About Ostrich Feathers and Ostrich Plumes

ABOUT OSTRICH FEATHERS:
Lamplight Feather offers a wide range of ostrich feathers, ostrich plumes, and ostrich nondu in both natural and dyed styles. These beautiful feathers are widely used for decor, decoration, millinery supplies, hat feathers, mask making, costume and theater production and craft projects. Ostrich feathers vary greatly in size and type. The large wing plumes can range between 20-30 inches long with herl (fibers) width that can exceed 12 inches across. The wing plumes have a thicker stems. "Feminas" are a type of wing plume.
The drabs are ostrich shoulder feathers and have a thinner stem and somewhat thinner herl. . Lamplight offers these sizes:
WING PLUME SIZES:
Deluxe ostrich wing plumes - 26-30 inches(limited)
Premium ostrich wing plumes - about 23-26 inches
Short ostrich wing plumes - about 20-23 inches
DRAB SIZES:
Specialty ostrich feathers - 16-20 inches
Standard ostrich feathers - 12-16 inches
Short ostrich feathers - 8-12 inches
NONDU:
Trimmed ostrich is termed "nondu" and is generally trimmed from drabs in the 14-18 inch range.
ABOUT OSTRICH FEATHER FARMING:
For thousands of years, man has admired the ostrich. Pictures carved in stone depict ancient Egyptian kings hunting the ostrich with bows and arrows. Some civilizations considered the ostrich sacred. The Chinese prized the beautifully symmetrical ostrich eggs and offered them as precious gifts to rulers. For thousands of years, luxuriant flowing plumes of ostrich feathers have adorned the headdresses of military generals, kings, and African chiefs.
In the 14th century, ostrich feathers became highly valued by fashion-conscious Europeans. Yet, hunting the ostrich with spears and arrows was not easy, since the animal has keen eyesight and swiftly flees from danger.
Now bred in captivity, ostriches have been domesticated and are raised to provide feathers for fashion and for feather dusters. Their skin is made into soft leather gloves and handbags, and their meat is served in some restaurants. The domestic South African Black ostrich has been bred for quality feathers since 1911 when a particularly beautifully feathered flock was located near Timbuktu. Much of today's breeding stock derives from these birds with continuous cross breeding from outside stock to improve the gene pool.
Today the magnificent ostrich still roams the African plains. Even though its former habitat is much reduced it continues to dwell in the solitary dry bushland that it prefers. There it can be seen wildly racing across the plains with its great flowing plumes, performing its elaborate courting dances, or watching over its nest of huge eggs. Indeed, this fleet-footed, flightless bird is another fascinating winged creature that brings delight and wonder to those who see it.