What causes feather pecking, cuts and bruises?
Some of the critical skin defects that you hope to avoid are cuts, bruises, excess fat, poor cure, bacteria damage, and poor pattern. The following is a general description that will aid you in avoiding the creation of these defects in your skins and will give you quality ostrich leather. It is important that the ostrich be raised in conditions that will avoid the development of feather pecking. Overcrowding in pens seems to be the biggest contribution. The effects of feather pecking can be sunburn, leaving a dark or scarred area of the skin; flat quills because the large feather is removed and the quill healed over; and discoloration from bruising or treatment with medication. Feather pecking usually displays defects in the skin in more than one quadrant (almost always in quadrants three and four), the areas on both sides of the tail which is an important cutting area for any ostrich leather user. These defects will usually reduce the value of your skin to a number three. When the bir
