Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-03-25

cham Der in the egg is found. The
eggs are turned every day, and to-
wa -d the last they are watched very
carefully 70 see whether the chicks
are cid enough TO hatch. The break
ing OF the smell at the proper time l.
done with a tack-hammer, and the
baby ostrich is laid away in box OF
warm cotton for "a hours after II Is
nrtihcially Matched. AS soon rs the
birds arn out OF the shell their eyes
are tested. aud il they are OF a GER
tain lighti>h color the chicks are
killed. for they are then slbinos aud
they will not b. good for laying.
saw about this Egyptian ostrich
farm a great number OF crackercans,
aud my turbaned guide told me il
took 30 tin boxes OF crackers every
two days to supply these birds with
their luaches. They eat great quan-
titles OF green stuff and clover, and
they chew up gravel by the peck.
was shown about a half bushel ot
stones ranging in size up TO the size
OF A chestnut which had been taken
from an ostrich's stomach, aud the
supply OF pebbles is a very important
matter in the diet OF the ostrich.
They are enormous eaters and pair
Of ostriches will eat six pounds OF
barley day in addition 10 It's green
stuff or pasture. In California the
bird, are FED ID a considerable extent
upon alfalfa and they are said TO be
fond of grass, vegetables. weeds, aud
broken bones. They eat Indian corn.
and they are not averse 10 fruit and
berries.
Not long ago the value OF the er-
portation Of ostrich feathers from
Africa was ., O0O. 0OO "A year. and full,
half OF this amount was sent TO
America. Good feathers often sell
for s. and upward and there is little
doubt bat that under proper condl-
lions ostrich farming might be very
profitable. The African farmers aim
to make about 80 per cent of their
capital invested, and the profits, OF
course, rise aud fall with the price OF
feathers aud the fashion.
II is no small matter to get the
feather after you have the ostrich.
The best OF the feathers come from
under the wings, and each bird has
- white plnmes under each wing
with a row OF small feathers around
these. Above the white feathers
there isa row OF black feathers, aud
there is another row offrathers above
this which are black on the male and
drab on the female. Different ways
are used for getting the feathers 10y
different farmers IN Egypt the frath
rrs are pulled out aud the birds are
plucked about every nine months
+ is operation usually draws blood
and as il j. very painful to the ostrich
they naturally resist Feathers are
also pulled from the tail as well a.
from the wings. and in some cases
they are cut from the skin with
knife. The ostriches are caught for
plucking by coaIing them with corn.
and while the birds head is down in
the effort to pick this up the keeper
grabs him by the neck and throws
cloth around It. Other men then
force il down into "A sitting position.
and il is usually brought into corner
where il can be- managed with safety.
/ When the frather- are cut of the
quill, which are left int the body finally
drop out aud new feathers grow
After the feathers are drawn they
are sorted and sold to merchant, who
carry them TO London, from whence
they are sent to America The feath-
ers when pluckrd are neither curled
nor washed. and they have 10 go
through quite process before they
are ready for us" on our la lies hats.
IL takes about half an hour to pluck
Zach bird, and the work OF caring for
the animals is so great that there Is
Ii tie profit in raising them unless the
feathers bring fair price. Not long
ago they were down as low as $50 II
pound. and this price, in comparison
with the paImy days Of ostrich farm
ing, l. as nothing. Just now feathers
are quite fashionable, aud the prices
ought 10 have risen.
In 1892 many ostriches produced as
much as $3.50 worth Of feathers at
plucking. aud for time some OF the
California farms averaged, AIN told.
$500 per ostrich for their feathers
alone every year. The best birds are
those brought from South Africa, and
on farm near Santa Anna there are
about 80 very good Ostriches. These
birds are cared for on scientific prin-
ciples, and they are, AIN told. paying
the farmers The first ostriche-
brought TO this country were brought
by DR. Charles Skstchly, who vas
one Of the biz Jstrinh farmers OF Afri
"a. and who broIEnt hi. birds ria
South America TO New York, and
then shipped them across the country.
A company was organized with go 900
capital to manage rhis California Or
trIch far.L. aud the farm upon which
rney were placed contained 800 acres
The first ostrich chicken Matched in
the United States saw life on the 23th
Of July, 1888. and 27) rgs' were laid
the first year. There are now. / aIn
told. other ostrich farms in California.
and with the increase which ought TO
take place in the price Of feathers the
Industry may brcorne profitable one.
81