Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-09
OSTRlCHES IN FLORIDA.
An Attempt to Raise the Giant Birds
for Their Feathers in this Country.


for Their Feathers in this Country. ;
New York Sum-
A few days ago Mr.. Charlton Jones
of Sylvan lake, Florida, left this CITY
with three pairs of fine ostriches, which
he recently received from Nubia Mr..
Jones intends to raise ostriches for
their feathers. Although the climate
of Florida is not quite like
that OF Nubia, yet he thinks it is very
probable 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 os-
trich farms. where the birds are raised
specially for their feathers. The feath-
ers are usually cnt off only once
year, but ostriches which re-
ceve special care yield annu-
ally two and even three crops OF
feathers. When it is considered that
ostriches live from forty to fifty years,
and that yearling birds yield remarka
BILE feathers. it is clear that an ostrich
farm ought to be prof able The arti-
fetal breeding of ostriches is perhaps
the best paying branch of agriculture.
About three years ago chicks just out
of the egg were sold at $40 to S25
apiece; at month of age they brought
$50 to $35; at 6 months, $50 to 500;
at year, 800 to $50, and at
years about $3.50. A pair of ostrches
of full age-that is. 5 years old-then
commanded $500 to $3.50. But now, as
the number of ostrich farms hiss been
greatly increased, o pair of good os-
triches can be bought at 5000.
The ostriches yielding the best feath-
ers are found in North Africa, but their
number is rather insignificant. Since
1862 the ostrich farms have greatly
multiplied in Cape Colony, Natal and
the Transvaal, countries lying at the
same distance from the equator as
Florida During the last twenty years
the number of domestic ostriches in
those countries has increased up to
100000, and their yield of feathers
amounts to about $4,500,000 worth.
Egypt raises only about S1,000,O00
worth of feathers, and Algeria, Tunis
and Tripoli altogether hardly 100000
raised in the latter countries are supe-
rior to those raised in South Africa, but
the difference is not very great, and
the feathers of Cape Colony are often
sold for those OF Egypt.
The Matching of ostrich chicks takes
forty-two days. The eggs are about six
inches long and five inches wi le, and
are equal in bulk to twentv-four hens
eggs The ostrich chick in few days
reaches the size of an ordinary hen. 1t
is covered with light brown down,
through which, on the back and wings.
project black needles like those of the
hedge hog. The chick Of l month is
of the size of u turkey, and its down
has begun to change into minute feath-
ers. The body Of an ostrich half
year old is about the size Of that of IN
average man. It's feathers reach o
good size, but they are not cast off be-
fore it becomes yearling.
Yonng 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
rounded by ditch or a
fence Of creeping plants. How
ever insecure the fence may be,
the ostriches never attempt to pass it.
1t often happens that domestic ostriches
attack men, and particularly strangers,
although in the wild state they usually
shun man. When attacking a man an
ostrich strives TO strike him with its
feet. Such blows are very dangerous.
There have been cases in which the
spine of horse has been broken by
them. If q man has no arms to defend
himself. and no way to escape, the best
thing for him to do is to throw
himself on the ground, for then the
ostrich cannot strike him hard
blow. When enraged, however, the
ostrich does not leave its victim. but
watches him until he rises, and then
furiously renews the attack. Under the
circumstances man has only one
means Of escape, namely, creeping to
some place Of safety, such as tree, g
river or ditch.
The fights among male ostriohes are
very savage and bloody. The males
bravely defend their nests, and they sit
on the eggs from 5 p. m. to n. m,
whom the females take the post and re
main on the nest until p. m. While
| on the nest the ostrich lays its neck on
the ground so that an inexperienced
| person might mistake it for Il heap Of
Garth. On leaving the nest even do
nestle oatriches make several jumps
and curious lnotiGna calculated to mis-
lead their enemies. In ease nf danger
ostriches try to hide Themselves in
bushes or behind stones. Wildcats
hyenas, jackals, wolves and TIGERS are
the es.amies of ostriches iii their nat.Te
land. The tricks 10 which tj,a.o beasts
resort in order TO bTosk tn ostrich
eggs are we'll known. Ostrich farmer
usually bait the beasts with poisoned
meat TO save thair tiocks.
Florida abounds in elligators, which
are near cousins of tho crocoliles of the
| Nile Why, then, may not oatriches
thrive il Florida?