
but their number is rather insigs
n~iicant. Since 1869 the ostrich
farms haye greatly multiplied in
Cape Colony, Natni and the Trans
vaal, countries lying at the same
distance from the equator as Florida.
During the last twenty years the
number OF domestic os-
triches in those countries has in
creased up to 100000 and their yield
feathers amounts TO about $4,50O,s
900 worth. Egypt raises about
Sf,OOO.00O worth of feathers, and.
Algeria, Tunis and Tripoli aItogeth-
er hardly 100000 worth. True the
ostrich feathers raised in the latter
countries are superior to those raised
in South Africa, but the difference
is not very great, ard the feat hers
Of Cape Colony are often sold for
those of Egypt.
Tie Matching of ostrich chicks
takes u days. The eggs are about
six inches long and five inches wide
and are equal in bulk to "a hens
egg The ostrich chick in a few
days IS as large as an ordinary hen.
It is covered with light brown down,
through which, on the back and
wings, project black needles like
those of the hedgehog. The chick
Of one month is Of the size OF a
turkey, and its down has begun to
change into minute feathers. The
body of an ostrich half ayear old is
the size Of OF an average man. It's
feathers reach a good size, but they
are not cast off before it becomes q
yearling.
Young ostriches are usually kept
separate from the grown up ones
They feed upon grass, corn and
leaves. They are kept in small
focks OF from twelve to fifteen birds
i'll "a place surrounded by a ditch or
a fence Of creeping plants. How
ever insecure the fence may be, the
ostriches meyer attempt to pass it
It often happens that domestic cs-
t~riclles attack men, and particularly
Strangers, although in the wild state
they usually s%huEman. When at
tao ing a man an ottrich strives to
strike him with It's feet. Such
blows are very dangerous. There
have been cases in which the spine
ola horse has been broken by them.
IF n man has 10 arms 30 defend
himself, and no way Of escape. the
best thing for hin, to do is to throw
himself on the ground, for then the
ostrich cannot strike him a hard
blow. When engaged, however,
the ostrich does net leaye its victim
but watches him until he rises. and
then fnriously reneTs the attack.
Under such circumstances a man
has one means Of escape, namely,
creeping to some place of safety,
such as u tree, q river, or a ditch.
The fights among male ostriches
arc savage and bloody. The males
brayely defend their nests, and they
sit on The eggs from 5 p. III. to s a.
M, when the females take the post
and remain On the nest until 5 p. III.
While on the nest the ostrich lays
It's neck on the ground, so than an
inexperienced person might mistake
it fer q heap OF earth. On leaving
the nest even domestic ostriches
make several jumps and curious
motions calculated to mislead their
enemies. In cases OF danger os- |
triches try to hide themselves in
bushes or behind stones. Wildcats,
hyenas, jackals, wolves and tigers
are the enemies of ostriches in their
native lard. The tricks to which
these beasts resort in order to break
the ostrich eggs are well Known
Ostrich farmers usually bait the
beasts with poisoned meat to save
their focks. Florida abounds in
al!igatoYs which are near cousins to
the crocodiles OF the Nile.