The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-11-11
OSTRICH BREEDING.

is known as the Temple Street road,
DR.. c. J. Sketchley has started an os-
trich farm. He was one of the pio-
neers in ostrich farming in Africa,
where he engaged in the business for
many years, and is the author of a
number of books on the ostrich, and
the best methods of ostrich farming.
A visit to Los Angeles convinced the
doctor that ostrich farming could be
successfully carried on here, and he
resolved to make the experiment.
The result is the Sketchley ostrich
farm.
On the sixty acres of land devoted
to the ostriches there are thirty pairs
Of these beautiful birds, besides a
number of young ones recently hatch
ed
Their food consists almost entirely
of corn and alfalfa, which is a beauti-
full plant of the Luzerne family.
Long experience has shown that
this bill of fare will cause the ostrich
to produce more feathers and of bet
ter quality than any other diet Each
male is mated. and the two birds have
two acres of ground The land is
fenced off into lots Of one acre each.
The two birds are kept IN one of these
lots until they have eaten off all the
alfalfa, when they are transferred to
| the other. being thus alternated be-
tween the two. From the observatory
tower in the center of the doctors re-
sidence the ostrich grounds look like
an immense chess board, and the gig
ante birds like the big pieces scatter
ed overit.
''All the full grown ostriches, you
see," said the doctor, Il imported di-
rectly from Africa, landing them in
| this country at Galveston, and bring
ing with them four Madraese men and
one woman, the people of that tribe
being more familiar with the ostrich
than any native Africans. Thus far
my experiment has succeeded beyond
my expectations. Not only are the
ostriches quite as healthy as in Africa,
but they are actually more prolific
here than III their native country, both
In the number of eggs they lay and the
number OF young ones they hatch,
aud also in the quantity of feathers
they produce-results due. l believe,
to this glorious climate, which seems
greatly to increase the fertility Of all
animals. The feathers are fully equal
III all respects to any grown III Africa.
The height of the birds is from s
to II feet Their weight varies from
800 to 400 pounds The male is much
,r l1,g.,,. Z Htcnlr y.-hI1n -l.1 81
male is gray. Wh-e, then, you will
ask, do white ostrich feathers come
from? They are found on both
the male and female bird among the
loose feathers Of the wings and tail.
1t Is the fact that they are so much
rarer that makes them SO much more
desired, and, consequently, so much
higher IN price than black or gray
feathers, for III some respects consld
them inferior to the other feathers.
"fhe female ostrich does not begin
to lay eggs until IL Is 1 years old, but
i, produces its first crop OF feathers at
tne end Of It's first yea. Every seven
months thereafter It's plumage is ready
Tor market, yielding about twenty five
Of the very finest feathers, besides
large number Of less valuable ones.
The feathers are not plucked, but are
cut OF, quite close to the skin, with
large shears made for the purpose
No pain whatever is inflicted in the
operation. Within few days after
the feathers have been cut the stubs
dry and shrivel to such an extent they
are easily removed. The longest and
finest white feathers are worth, at
wholesale, 81 apiece, and good feath-
ers are worth 500 pound. The first
clipping of young birds will average
S4U IN value. Oh course it requires a
good deal of capital to start large
ostrich farm, as full grown par of
birds is worth from 500 to $500, and
a single young bird six months old
costs from $3.50 to $500; but after it Is
once under way the return from the
investment is large one.
I've very seldom permit the ostrich
es to do their own Matching, but most
Of it is performed by incubators. The
old idea that ostriches seldom or never
require water has long since been
proven false. They drink frequently
and even battle. We keep a water
trough III each pen to enable them to
| do 50. No one knows to what age an
| ostrich may attain, but | believe they
are little short of immortal. In Africa
/ have seen pair of birds that were
known to be over so years of age"
reminded the doctor of promise
he had made me to show me foot
race between Ostriches We i'm
mediately went to broad, open space,
| between the ostrich pens and the
house. One Of tne keepers opened
| the door of one Of the pens, and IL
| response to the doctors call, two
superb ostriches came running to him
After caressing the gentle creatures
| for few moments he showed them {.
handful Of figs, OF which they are ex-
tremely fond. Two of his men then
restrained the birds by placing moses
about their legs, until he and myself
mad walked away about quarter Of u
mile. Then, at Il signal from the
| doctor, the birds We're released. ana
the race began. 1t was a rare sight
| OTnIthoIOglsts tel us that the stride
of the ostrich when feeding is from
70 to y inches; when walking, but not
feeding, rs inches, and when terrified,
from III to Ia feet. 1t seemed to me
that IN this race for q handful Of figs
from their master, these gigantic
birds covered the l3st-named distance
at every stride. Like the wind they
came, their great necks stretched for
ward and inward IN then. I7+fppS+
length, and their wings working
They kept well abreast for nearly hall
the distance, and then one began to
forge ahead. He increased his lead
until within short distance of us,
when he turned his head, and, seeing
that his competitor was considerably
IN the rear, he slackened his pace, and
jogging up to the doctor, received his
reward in figs and caresses.
Rasi1as DIR Skatpb lows farm tharp