Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-11
osrRICHEs AT Los ANGELES.
Successful Attempt to Introduce
Ostrich Farming in California.
From the Eeao York Sun.


Ostrich Farming in California.
From the Nel0 York Sun.
Within six miles of Los Angeles, on
what is known as the old Temple street
road, DR.. C. j. Sketchley has started an
ostrich farm. He was one of the pioneers
in ostrich farming in Africa, where be
engaged IN the business tor many years,
and is the author of 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 there,
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 Matched.
Their food consists almost wholly OF
corn and alfalfa, which is a beautiful
plant of the LuZerne family. Long eX-
perIence has shown that this bill Of fare
will cause the ostrich to produce more
feathers and OF a better 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 between
the two. From the observatory tower in
the centre OF the DOCTORS residence the
ostrich grounds look like an immense
chess board and the gigantic birds like
the big pieces scattered over it.
"All the tull-grown ostriches you see,"
said the doctor, 81 imported directlytrom
Africa, landing them in this country at
Galveston, and bringing with them four
Madrasese men and one woman, the peO-
pie 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 in their native country, both in the
number OF eggs they lay and the number
OF young ones they hatch, and also in the
quantity OF feathers they produce-re-
suits due, | believe, to this glorious eli
mate, which seems greatly to increase
the fertility of all animals. The feathers
are fully equal in all respects to any
grown in Africa.
E'The height of the birds is from 8 to u
feet. Their weight varies from 800 to 400
pounds. The male is much the larger,
and is black. while the female is gray.
Where, then, you viii 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 de-
sired, and, consequently, so much higher
10 price than black or gray feathers. for
in some respects l consider them interior
to the other feathers.
1.-The female ostrich does not begin to
lay eggs until it is years old, but it pro-
duces its first crop of feathers at the end
of its first year. Every seven months
thereafter its plumage is ready for mar
ket, yielding about % of the very finest
feathers, besides large number of less
valuable ones. The feathers are not
plucked, but are cut off quite close to the
skin, with large shears made for the pur-
pose. No pain whatever is inflicted in
the operation. Within a few days after
the feathers have been cut the stubs dry
and shrivel TO such an extent that they
are easily removed. The longest and
finest white feathers are worth at whole
sale 81 piece, and good feathers are
worth 5000 pound. The first clipping
OF young birds will average $40 in value.
OF course it requires good deal OF CAPT
tai to start a large ostrich farm, as a full
grown pair OF birds Is worth from 500 to
$500, and single young bird, q months
old costs from $50 TO 5000; but after ii
is once under way the return from the iu-
vestment is large one.
"We very seldom permit the ostrlches
to do their own Matching. but most of il is
performed by incuDators. The old idea
that ostriches seldom or never require
water has long since been proven false.
They drink frequently, and even battle.
We Keep water trough in each pen TO
enable them 10 do so. No one knows u
what age an ostrich may attain. but be-
lieye they are little short Of immortal. In
Africa nave seen a pair OF BIRDS that
were known to be over 80 years of age"
reminded the doctor of a promise he
had made me to show me a foot race be-
tween ostriches. We Immediately went
to a broad, open space, between the os-
trIch pens and the house. Que OF the
keepers opened the door Of one of the
pens, and in response to the DOCTORS cal
two superb ostriches came running tc
him. After caressing the gentle creatures
Tor "A few moments he showed them q
handful of figs. of which they are eX.
tremely fond. Two of his men then re.
strained the birds by placing noOses about
their legs, until he and myself had walked
away about quarter o; mile. Then, at
signal from the doctor, the birds were
released and the race began. 1t was a rare
sight. Oruithologists tell us that the
stride OF the ostrich when feeding is from
% TO - inches; when walking, but
not feeding. 26 inches, and when terri
fed, from liz to ii feet. II seemed TO
me that in this race for a handful OF figs
from their master, these gigantic birds COW
cred the last named distance at every
stride. Like the wind they came, their great
necks stretched forward and upward TO
their utmost length, and their wings
working. They kept well abreast Tor
nearly half the distance, and then one
began to forge ahead. He increased his
lead till within a short distance of us,
when he turned his head, and, seeing this
his competitor was considerably i'll the
rear, he slackened his pace, and joggin z
up to the doctor received his reward in
figs and caresses.
Besides DR.. Sketchley's farm, there is
another ostrich farm near Anaheim, a
thriving town on the Southern Pacific
railroad, % miles from Los Angeles.
For Coughs and Throot Disorders
Use BROWNS BRONCHIAL TRoCHEs