Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-19
AN OSTRICH RANCH.
How to Successfully Raise This Producer or AdorH.
mentz for Fashionable Fair Ones.
Special correspondence.


mentz for Fashionable Fair Ones.
Special correspondence.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 1.-THE
rage for ostrich feathers and plumes.
and the large amount expended in their
purchase by our fair ladies, has led to a
consideration of the subject of ostrich
farming, which it is believed can be car
ried on with great profit in southern
Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. A
large amount of valuable information
has been furnished the state depart
ment by consuls and commercial agents
of ostrich farming countries as TO the
manner Of conducting this industry its
expense and profits. From the best in
it is found that the sandy
soil and the sage lands of the southwest
are admirably suited to feeding and
rearing ostriches. In both wild and
domestic state these birds will bear heat
and cold without any damage if only
sheltered and kept dry during chilling
and pelting storms. They sleep on the
sand or dry gravel, in. enclosures or
paddocks, which must be kept clean
and provided with good clear running
water for drinking and bathing. The
ostrich ranch must not be marshy or
billy. The chief expense-to ranch
man in Texas or New Mexico-would
be in procuring four breeding pairs and
two females to provide for accidents.
These would be sufficient as COM
Each pair of birds well
nursed will hatch out clutch of chick
ems four times in year. Each brood
will be from ten to fifteen. making from
forty to sixty chickens in year.
Breeding birds vary in regard to pro-
ductiveness. The male commences at
1--WE years and the female at four The
female lays alternate days, depositing
from ten to twenty eggs in nest pre-
pared by the male in the sand, after
which she commences incubation, which
requires forty-two days, the male bird
generously relieving his mate at night,
carefully turning the eggs so that they
may receive the necessary warmth of
his body. The male bird hearing the
young chicks hammering at the shell
breaks it with his breast bone, and with
his bill extricates the limp and weak
imprisoned chick. After few hours
brooding by the parent birds, the young
long-legs, tottering at each step, sets up
business on his own account, and fills
its hungry nav with insects, gravel
stones and grass. The old birds never
spend any time in feeding their young;
indeed they will devour ravenously the
food provided for their chicks.
The cost of pair of well-mated
breeders varies from $500 to $500, ac-
cording to quality. The young birds,
prior to the fourth year or breeding
time, require very little feeding. but
when that time arrives they should be
fed with cabbage, mangel wurtzel, cac-
tus, watermelons and any kind of green
stuff. 1t is found that the birds bear
transportation and considerable num-
bers have been shipped to Australia
and South American ports. and it is
found that young birds from twelve to
eighteen menths old bear shipment bet
ter than breeding pairs Chicks one
year old can be bought at $40 to $50.
The average height of a full grown
African ostrich when walking in re-
pose is about seven feet, but an angry
or excited male when on his dignity will
stretch his neck FULL ten feet. In Cape
Colony young ostriches are herded like
sheep in care of two shepherds, who
are found sufficient for flock of one
hundred. During the day they Craze
without separating, and at nightfall
squat down wherever they may be and
wait for the morning. Experience
shows it is safer to put them in corral
at night, as the fright of one bird is
sure to create panic and stampede the
whole flock. When unsheltered they
squat down during a rain storm and
nothing but fright can force them t.
move.
The ostrich can be domesticated and
tanned, and in this condition great
fidelity is shown to its owner. In many
sections of Africa the birds are raised
like chickens in our poultry yards
Among the Nomadic tribes they follow
their owners in their wanderings, ant
when in camp feed about during the
day and return at night for shelter
under the tent of the master. As rule
these birds are healthy, and rarely be-
come sick. except from gluttony and
overlooking. They are peculiarly af
fected by good or bad treatment, tn,
same as sheep, cattle and horses. The
most important question is: Will this
industry pay and can it be profitably
carried on in our Southwestern states
The London market controls the pric,
of feathers and plumes. Wholesale
merchants pay from $50 to $3.50 fo1
each plucking, and two are usual,
taken in year. Some may have fears
that this business will be overdone
Such has not been the experience of the
feather market at Cape Colony. Four
teen years ago the total value of feath.
ers shipped from that point was $3.50,
900, and these were plucked entirel,
from wild BIRDS. AT this time there i.
over $40, ZOO, 900 invested in this indus
try, and the annual product is over 81,
100000. There is no danger of tn,
business being overdone so long as TIL,
female sex delight to array themselve.
in borrowed plumage to crafty prout
suitors and dotiDg husbands.
JUNIUs.
Thanks Returned.
In the latter part of May last, on
little boy, Eddie Frey. had his unde
jaw badly fractured and dislocated by
horse stepping on it. 1t seemed to u