The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-14

much experience which has been valuable
to his successors.
Nowadays ostrich farming is Unusually
prosperous. All the southern California
farms that We're losing money few years
ago have doubled and trebled their num-
Der of ostriches and increased their land
holdings. So,ie 100000 is now invested
IN the business, and the annual output of
feathers is over 100000
First Crop from Native Born Nubians,
Ihls year, for the first time, crop of
feathers was plucked from Nubian os-
trlches porn IN America, and the harvest
was very satisfactory. .y
Most speople have an idea that an
ostrich is plucked of"its plumage by hold.
ing the giant bird down with straps and
ropes while an attendant pulls the feath-
ers, unfortunately from the birds back
and wings. But harvesting ostrich feath-
ers is a scientific operation that demands
experience and care lest birds costing
from $500 to $1,700 be ruined for wealth
production.
No Wonder the OstrIches Roar!
When plume is ready for it's plucking
1t is known as ripe! The ostrich expert
goes over the flock, carefully selecting
from it birds whose feathers show that
the r1pen1ng of the plumes is setting in
Then the birds are separated into flocks
OF twelve and fourteen and confined in
little Enclosures, where they may not run
ABOUT and damage their valuable plum
| age When all is ready for the season Of
feather plucking, each ostrich is caioled
Dy basket of food held before 1t out Of
the Enclosure with it's mates into a mar
row passageway built of heavy boards
front ana rear gates are suddenly
Closed and the great bird is a prisoner
between. walls of planks that reach to its
pack and where there IS no room for
1t to move in any direction. A cloth bag
is thrown over the ostrich's head and the
creature is fast in the tolls Of the feather
harvester. .:...,. 80.
ABOUT half an hour is spent in pluckiug
each ostrich. There are three mon III
each pluckjng crew. They stand upon a
platform outside the pen where the os-
trlch is held fast and with a dozen cod
shaped scissors and appliances for stanch-
ing blood that may flow from, the birds
torn flesh, work diligently. Care is taken
to leave enough feathers to protect the
smaller feathers, which will grow into
plumes by the next plucking.
In the early days of ostrich farming in
southern California little attention was
given to these details, and in conse-
quence 1ncurable sores appeared on the
birds and many died.
Why Tall Feathers Are Pulled.
Most Of the tail feathers are pulled,
not cut on, because they produce better
there than on other parts of the ostrich's
ana tony, and because they are so short
that the extra inch gained by not snip
ping the feather Is a nattert of several
dollars more profit. Each plume when
cut or pulled is laid tenclerly In a clean
box. ~. .. >s"y a>
While the feather harvest is proceeding
the ostrich Keeps up. an incessant low
roaring, and but for the tightness of the
pen 1t would kick the plank boards into
| sllVers At last when the FUCKERS have
done, the gates are opened and the bird
rushes into the Enclosure to join It's mates.
Then another ostrich is cajoled into the
narrow men, and the gathering of other
fea theirs goes on. -" E.r5. =. W.. g
The plumage of the older birds is de-
nominated second class in the markets.
The older ostriches are kept largely for
breeding purposes. A few ostriches in
southern California are known to be more
than thirty years old, and, there are rec
ords of Nubian ostriches that have lived
seventy and more years.
Ostriches have to be guarded lest they
destroy their feathers. Any little dis
agreement is likely, to result in the loss
OF many dollars to their owners, in the
damage to their plumes. 5
| The true, or African ostrich, inhabits
the sandy plains of Africa or Arabia; the
| South African being considered distinct
! species. There are three species of these
birds in South America, though not very
|. closely allied to the true ostrich, having
three oed feet and differing in many 9TH
lier respects. s
A considerably smaller ostrich, with
very inferior plumage, is found in the
Great South American pampas, while in
! Patagonia we find 9 still smaller species.