The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-12-23
FOWLS OF GIGANTIC SIZE
TIE SUCCESS OF CALIFORNIA os,
TRICH FARMING.
Precious Eggs and RavenOus Appc.
tites-HOVv the Birds are PluclSed
In am Ostrich Corral.

OF the newer pursuits in California is
ostrich farming. DR.. Sketchly, the
manager oil the principal farm in this
county, some few years ago was proprie.
tor of large and profitable one in South
Africa. During the Transvaal war his
rancho was devastated by the Beers and
Zulus, and thinking that Southern Cali
fornia might possess the necessary quail
fications, he came to spy out the land.
He found everything satisfactory, organ.
lied a stock company, went to the Cape,
and less than three years ago brought
back twenty-five birds, ten males and
twenty-five hens. Since then he has
raised forty birds, which, considering
the many difficulties he had to contend
with at first, is satisfactory progress.
His rancho is about twenty-one miles
south of Los Angeles, near the village of
Norwalk, on spur of the Southern Pa
cifc railroad.
AS the visitor reaches the entrance,
two sign-boards meet his gaze. The
first rule, Each visitor will be charged
fifty cents" was made necessary by the
crowds that at first poured into the
place. The other, "All dogs found on
this ranch will be at once destroyed"
was occasioned by the fact that even the
best-bred dogs will suck eggs; and when
rotten eggs sell for 50 each, and good
ones are worth from $50 to 500 each,
the undesrability of dogs is apparent.
The farm consists of 200 acres, of which
eighty are sown to alfalfa, thirty are in
corn, and the remainder occupied by
the pens, corrals, employees quarters, etc
The first object of interest is rather
large corral containing a flock of sixteen
month old birds. They stand about six
feet high, and are quite timid. These
birds were plucked three months ago,
and their plumage is abundant and
glossy already. My guide told me that
only seven months time was necessary
for the new plumage to mature in, and
that these "chicks" produced feathers
at their last plucking over two feet long,
which beats the record in Africa. Next
come the pens where the adult birds are
kept. Each pair is allowed space OF
about twenty by forty feet. The females
are of speckled brownish color, and
have homely domestic appearance. The
males, on the contrary, are brilliant,
glossy black, with one row of superb
white feathers fringing each wing and
the tail. They are rakish, gallant look
ing fellows, and can comfortably stretch
their necks over the eight-foot fence
which forms the rear of their pens. A
barrier in front of the pen keeps visitors
at safe distance from them, as these
older birds are always dangerous. The
superintendent told me that he knew of
several men being killed and three horses
disembowelled by them. Their feet are
armed each with two toes, one of which
is very long, and has at its extremity an
immense claw. Their mode of attack is
always by kicking, and as they are
known to be able to maintain for long
time gait faster than that of any race
horse, the muscular power of their legs
can be imagined.
asked how the picking of these big
ones was managed.
"Well, we catch their necks in forked
stick, draw leather stocking over their
heads, and four or FIVE of us grab them.
But it's no fun, can tell you, for one
square kick would send a fellow to king.
dom come too quick. You hear me2"
Strange to say, they make no attempt
to jump over the fence, but when very
much excited or enraged will brush
away SIlOhS DOdlu lthNC Win llClI
breasts of bones, like so much paper.
The only use they make of their al
legged wings is to steer themselves around
a corner or sharp curve; during which
operation they look much like sail boat
when it "luffs."
Up to recently patent incubators were
used, but 50 unsatisfactory were they
that the birds are now permitted to in
crease and multiply in the orthodox man
ner. Each pair is expected to hatch
three broods a year, the hens averaging
fifteen eggs at setting, but sometimes
running up to as many as thirty. About
six weeks is the period of incubation. |
saw some ''chicks" only a week or so
old, which were as large as prize turkeys;
the parents were most aifectionate and
solicitous in the care of the little ones,
and regarded us, even far off as we were,
with evident disapprobation.
The expense of keeping these huge
creatures is comparatively small, each
bird getting a daily ration of fifty
poundy of cut alfalfa, a little corn, and
unlimited pebbles. An artesian we'll
supplies them with pure water, and they
appear to have made themselves at home,
and apparently have come to California
to stay.
The outlay of capital must be consid-
cradle in the first place, as since the first
lot was exported the cape government
has imposed an export duty of $500 per
bird. Add to this the prime cost, which
varies from 500 up to the thousands,
and the freight from the cape TO New
Orleans and thence 70 Los Angeles, and
the average cost per pair at low calcu-
lation must be put at from 81, 800 to $2,-
900. In Africa the profit must be very
large. DIR. Skctchy cited one instance
where a THO Of birds yielded in one year
a revenue of over $50, 900, in offspring
and feathers.