London, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/21/2011 -- Birds of a feather run together

Ostriches are farmed and although it is scant comfort to ostriches born in captivity it is helping to preserve the species in the wild of the world’s largest bird. When it comes to birds feathers, ostrich feathers are magnificent and although the bird is way too heavy to fly, the long, heavy plumes provide protection from the sun during the day and warmth during the chill of the night.

Female ostriches have more pronounced white feathers than their male partners; leading suppliers usually offer all manner of ostrich plumage such as the Ostrich Feather Manufacturing Company that sells plumage from both male and female ostriches.

Ostriches lay the largest eggs in the world and they are almost as magnificent as the birds’ plumage. Ostrich leather is also highly regarded although some people do not like the round marks in the skin through which the feathers once grew.

There are very few birds on this planet that come close to ostriches in terms of plumage and none of the other flightless birds such as rheas, cassowaries, emus or kiwis have the same length of plumes as ostriches. However, a bird that can fly that is also famous for its magnificent plumage displays is the peacock. Unlike the female ostrich, peahens are not sought after for their plumage but peacock feathers are simply magnificent and especially popular because of their eye-like design towards the tip of the long tale plumes.

Online companies including the Online Feather Manufacturing Company are acutely aware that it is long black feathers taken from male ostriches that are the most popular. The engineering make up of the ultra long plumes is phenomenal and yet the touch on the skin really is feathery and light. It is a comfort for all those that love ostriches for their feathery exterior that the bird can also provide food and that its skin is used for leather handbags and wallets. Perhaps it is fortunate that ostrich eggs cannot be eaten by humans otherwise the bird may not be as plentiful in the wild as it is.

Ostrich plumes provide great material for feather boas and feather stoles but often the magnificent plumes are simply used for decorative displays. Ostriches may be flightless birds but they have long, powerful legs that can transport them at up to sixty miles per hour, faster than any other bird on land and faster than most mammals. Tamed ostriches have been ridden in ostrich races but the birds are difficult to control and usually throw their riders when still running at high speed.

The eye of the ostrich is bigger than any other bird at two inches in diameter, ideal for seeing predators many miles away. Long legs and a long neck can hold an ostrich head up to nine feet above the ground, ideal for keeping a beady eye on predators, especially of the human variety.

Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand - they are way too smart! Sometime an ostrich will lie down to hide from a predator but, mostly, when those big beady eyes spot trouble, the long legs carry the birds off in the opposite direction at great speed. Thankfully, the bird is farmed ensuring a good supply of ostrich products.