BABY OSTRICHES.
Three cunning little gray-and-white ostriches were ushered into theworld at the Florida Ostrich Farm and Zoo recently, a remarkably goodresult from a setting of fifteen eggs. Everybody, from Manager Fraserdown to the most subordinate attach? of the resort, was gloriouslyhappy over the event.
The life, habits, and characteristics of the ostriches are reallyinteresting. Starting with the mating of the grown birds, which areallowed to select their mates, the male bird prepares the nest, ahollow in the sand, generally in a secluded spot in his pen, about oneand a half feet deep and twelve feet in circumference. The hen laysabout twelve to eighteen eggs, one every other day. The eggs are fromfifteen to eighteen inches in circumference, and, weigh about threeto four and a half pounds each, the shell being from one-sixteenth toone-eighth of an inch thick, sufficiently strong to withstand a decidedblow. After laying her nest of eggs the birds begin setting, the hen inthe daytime and the male ostrich covering the eggs at nighttime. Theyremain on the nests constantly from forty-two to forty-five days, neverleaving it, except for food twice a day. Even then the male bird coversthe nest frequently while his mate seeks her food.
The chick when ready to hatch will usually break or pip the shellitself; but at times the hen ostrich will assist by breaking it withher breast bone, by pressing upon it, helping the chick out by liftingit out with her beak, and shaking the shell from its body.
The first growth of ostrich chicks is remarkably fast, as from ten daysof age up to six months old they grow at the rate of a foot a month.After six months they grow more slowly.
At first both sexes are similar in color and appearance, and are almostundistinguishable until about fifteen or eighteen months old. Thatwhich has been a mixture of drab, white, and brown on the male, beginsto darken, and finally at about four years old becomes a decided black.The feathers on the female remain drab during her entire life. Babyostriches do not eat for three days after hatching. The third day theybegin to stand up and take notice like a child, and after being taughtto eat by having bits of their food placed in their bills, they veryquickly discover the use of their bills, and pick up their own food.
The chicks must be carefully fed and have fine especially preparedfood, including plenty of fine grit and fresh, clean water. Their firstcrop of feathers matures at eight months.