Arizona republican., 1901-12-28
OSTRICH FARM EXHIBIT
Exhibition Yards and Salesroom Now
Open to the Public.

The exhibition yards OF the Phoenix
ostrich farm. owned by Messrs. A. Y.
Pierson and DIR. Carl Won Ruck. will be
opened to the public today. Just a block
north OF the west end of the city rail-
way lire.
Considerable has been written of the
big ostrich farm. though n detailed de
scription of that enterprise would
require a book. The purpose of this
article is TO tell what may be seen at
the exhibition yards. which are really
representative Of the larger enterprise.
The yards In Capitol addition occupy
space Of four acres. including two
large runs and smaller pens for chicks;
and half grown birds. There is also n
newly constructed building. which will
be maintained as J. salesroom and
which is fitted uD with the finest
French plate glass showcases that
money can buy. In this salesroom may
be found the finest assortment in the
United States of piumes. tips. pom
pons, boas. fans and everything made
of ostrich feathers. The statement that
this is the finest is made advisediy. for
the owners are also Interested in the
largest feather preparing establishment
in the country. in New York city
they. of course, have their choice OF
feathers and in the treatment of them
they can naturally secure the best
work. This salesroOm. or rather feather
store, is of itself worth a visit to the
grounds.
But in the pens the greatest attrac-
ton lies, for there the peculiar bird is
seen practically on his native heath. as
the greater number of them are natives
of Arizona or California. The big black
male bird. promeuadinS on field of
green. with his glossy black and white
feathers. is surely a picture of beauty
and the females are but little less at
tractive. There will be about fifty birds
in the exhibition yards, and they will
be Of all ages. from chicks but a few
days old to the old fellows whose age
mas been forgotten. for be it known
that an ostrich is supposed to live to
be at least 20 years old. and if he has
good luck may hope for his three score
years and ten.
Probably the greatest novelty on the
place IS 4 group OF Nubian birds.
The novelty does not appear by reason
of their superior attractiveness. but by
reason OF their history. Mr.. Pearson
some two years ago began an effort
looking to the securing of a number of
Nubian birds for the purpose of in
stilling new blood into his stock He
contracted for about forty young birds.
After the next Matching season his
agents were able to secure but twenty
chicks. They We're shipped first to
Hamburg. then to New York and Phoe-
nix. Thirteen of the twenty arrived
here in good condition. though their
first feathers were badly worn. They
are now about six months old and are
as much at home after a months resi-
dence in Phoenix as though they were
born here. The Nubian ostrich is fast
becoming an extinct species and the
birds secured by Mr.. Pierson have cost
him n vast sum Of money. But he
thinks the investment a good one.
nevertheless. Their legs and necks are
white instead of blue. as are the other
ostriches.
This morning a load of chicks but n
few days out of the incubator win be
brought up from the big farm and for
their especial accommodation during
the cold nights a nice new house has
been built.
One interesting thing about an
ostrich is the method of telling the age
of a young bird. All that is necessary
to arrive at the right conclusion is to
have a good yard-stick. for all properly
organized OStricheS grow foot Il
month. If they are four feet high, they
are four months old. But after ma
turity the only way to tell an ostrich's
years is to live with him. If
he lives as long as you do he is Just
as old as you are. But there are a hun
dred little things the visitor wants to
see and ask about and all is explained
at the exhibition grounds by attendants
there for the purpose. 1t only costs
quarter. and the grounds are open
seven DAYS in the week.
An incident occurred yesterday that
is illustrative of the things that are
always happening on an ostrich farm.
One of the birds broke his foot while
being unloaded from n wagon. 1t bent
back under him instead of sticking out
in front, as it should do. A big iron
shoe was made and three men by hard
work managed to strap it on the foot
in the course CT an hour. The success
OF the trea tment will be watched with
interest, for an ostrich is SO valuable
ii is worth while to take care of him. In
the handling of these birds there is al
ways some new situation arising that
calls for the ingenuity of the keepers.
This is probably the first ostrich in the
world that was ever shod.
OF the big farm something should be
said. indicating what the exhibition
yards are representative of. In the big
farm or farms nine miles west of town,
there are over 2.000 acres of land, di-
vided into yards. and occupied by about
1 goo birds of various ages. At the main
ranch there are all the necessary build