The age-herald., 1900-05-13
OSTRICH FARMING
 FULL OF INTEREST

Ostrich farming is a comparatively new industry in the United States. but it is very promising. Down in Florida an os- trich farm has been running about four teen months This is the third largest in the United States, and the only one of the kind in the east. Others are to be found in California and Arizona All of the Florida farm birds dhere are about 15O were born in this country, and represent a money investment of about s100,000.
 It took several years for ostriehes to be- come acclimated after their arrival in Cal ifornia from South Africa. Many of the birds became i'll on the long sea voyage, and the American keepers did not fully understand their habits The first lot came over in 1882. It is said that the birds thrive, especially in Florida, where the sandy soil suits them excellently.
 On the farm in Florida, not far from Jacksonville, there are about 150 full grown birds and forty chicks, and it is said that long before the visitor passes in at the entrance he is aware that there are ostriches in the leighborhood by the frequent roars and misses. The males roar like mountain lions and the females hiss like the escape valves on a steam engine. A full-grown ostrich stands from seven to ten feet high and weighs from 25O to 400 pounds. An ostrich chick one month old is worth $100, at two years the bird is worth $250, and when full grown, as the males at four years and the females at three, the birds are worth from $500 to S750 each. The average life of an ostrich is seventy years. In rare cases they have lived to be 100 years old.
 When the herd goes to sleep sentinel bird keeps guard over all the rest If any thing happens this sentinel gives roar that can be heard for miles around
 Ostrich eggs weigh from three and one half to four pounds, and fourteen make nestful The first two laid never hatch. The fertile eggs sell for s20 each, and make good, though rather expensive, eat ing.
 It takes forty days to hatch out a brood, and the chicks begin to eat grass and small stones when three days old. When an ostrich is nine months old the first feathers are plucked from 1t, and this is repeated regularly at the same interval. The shade and color of the feathers differ with the age of the bird. On the young they are white and yellow. At eighteen months they turn drab on the female and black and white on the male. The most valuable feathers are those pluclSed from the wings and tail of the male. The legs of the ostrich are bare and the neck is covered with light fuzz.
 The plucking of the birds is an interest ing sight. bird is driven into a tight and stout enclosure, not unlike a cattle chute, hood slipped over it's head, and the short feathers pulled out by the op orator, and the large feathers clipped off with shears. Three months after plucl1ing the clipped stubs are ripe and fall out. It is said that the extraction of feathers by skilled operator is without pain. The plucking of a male adult is worth from $35 to $55, and that of a female from S25 to $40 for the raw material, which is worth many times that sum when ready for mar ket. The average is three pluclings in two years.
 The various kinds of feathers are placed in separate bags, graded and go through a dozen processes before they reach the market. The natural black ostrich feather is dyed black, that being the fashionable color. The large plumes of commerce are not a single feather. but two. three or four feathers closely sewed together as to deceive the novice. All the feathers produced on the Florida farm are dyed and prepared for the market in Jackson vile. Among the novelties produced are ostrich plume capes, colarettes. boas, par asols and fans Some of the plumes bring s10 and capes as much as $75
 Keepers of ostrich farms say that they cannot make pets of the birds, though they are often trained to draw light road wagon. They are very strong, and ire quently kick their keepers. Their legs are their weapons of defense. They never use their sharp bills, but infict injury with their sharp claws. The keepers usually protect themselves with wooden pitch forks, as it has been found necessary.
 The brains of a female ostrich are al- most nil it is said. and the males are not much better supplied, though they have keen eyes and a quick instinct Of danger.