Nearly 200 years ago, ostrich farming was started in the Cape Province, South Africa with a view to commercializing ostrich feathers. The ostriches in the wild were being hunted to extinction for their unique feathers, which were the fashion statement of the day. In order to be able to harvest the feathers easier, and without having to kill the birds, ostriches were rounded up and kept in pens, and thus began the wonderful tradition of ostrich farming.As far back as the ancient Egyptian and Roman times, we see evidence of ostrich feathers being used in formal dress. In the days were embellishments to dresses were forced to be from nature, as synthetic goods were not yet in ready circulation, feathers were seen as a beautiful and lasting way of enhancing a dress. Flowers wilt, but feathers can last for many years with proper care. Ostrich feathers were very popular because of the sheer volume of each feather, and the strikingly dramatic black and white feathers.All fashion seasons do come to an end. And unfortunately the ostrich feather trade dwindles to almost nothing at the start of the First World War. Not only was transportation of luxury items a problem, but fashions themselves were changing. Because of the shortage of material due to the war effort, dresses became shorter and simpler in design, using less extravagance. Another deciding influence in the changing of fashions was the advent of the motor car. Overly extravagant dresses did not fit into the restricted space of the early motor vehicles.Although the ostrich farming industry has now shifted away from feathers as a primary revenue source, and although ostrich feathers are no longer selling at the exorbitant prices of yesteryear, there is still a viable market for feathers in the fashion industry as well as the utilities industry. Ostrich feathers are used by fashion designers, by florists, interior decorators and those in the crafts industries. There is also a large market for feather dusters. The options are endless. Ostrich feathers are not only versatile and striking as they are, they also readily accept dyes to make even more stunning designs.Ostrich feathers are ready for an initial plucking at 7 to 8 months old. Then the mature crops of feathers are ready at 14 months. Maturity of feathers varies from one bird to another, with nutrition, health, general management and genetics being as important a factor as age. Two ostriches living side by side, following exactly the same management and diet can have variable feather growth. It is however important to follow good management from hatch stage, because the health of a chick now can greatly impact the development of his mature feathers a year down the line.The feathers are classified as to length, sex of the bird, where the feather comes from, what it looks like and also whether it has been processed (e.g. dyed). The main classifications are:Drabs - Body Feathers (natural or dyed, in different standard lengths) - From adult females or chicks
Blacks - Male body feathers sold as drabs
Male Wings - White wing feathers from mature males
Feminas - White Wing Feathers of the Female
Tail Feathers - Tail feathers of adults and slaughter birds
Spadonas or Spads - Chick wing feathers.
Floss - Soft body feathers
Blondenes - Light coloured body feathers
Bycocks - Transition feathers from body to wing
Slopes - Poorly shaped feathers
Ruggies - 5th and 6th quality feathersUsually ostrich feathers are sold by the kilogram. Sometimes however the feathers are sold singly for non-industrial or low volume consumers.Although the cleaning and handling of ostrich feathers is labor intensive, it is well worth every ostrich farming venture's effort to develop this market, if they are slaughtering in larger volumes and able to market on a commercial-scale. [EXTRACT]
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For almost 200 years, ostrich farming started in the Cape Province, South Africa, with a view to market ostrich feathers. Ostriches in the wild were being hunted to extinction for their feathers only that were the fashion statement of the day. In order to collect the feathers easier, and without having to kill the birds, ostriches were arrested and held in pens, and so began the wonderful tradition of ostrich farming.As back to Egyptian and Roman antiquity, see evidence of ostrich feathers are used in formal attire. In the days were the decorations of the dresses were forced to be in nature, such as synthetic products were not yet ready in the circulation, the feathers were seen as a beautiful and lasting improvements in a dress. Flowers fade, but the feathers can last many years with proper care. Ostrich feathers were popular because of the enormous amount of each pen, and pens surprisingly dramatic black and white. All fashion seasons come to an end. And, unfortunately, the trade in ostrich feathers decreases to almost zero at the beginning of the First World War. Not only was the luxury goods transportation a problem, but the fashions were changing. Due to the scarcity of material, due to the war effort, the dresses are shorter and simpler in design, with less waste. Another influence on fashion change was the advent of the automobile. Too extravagant dresses did not fit the restricted space of the early vehicles. Although the engine of the ostrich farming industry has moved away from the pens as the main source of income, ostrich feathers despite no longer sold at the exorbitant prices of yesteryear, is there still a viable market for feathers in the fashion industry and the utilities industry. Ostrich feathers are used by fashion designers by florists, interior decorators and craft industries. There is also a large market for dusters. The options are endless. Ostrich feathers are not only versatile and surprising as they are, they also willing to accept the dyes to make even more impressive designs.Ostrich feathers is ready for an initial score of 7 to 8 months of age. Then the feathers mature crops are ready in 14 months. Maturity of the feathers varies from bird to bird, nutrition, health, general management and genetics as important a factor as age. Two ostriches live side by side, exactly the same treatment and diet can have a variable feather growth. However, it is important to follow good management of the stage of hatching, because the health of a girl now can greatly impact on the development of mature feathers feathers One year line.The are classified as size, sex birds, where the pen comes, it seems, and if it has been processed (eg, dyeing). The main classifications are: Eyedropper - the feathers of the body (natural or dyed in various standard lengths) - For women or young adult Black - the feathers of the male body sold as a dropper Wings Women - white feathers on the wings of adult males Feminism - white wing feathers Women Feathers of the tail - tail feathers of adult birds and slaughter Spadone or SPAD - chick wing feathers. Floss - soft body feathers Blondenes - feather light body color Bycocks - The transition from the wing feathers of the body Earrings - as bad feathers Ruggie - 5 and 6 feathersUsually quality ostrich feathers sold kilos. Sometimes, however, the feathers are sold separately for non-industrial consumers.Although or low volume cleaning and handling of ostrich feathers is labor intensive, well worth every effort ostrich farming project to develop this market if they are being killed in greater numbers and market power on a commercial scale.
