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Should you ever appear on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and be faced with a question on ostriches then, I imagine some of these 23 unusual ostrich facts will come in useful!

1. Ostriches can not fly.

2. They are native to the African continent.

3. There were once Arabian Ostriches. Unfortunately, they were hunted to extinction in the mid-twentieth century. 4. Ostriches can run at a maximum speed of 45mph (70km/h) making them the fastest two-legged animals in the world. 5. They use their wings like 'rudders' of an airplane to change direction whilst running. 6. It is the largest living bird with males reaching up to 9 feet!

The Arabian Ostrich

7. Ostriches can weigh up to 130 kilograms (20 stone).

8. The ostrich has a diet of plants and insects.

9. They are group birds. Flocks vary between 5-50 ostriches. 10. If in danger an ostrich will either run away or lay flat on the ground. However, they can also attack with a powerful kick. Strong enough to kill a lion! 11. They do not bury their heads in the sand. This is a myth! 12. Their feathers are used for dusters. The barbules in the feathers act like 'fingers' to collect dust particles.

A flock of ostriches

13. Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal. Very useful for spotting predators in the distance. Their eyes are bigger than their brains!

14. They have three stomachs.

15. The ostrich has a lifespan of up to 45 years.

16. In a communal nest, a female ostrich can still spot her own eggs. The dominant female gets to lay her eggs first. 17. The incubation period for their eggs varies between 35-45 days. 18. The bird has ancestry of at least 40 million years. Evidence comes from a fossil found in Europe. 19. Males control a territory of up to 20 square kilometers (8 square miles). 20. Ostriches have no teeth. They swallow pebbles to grind down food in their gizzards. There are around 1kg of pebbles inside an ostrich stomach!

An Ostrich Egg

21. Ostriches raised by humans will often try to court them!

22. Apparently, the taste of ostrich meat is similar to beef.

23. In some cultures people have ostrich races where they ride them like horses.

So, there you have it.  A whole lot of ostrich facts that you never realised you wanted to know!

Written by Gary Mullen from Ostrich Feathers.

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Used creatively for centuries, the ostrich feather has proved itself versatile when used artistically.  This article will explore how ostrich feathers have been used throughout the years.

In ancient times, the Pharaohs of Egypt used to carry fans made from ostrich feathers to protect them from the sun.  It has been documented that Roman Generals used ostrich feathers in their headgear to indicate rank.

Today, ostrich feathers are commonly used as a decoration during important ceremonies such as birthdays, weddings and anniversary parties.  Their versatile and elegant nature makes them a perfect choice for centrepieces.  The feathers can be dyed in a variety of different colours which can be used to create elaborate and eye-catching displays.

Fashion designers have also used ostrich feathers in their clothing and accessories for many years.  The versatility of the feathers allow for truly unique creations.  I know of a lady who creates Burlesque clothing for a living and uses many ostrich feathers in her designs.  And, only recently Sarah Jessica Parker could be seen with an ostrich feather handbag in the Sex and the City movie.

Whilst they have their creative uses, ostrich feathers can also have their practical advantages.  During the early 1900′s the natural oils contained within the feathers were discovered to attract dust particles.  This led to a demand for ostrich feather dusters which originally were viewed as a status symbol but have become a popular household item today.  Those who advocate the use of ostrich feather dusters cite their ability to attract the dust into them without scattering it around the room!

With demand so high for ostrich feathers many people are concerned with how the feathers are obtained.  In the past the ostrich was mainly hunted for its feathers but thankfully many are now farmed humanly.  There are many farms in India and China where the birds are kept until they are ready to shed their feathers and, when they are the feathers are gently plucked by the workers on the farms.  Of course, there are unfortunately some farms where conditions are poor but for the most part the birds are well looked after.

At HandcraftedUK we work closely with our overseas suppliers to ensure that the feathers we obtain are from farms where the birds live in humane conditions and are not harmed for their feathers.

Please visit the following link if you would like to view our ostrich feathers.

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Ostrich feathers are very low maintenance and can last many years without the need for cleaning. However, there comes a time when every feather needs a bit of help to be returned to its former glory and, with this article we will show you how it’s done!

Storing Ostrich Feathers

Ostrich feathers will thrive if certain storage conditions are met. We have found that feathers stored between temperatures of 15-23°C (59-73°F) perform very well. In fact, the higher the temperature the better as it means there is less humidity in the air. Over time, humidity can damage the ostrich feathers which means their life span will be shortened. So, it is best to keep the room temperature as close to 23°C as possible. That’s the room temperature covered but, what should the ostrich feathers be stored in? Although standard card is often used for the storage of feathers this is not recommended because, over time, the acidity in the card can have an adverse affect on the feathers. The best way to store ostrich feathers is in an acid free cardboard box (PH neutral). These boxes not only prevent any acidity aging the ostrich feathers but also protects the feathers from other sources of damage; insects, dust, light exposure and over handling for example. These boxes are easily found on the internet and start from around £20.

White Ostrich Feathers

Cleaning Ostrich Feathers

Despite how well the ostrich feathers are stored they will eventually need to be cleaned. We will now outline a couple of methods as to how this can be achieved. If the feathers are carrying dust or other easily removable dirt then we would recommend brushing them. The best brushes to use would be a large artist’s paintbrush (dry!) with natural bristles or, a soft baby brush. A soft brush is needed so that the plumage isn’t damaged during the cleaning. Supporting the ostrich feather in one hand, brush in the direction of the plumage whilst applying a gentle pressure. After a few strokes the dust should be starting to clear from the feather. Take care not to apply too much pressure or brush against the plumage as this is likely to damage the feather.

Many people choose to clean their ostrich feathers using water. We would not recommend this unless it is really necessary. If it is necessary to wash the feathers then the following method should work. Clean each feather individually by rinsing it under lukewarm water, when the feather is damp apply a bit of baby shampoo to it and gently massage it into the ostrich feather by stroking in the direction of the plumage. With the shampoo rinsed from the feather, it can be left to dry overnight or a hairdryer can be used on its lowest setting. Using a hairdryer on the feather should take around 10 minutes. If the feather starts to lose any of its fullness, hold it over a pan of steaming water for a couple of minutes where the humidity should help get the feather back into great shape once more!

We hope this article has demonstrated how, by following a few easy maintenance tips, ostrich feathers can last for many years. If you are after some feathers for yourself then please take a look at our ostrich feathers.

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You may reproduce the content of this article onto your own website. However, to do so you must include a link back to HandcraftedUK. Thank you.