ostrich farms

Interesting Facts About Ostrich Farming

Decorative feathers, delicious and nutritious meat and strong, attractive leather are just some of the reasons to consider the lucrative business of ostrich farming. It can also be an aid for healthier eating habits.

Ostrich farming is currently conducted in over 100 countries across the world. From cold climates such as Alaska and Sweden to equatorial countries like Brazil and Indonesia, ostriches are being raised as livestock with high yields. Because of its hardy nature, virtually any area is adaptable for the ostrich. Its feathers provide great protection with their insulating abilities; keeping the bird cool in hot climates and warm in colder areas. Humidity does present a problem, not with the adults but with the chicks which are highly susceptible to diseases that can be present in those conditions.

There are several reasons why ostrich farming can be a good investment. One breeding pair of ostriches is capable of producing up to 40 chicks per year. One healthy male can breed with up to three females during the same season. The incubation time of the ostrich eggs is only 42 days, so it is conceivable that your flock of birds can multiply exponentially in the best of conditions.

Another reason many people consider the business of ostrich farming is that the meat and hide of ostriches are in great demand. The cost of raising ostriches is much less than that of many livestock, because the ostrich is a free range animal that requires virtually no care after the age of 4 to 5 months. Feeding the birds is a much lower investment than feeding livestock, as the weight gain is greater with less feed for the ostriches.

Yet another benefit of ostrich farming is that you don't need a great deal of land to get started. For a pair of ostriches, only 1/3 of an acre is needed for them to roam; ½ acre for a trio of birds. They do not require shade, so open land is perfect for them. A free water source is vital, however; ostriches require 1.5 gallons of water per day. These birds spend about 75% of daylight hours feeding. Green grasses and pelleted feed make up the diets of the birds, with most of their minerals and nutrients found in a good palletized food.

In ostrich farming, there is very little waste when the birds are slaughtered. This means more bang for the buck. The meat goes to distributors, the hide to leather producers, the feet to the Asian markets as an aphrodisiac, the feathers to automobile distributors as paint aids and the eyes are purchased by research clinics that study human cataracts.

There are many positive reasons to begin ostrich farming, including the profits from selling the meat, hide and other parts of the bird. It can be a rewarding venture as well; knowing that supplying a healthier product can result in healthier eating habits.

Read about male goose, female goose, goose facts, ferret facts, ferret hunting, ferret food and other information at the Interesting Animals website.

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ostriches

How to Draw an Ostrich

African native Ostrich is one of the largest flightless birds. It belongs to the Struthionidae family and is the only extant species of its kind. Despite heavy bodies (63 to 133 kilograms), ostriches are exceptionally good runners due to their strong legs. Their land speed is approximately 70 kilometers an hour, which is by far the highest record for any bird. Ostriches are known for their soft, multi-layered feathers that hold air inside and provide excellent insulation. As many as five subspecies of ostriches have been identified that vary in appearance.

Steps to draw ostrich: From artistic consideration, drawing an ostrich is not a very complex task, except defining the plumage. The following steps will guide you on the process:

• Model picture: The first step is to get a reference image of the bird that you wish to draw. It is convenient to browse through the internet as you can get a broad range to choose from. You may look for other options, like books, periodicals, journals, and newspapers also.

• Framework: The basic geometrical drawing of an ostrich does not pose much challenge. A freehand 'S-like' curve should be drawn that traces the structure and length of the body. Represent the head portion with an appropriate sized circle near the upper end of the curve. A large, rounded oval or a circle can be used for the body. Locate the legs by long, straight, or angular lines. Append small ovals at the end of these lines, for the feet.

• Body Structuring: As you refine the shape of the head, extend the beak in a flat, 'V-like' shape. The prominent eyes are placed near the beginning of the beak. For neck, draw lines on the either side of the reference line. Keep track of the thickness of the neck. Draw feathers on the rounded central portion. The legs of an ostrich are particularly strong and thicker than the other long-legged birds. Its feet have two toes of varying sizes. The primary toe has a curved nail. Its skin around the lower leg is ridged in a parallel fashion in the front.

• Color and Shading: It is a matter of preference whether you wish to create a pencil work or a color drawing.

Both entail detailed shading effects, especially on the central body. The Southern Ostrich has grayish-brown colored feathers and similarly colored body. The North African Red-necked Ostrich has pink to reddish head, neck, and feet. Its feathers in males are primarily black in color, while brown in the case of females. The Masai Ostrich has pink body with black & white feathers and brown tails. The Somali Ostrich has bluish grey bodies. The males have black plumes with white tails, while the females have deeper brown feathers.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited.

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Ostrich Feathers

Ostrich feathers have being used since ancient times. They were used in Egypt by Cleopatra and King Tutankhamen in ornamentation and fans. In Rome they were used by roman officers in their headgear to indicate their rank. Today these feathers are used in centerpieces in wedding ceremonies and other events like baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party, confirmation, communion, corporate event, engagement, family reunion, high school prom, graduation, school reunion, sweet sixteen, or New Years Eve party etc.

Ostrich feathers are available in many different colors like black, gray, gold, orange, red, pink, yellow, fuchsia, magenta, burgundy, blue, navy, teal, turquoise, purple, Kelly green, emerald, forest, lime, rose, lavender, royal, mint, peach and cream. Ostrich feathers or drabs make very elegant centerpieces.

With Ostrich plumes we can also make very soft dusters. They are also used for cleaning purposes as they have natural oil in them which attract dust particles and hold on dust particles. These dusters last long after long frequent use. They easily clean dust without pressing hard. Also these dusters can be easily cleaned after their use with a mild soap or shampoo. Also if possible use lukewarm water to clean it and then leave it overnight or use a hairdryer to dry it. Also store them at room temperature so that they last long as humidity can damage them. These dusters can be used to clean knickknacks, glass, electronics, furniture etc.

We can make quiet eye catchy feather tress with ostrich feathers and can use bright, colorful and dyed feathers. Theses feathers comes in 5 inches to 30 inches of length and natural colors in which they are available are brown, gray, white and black and also we can dye them to achieve the color of our choice. Dying an ostrich feather is also not a tedious job and this can be done at home only by following simple steps.

1. First of all choose the dye according to your taste whether you want any vibrant color or want a subtle look.

2. Take a big container filled with water and cook the ingredients until their colors are released and place the feathers into the water without bending them. Let the feathers soak the color and let them get darker than the color you want because once they are dried the color will lighten.

3. Take the feathers out of the container and in order to dry the feathers use a hairdryer with lowest settings so that you do not scorch them with direct heat and after that pat them with a towel to get off moisture as much as possible.

4. Now place them on a newspaper and put dry starch on them and after sometime shake the feathers one by one or tap them against table edge or any other edge to get starch out of them. This will give fluffiness to the feathers.

Not only fashion designers are using natural color or dyed ostrich feathers in their dresses but now these feathers are liked by many women and are used by them to add grace to their dresses, hairstyles and give them an elegant look.

Neha Chawla writes on behalf on Plumesnfeathers.com which Offer Excellent Quality and Decorative Feather like Peacock Feathers, Ostrich Feathers, Goose Feathers, Pheasant Feathers, Feather Fans, Feather Pens, Feather Pads and Related Goods for Wholesale and Retail.

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