Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-23

claimed lands of the Arizona desert,
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 and
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 of
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 birds
may always have fresh pasturage.
fences seem low, for the eightfooters
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
hoarse sort of croaking hiss in his in
vitation to fight.
Superintendent ]. 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 a variety Of
ages. An incubator equalizes this by
bringing out all the brood at the same
time. Then there is always the dam
ger of summer rains flnOding the nests
which the hens make in the grass of
the yards, and thus spelling a sitting
of eggs, for the birds will be driven
from their incubating task by the
water. When allowed TO hatch their
chicks in the natural way the birds
show 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
machine usually occupied by three or
four trays Of hens eggs.
The chicks" as they are called, are
almost as large as hens when Matched
and are speckled and striped like g.
combination of guinea fowl and zebra
markings. In a few months the spots
and stripes are lost in the uniformly
dlrty-drab plumage of the hens or the
more snowy glossy black of the male
birds. Rapidly do the chicks grow. SO
that 1T is rather startling to hear the
attendants speak Of chicks" while
Pointing to pen of birds three or four
feet tall. In six months the birds are
ready for their first pIucking. This is
an interesting operation and one that
the visitor feels he would rather wit
ness from the outside of the pen. Two
attendants enter the pen armed with
short forked pole. If the bird is at
all vicious and liable to kick. the fork
IS deity placed astride his neck and
the keeper is then able to push the
olrd away and keep out of reach of
his kicks.
Here is shown another instance of
me lack Of strength in all parts of the
oiroS anatomy except his .egs. for
with one hand the pole may be held
against the long neck and the keeper
90 on with his work fearlessly. Then
IS SHOWN the truth of the old tradition
that an ostrich thinks itself safe if IFS
mead is covered. A stout bag is
thrown over the birds head and i'm
medlately 1t is at the mercy of the
men, although it may tower three or
more feet above them in its eight or
nine feet Of height. Quickly the
plumes are clipped and the bird re-
leased.
The plumes, which are the most
priced feathers. grow downward from
tue wings, below the elbow. as it were
ana give the birds the appearance of
laoy no wears a half sleeve filled in
with lace which bangles from her fore
arm or tails over her hand. The
pIumes Hop about in most ungrace-
1ul way as the wings are moved and
their bedraggled whfteness is in vivid
contrast to the black or drab plumape
There are "A plumes on each wing
and after the first plucl1ing the plumes
mature every eight months. About
TOUR days after the plumes are clipped
the stumps Of the feathers are pulled
OUT IN order not to interfere with the