THE OSTRICH INDUSTRY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 146, 16 February 1916, Page 2

THE OSTRICH INDUSTRY.

Operations at Helvetia Farm. Plucking The Feathers. Situated at Faerata and adjacent to Fukekohe is a large area of country known as the Helvetia Ostrich Farm, where the particular industry appertaining to the birds is carried on, the Belvetia Eitate being the only producing centre of the kind in the Dominion, the leathers going to Auckland and after treatment being distributed all over New Zealand For the purpose or inspecting the birds and watching the procesi of securing the leathers a representative of thp "Fukekphe Times"' paid a visit to the farm on Satirday last, being courteously received by Mr John Schlaepfer, the resilent Managing Director of the Helvetia Ostrich Co., Ltd. FKELIMINAKY DETAILS Jt may be mentioned that the Helvetia Ostrich Co, Ltd., was registered in October, 1902, the ttock of ostriches ihen stationed at Whitord Fark ard belonging to Messrs L D Nathan and Co. being purchased and brought to Fatrata in Marc'i of the fallowing year. The Htlvetia Farm comprises som2 3500 acres, and the birds at intervals occupy different po;tiosa of the property, ttjeir present number being between 350 and 400. HABITS OF THE BIKDS Ost iches are what ara kr.own es "royal" birds, viz, they mate in pairs. Their natural food is grass, but lor breeding purposes artificial feeding with majze snd other corn has to be resortel to, and as their appetites are prqdjgioas pareal food becomes* a very expensive diet. Each pair of birds in the botching season have to be kept apart, one-and-a-half acres of land formiig the run f.r each couple. If breeding is not carried on the birdi dwell together in mobs. The period of laying extends from about August until the end of the year, one egg being laid every other day, but not mere than one dozen eggs ih the extent of any nest, the eggs being laid in some large hollow in tte ground. The period of incubation is six weks, and the mala bird as well as the hen take» its part in the "sitting" prccees, the litter occupying the nest in tbe day time and the male bird covering the eggs throughout the night, in this connection it may be mentioned as an item ot interest that nature evidently provided for the contingencies of the birds in a wild state, for the colour of the body feathers ol the male birds is black and that of the lei bi'ds grey, and thus with the male birds sitting at night their chare: cf detection by any preying enemy is remote, whilst similarly the grey colour of the hens against the earth or sandy 'soil renders them comparatively free from observation in the day lira', except at very chse range This season hatching has rot been proceeded with at the Helvetia Farm, and as a matter of Let the yield ot eggs was on a small stair, owing to wind and rani prevailing during the Myirg nemd to the detriment ot the birds. When not required far hatching the eggs arc disposed of to the city confectioners, wto utilise theni lor various dainty comestibles

AVEKAGE LIFE The average life of an ostrich in New Zealand is about 40 years, but they have been known to live to double that ap.e in Suutli Airicj NAIUIMLLY INQUISITIVE At the time of the writer's visit last Saturday a large mob of buds was congregated in an enclosed yard from which they were driven by

degrees into pens. The birds nobly strutted about tbe yards and beirg naturally of a very inquisitive nature th-y Btraire! their long necks and made a minute inspection of all their surroundings. For the greater part they are exceedingly tame, and one can pass freely amongst them, although to the uninitiated it is somewhat bewildering when they coune forward and thrusting their heads downwards desire to make a close observation of the individual that is strange to them THE HARVEST From the aiore-nientioned pens they arc led one at a time into the plucking box, a hood first being placed over their head as a precautionary method, thuß preventing possible injury frum tha beak. Theyounger birds take none too kindly to the plucking operation at first, but as a rule they get accustomed to it in course of tima. In some instances, however, objection always remains and such birds have to be caught by the neck by a long urook and ignominiouslv hauled into the plucking box. In the bJX they continue to struggle violently, but their powerful legs—the kicks always being in a forward direction—fail to make any impression on the staunch timber of which the box is construct J. With the unruly customers the wooden sidei of tte box are also raped and damage from the wings is thus prevented Feathers are available for plucking when tha bitie arrive at tha age of ight months, and at every succeeding eight months, threap tickings taking place every two years. The tody leathers are in no way interfered with, only the wing ard tail feathers being removed. The mah birds have a top line ot white leathers attach:d to their wiags, which are otherwise black, whilst the tail feathers are grey, and the hens, as already stated, are wholly grey. Only featre s tch ically known as "ripe" are extracted otherwise bleeding would take place. The young feathers derive advantage by the removal of tha "lips" plumea as the bl.od that has helped to teed the latter goes to the rooti ot the former and promotes their growth. Tbe bigger feathers are cut off and tbe smaller ones are removed by hand. The average return ot feathers from each bud runs from £2 to £6 per annum OTHEK PARTICULARS Up to a few yens ago a factory was in full swing on the bdvetia Faim and the feathers were put into a marketable state. Now, with the exception that feather du;t2rs are still made up on the farm, bleaching, sorting and grading is only reported tc, the dressing and dyeing process taking place at the Company's new factory in Auckland. An extensive showroom, containing many very valuable samples of feathers, however, still remains and opportunity is afforded for visitors to the farm to make purchases on tbe spot The hatching-house, part of the local equipment, is no longer in use, but in past days, when the flock of birds was being built up, three or four incubators were freely in use