HATCHING OSTRICHES. 



HE introduction ol 

 artificial hatch- 

 ing has added 

 materially to the 

 profits of the 

 ostrich parks 

 and farms of 

 Africa, Asia and 

 America. S i t - 

 ting is injurious 

 to the valuable 



plumage of the parent birds ; and then the eggs 

 may be used for hatching without consulting the 

 convenience of the layers. The period of incuba- 

 tion is from 40 to 42 days, and little more care 

 than is required in hatching chickens is necessary 

 in hatching ostriches. The young birds are as 

 tender as young turkeys, and should be kept in the 

 brooding house until the sun has dried the grass. 

 They must also be returned before the dew falls. 

 They need shade in the heat of the day, but the 

 more sunshine they get, that is not too hot, the 

 better they will thrive. The eggs weigh from 3^ 

 to 3^ pounds, and one before us measures 15^6 

 inches by 17^ inches around each way. They are 

 palatable and wholesome when boiled, but are too 

 precious for ordinary table use. 



The African ostrich is superior in size, weight 

 78 



