The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-28
STUDY OSTRICH RAISING
Government Experts Will Try to Solve
 Problems of the Business

Experiments have been begun in the Salt River valley in Arizona by the fed eral department of agriculture to solve some of the problems connected with the raising of ostriches in the United States, says the New York Herald. In their in- inquiries the scientists of the department will have the aid of farmers of that sec tlop, even to the extent of furnishing birds, feed and equipment.
 The nrSt importation of ostriches into the United States was made in 1882 from South Africa into California Several other importations were made after this date and 1t was one of these later i'm portauons that brought into this country 1 the North African, or Nubian bird Most of the birds in this country today are the descendants of the birds imported into California, and consist almost wholly of the South African breed.
 The two breeds differ in that the South African bird has 0 steel-colored skin and bears feathers of great length and width while the Nubian Is slightly larger, with a pink colored skin, bearing feather With very heavy fiue, which is more or less unsymmetrical tending to be mar row and one-sided.
 The ostIiches in this country are no longer confined to one locality, but are
 
 into the north Ostrich farms are found In California, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Pennsylvania Ten farms nave over 100 birds each, five farms have over 400 birds each, and one farm has over 2o00 birds. In all about 75 farms In the United States are making busi- ness of ostrich farming. The number of birds on these farms is about 71O0, of which 56S5 are in Arizona
 Approximately 4eO0 of all the birds are plucking birds, and give on the average one and one-quarter pounds of feathers per bird. which Is valued at s2O 8 pound Besides this a pair of breedings birds will easily reach $350 each, and eggs for hatch- ing sell at about s1o apiece. Egg shells cents to $1 each.
 The most valuable feathers are the main wing feathers of the male bird If excep- | tionally fine, these may bring $500 to $500 a pound. The average run of wing goods on the market Is SS5 to $125 a pound The first plucking of feathers Is made when the chicken is 6 to months of age The first plucking is of little value and only the main wing feathers. known as spaddones. are cut. These feathers sell at SS to s16 pound Successive pluck ings take place about every eight months after the first, the feathers being left on the bird two months longer, at the end or which time they are drawn. Gen. erally the mail wing feathers are cut, and the first and second row of covorts, floss and tail feathers are plucked
 The chief problems of ostrich farmers are feeding and rearing the chicks. Feed ing is not yet on a scientific basis, and 1t Is hoped that the department of agricul- ture may be able to give help in this di- rection. Then, too, the matching and raising of ostrich chicks are far from Sa atiSfa ctOry in results. After r1atipp tho hen starts to lay her first batch of eggs She lays IA to 16 eggs. and then she starts to sit. If the eggs are taken from her, she can often be made to lay three patches. The eggs are matched naturally or artifiicially. the latter being the more common practice. The percentage of chicks matched varies but the average is poor, while the number of chicks that die from one cause or another is very large.