The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-09-27
MONEY IN osTRlcHEs.
Experiment to Be Made in Florida {,
Raise These Birds.

1T occurred to me many years ago, q"
said Mr.. II. ]. Tifln to a Jacksonville
Citizen reporter, that if ostrich farm
ing could be successfully carried on in
California the same might be done here
especially II It were simply a question
OF climatic adsptability, for the climate
Of east Florida is more similar to that
of South Africa, the habitat Of the
bird, than is that of California. have
closely watched the progress of these
latter farms, becoming more interested
yearly so that last fall, when, in At
lanta, ] had an opportunity to purchase
some ostriches I secured two, male and
female, and brought them to my Indian
river place on Merritt island, which is
about latitude 2S. These birds did so
well, seeming so perfectly at home
and well adapted to the conditions, that
1 went back to Atlanta and bought the
lot, fifteen in ALL some of them very
large and valuable, and now have
them all at home. Most of them were
raised on a Los Angeles farm. but few
are native African birds.
The value of an ostrich in South
Africa ia about $500. bought mine
for little more than 800 apiece. so that
| may be said to have made quite a bar
gain. The birds seem to be perfectly
at home. and feed upon the grass which
grows plentifully upon my place
also give them large quantities OF corn
and other grain, and occasionally try
them with a little meat OF some ldnd,
OF which they eat sparingly. for the
ostrich is a strictly gramnivorous
feeder When ! first brought them
down they eat little, and / concluded
] must give them an appetizer, which
l did. each one, in the shape Of a good
sized asafoetida pill Since that time
they have eaten ravenously.
"Ostriches are like quails. in that they
pair off and need a run TO themselves,
separated from other pairs At pres
ent mine are altogether. as | have not
had time to arrange their quarters. In
Africa on the large farm pair has
about forty acres to run in. / shall give
mine only about two acres, which may
am sure they will readily adapt them
selves in time My birds have already
begun laying. have gathered about
six eggs and the season Is just begin
ming Fifty eggs are laid during the
season, one laying season to the year
The average weight Of an ostrich egg Is
thirty-four ounces, SOME, of course
much larger, and 1t has the appearance
Of ball Of ivory. The shell is thin
and delicate and smashes easily II
dropped when containing the yolk, but
II the yolk is removed the shell is as
durable as china and is largely used
among natives as drinking cup.
"Ancients used them commonly and
the famous draught of the pearl dis
solved in vinegar is supposed to have
been taken from an ostrich egg. The
female sits on the egg during the day
the male at night This seems TO be
nature but most ostrich farmers now
use incubators. especially as the male
bird manifests an unaccountable grudge
against the young one and kills Il II
possible ! shall introduce the incu-
hator when I begin raising birds Os-
trieh eggs sell for $50 apiece, so ffty
eggs a year make bird very profitable
aside from the plumes, which bring in
about 5000 per year. The finest feath-
ers grow under the wings Those OF
the male are usually black and are the
finest Of all; the female plumes are
lighter in color and permit dyeing Tail
and breast feathers are also valuable.
The nnest feathers produced by the os-
trich are the three plumes used as a
headdrcss by the ladies OF the court OF
81. James and those who are presented
to the queen. Certain feathers are in
demand for this, the finest on the bird.
and they bring, OF course. the highest
prices"