Jan 11
19
Ostrich Farming for Ostrich Feathers
The domestication of ostrich started because of the need to satisfy the demand for ostrich feathers. Drawings and carvings indicate the Ancient Egyptians and Romans used ostrich feathers for formal dress. ostrich farming stopped the hunting of ostrich, which were by then threatened with extinction from over hunting.
The ostrich feather industry collapsed at the outbreak of the First World War. The primary reason was the stopping of all trade shipping, which left it impossible to service the markets. This combined with the advent of the motorcar and a change in fashions. The ostrich feather market reawakened after the Second World War and has steadily grown since that time. However, it has been the demand for ostrich leather that has driven the main growth of the industry since the Second World War, and only recently ostrich meat.
Traditionally the farmers plucked the birds at 7 to 8 months and that resulted in a mature crop of feathers when slaughtered at 14 months. There have been many myths on feather development, age of slaughter and impact of green or mature feathers on skin quality. There are tremendous differences in feather development during the rearing process depending on the nutritional program the birds are fed. Even when on the same program, if there is a check in the lucerne quality or feed management, it can make a difference of several months in feather development, feed conversion and meat yield. The condition of the chick at hatch and speed it gets going can also impact on feather development and age. When observing these differences it becomes clear just why there are so many myths abounding!!!
Ostrich Feather Costume made from Male Wings, Blacks and Feminas
The following are the type of feathers generally marketed:
- Drabs – Body Feathers
Sold natural and dyed
Sold in different lengths – Class lengths are usually 22 to 25cm, 15 to 20cm and 12 to 20cm. Drabs will be taken from slaughter birds and either adult female or chick body feathers.
- Blacks – Male Body Feathers sold as Drabs
- Male Wings – Mature Male White Wing Feathers
- Feminas – Female White Wing Feathers
- Tail Feathers – Feathers from the tails of Adults and Slaughter Birds
- Spadonas – (Spads) are Chick wing feathers.
- Floss – Soft Body Feathers
- Blondenes – Light colored body feathers
- Bycocks – Transition feathers from Body to Wing
- Slopes – Poorly shaped feathers
- Ruggies – 5th and 6th Quality feathers
The most common way to sell feathers is by the kilo. However there are occasions for selling by the individual feather for those who want them for non-industrial uses or low volume.
Ostrich feathers are unique with special qualities with the potential for high value. They also represent approximately 1% of the total revenue of a slaughter bird. When Ostrich Farmers harvest feathers at any time other than slaughter will impact on production and therefore carry a cost implication from lost production. Handling ostrich feathers is labor intensive, so reasonable volume is required to handle on a commercial scale.
