OSTRICH FARMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

OSTRICH FARMING.

Mr I. D. Ellis, a genfcleman visiting Adelaide from Cape Colony, who has had a considerable amount of experience in os-trich-farming, has supplied the; South Australian Kegister with a few particulars regarding that industry. He says :—"lt is only 10 or 12 years since the idea of farming ostriches for the sake of their feathers was started in Cape Colony, and in spite of all predictions as to the utter impracticability of carrying out thescheme, still the results show that the industry is one of the most profitable that can be entered into. In fact, ostrichfarming has proved one of the truest sources of revenue to Cape Colony, and last year feathers to the value of half a million were exported from there. The price of birds vary, but a guaranteed good pair, aged about four years can be purchased for £200, and these bring in the first year £20 for feathers. If the breeder had ordinary luck they ought to hatch 20 chicks, which, when Bix months old, are worth from £8 to £10 each. It will thus be seen that in the first year a man is often repaid for the whole of his outlay.' The first plucking takes place when the birds are about 12 months old, the feathers being then worth about 10s. The next plucking realises about 30s, and so on, increasing in value as the bird ages. Ostriches require very little room, the breeding birds being kept in small paddocks of about four or five acres in extent ; and they will feed upon Indian corn, or almost any kind of grain. From what I have seen of South Australia, I think ostriches- would flourish exceedingly well here, as this Colony resembles South Africa ia very many respects ; and my belief is considerably strengthened by the fact that the emu—a bird of the same family as the ostrich —is a native of Australia. The only thing that would be required by anyone starting the industry here would be some knowledge of the habits of the ostrich and of the manner of farming. I would advise anyone who had any idea of introducing birds into Australia to obtain ostriches aged about six months, 80 as to acclimatise them, but I do not think there would, be any difficulty on that score, especially after knowing that a shipment of birds that were sent to South America have done wonderfully well in that country. In conclusion, I may say I shall be exceedingly happy to furnish any particulars to inquirers on this subject." ■ ;::::-

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