Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-01-20


is the ostrich farm OF the pearson
company, about seven miles from
Phoenix.
The farm is one of the show places
of the territory, and no visitor thinks
his trip complete without taking IN
the strange sights of the ostrich breed
ing ranch.
Apparently the transfer of the birds
from their native veldt has worked no
harm, but rather the opposite, for
they thrive as well here as in their ma
tive surroundings, gain as great size,
produce as fine feathers and, barring
accidents, live as long lives. In only
one thing do the ostrich breeders OF
America try to improve nature IN the
reproduction of these giant birds ana
that is in artificial incubation. A
veritable ostrich village is laid out in
the section of the farm devoted to
breeding. Here are main streets and
side streets, all named and numbered
Fronting upon them are the wlre-ln-
closed yards in which the pairs or
ostriches are penned. Each pair has
two yards, one for occupancy and the
other for reserve. Alternately the
yards are irrigated and thus kept IN
growing alfalfa, which forms the staple
diet of the mature birds. While one
yard is being eaten off the other one
is allowed to grow so that the bros
may always have fresh pasturage
Considering the size of the birds the
fences seem low, for the eight-footers
may easily crane their necks over
the topmost wire. However, it is ex-
planned that the great power IN the
sturdy legs of the ostrich lies in the
ability to kick and to get over the
ground in horizontal direction, but
not in jumping qualities. Behind
these fences the scrappy birds will
give their challenge to man or other
birds Squatting on the ground, with
wings outspread the pugilistic ostrich
will weave his sinuous neck about in
threatening curves, while he emits a
hoarse sort of croaking hiss in his in
vitation to fight.
Superintendent J. M. Harmon has
evolved a system of bookkeeping by
which an accurate, record is kept of
each pair of birds. During the laying
season a round is made of the yards
each day and the eggs gathered and
recorded. The hens lay every other
day, and if allowed to sit on the eggs
the brood would be of variety of
ages An incubator equalizes this by
bringing out all the brood at the same
time Then there is always the dan
ger OF summer rains flooding the nests
which the hens make in the grass of
the yards, and thus spelling sitting
of eggs, for the birds will be driven
from their incubatfng task by the
water. When allowed to hatch their
chicks in the natural way the birds
show a true equalization of labor. The
hen covers the eggs in the daytime
and the male bird takes his turn at
sitting at night. Some natural
broods have been successfully raised,
but the bette results are obtained
with incubators Ordinary chicken
incubators are used but on account
of the great size of the ostrick eggs
special trays have to built to hold
them, and these take the room in a
machine usually occupied by three or
our trays of hens eggs.
The chicks" as they are called, are
Utmost as large as hens when Matched
md are speckled and striped like a
Ombination of guinea fowl and zebra
markings. IN few months the spots
nd stripes are lost in the uniformly
irty-drab plumage of the hens or the
lore snowy glossy black of the male
irds. Rapidly do the chicks grow, so
lat it is rather startling to hear the
ttendants speak of chicks" while
ointing to pen of birds three or four
4et tall. In six months the birds are
lady for their first plucking. This is
interesting operation and one that
he visitor feels he would rather wit
ess from the outside of the pen. Two
ttendants enter the pen armed with
short forked pole. If the bird is at
II vicious and liable to kick, the fork
deity placed astride his neck and
lie keeper is then able to push the
RIA away anu Keep Out VI reach OF
is kicks.
Here is shown another instance of
le lack of strength in all parts of the
irds anatomy except his -egs, for
it'll one hand the pole may be held
gainst the long neck and the keeper
on with his work fearlessly. Then
shown the truth of the old tradition
lat an ostrich thinks itself safe if it's
lad is covered. A stout bag is
TOwn over the birds head and i'm
ediately it is at the mercy of the
en. although it may tower three or
ore feet above them in it's eight or
ne feet of height. Quickly the
INES are clipped and the bird re-
9sed
The plumes, which are the most
zed feathers, grow downward from
wings, below the elbow, as it were.
give the birds the appearance of
l. xrynp L