Ostriches Eating Alfalfa Hay at the Cawston Ostrich Farm 
Care in Feeding the Ostriches 
The miraculous digestive ability of the ostrich is early 
evidenced. For four days after his advent into this hungry 
world he is a total abstainer, but really he is only “getting a 
good ready on!” 
At the end of this preliminary fast the chick begins to 
devour gravel, and after having thus laid a firm foundation, 
he starts in to build up his system at the rate of a foot of 
growth a month on alfalfa, grain, vegetables, oranges and any 
valuables which he may be able to “pinch” from the apparel 
of amazed tourists. 
Small rocks and other hard substances are a part of the 
daily menu. They are swallowed as an aid to digestion. 
But despite the ostrich’s fame as a swallower of any old 
thing, much care is taken to feed him the correct food for 
plumage development. Scientific breeding and feeding, in 
conjunction with the perfect climate of Southern California, 
account for the extra weight and luxuriance of Cawston 
plumes. Alfalfa is the staple diet for the birds on the Farm. 
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