Ostriches Aren't the Prettiest of Birds

If you have traveled from Tucson to Phoenix (or vice versa) you have driven by the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch.  It's one of the only interesting things to look at on the way to either city, which is probably why I've always wanted to go there.  Luckily, my friend Rachel agreed to go with me.

 

I assumed that only ostriches were on the ranch.  I was wrong.  Not only do you get to feed the ostriches, but you can also interact with ducks, donkeys, deer, goats, prairie dogs, and lorikeets.   I have always loved animals, but these ones knew that we had food for them and followed us wherever we went.  The deer and donkeys were pretty tame, but the ducks would attack your hand to get to their pellets of food.  

I am so grateful that none of the lorikeets pooped on me!

The ostriches were the animals that scared me the most though.  Go figure.  People can feed them by hand, but I chose to stand a few feet away and toss them their pellets.  They attacked those pellets and would reach out for your hand if you got too close.  Even though they don't have teeth I had no desire to let them near my hands. 

This is the closest I got to an ostrich.  Apparently they enjoy being included in pictures.

After feeding the animals, we got to go on a monster truck ride around the property.  In my haste to get on the truck I forgot to snap a photo.  However, here is a picture of Rachel and I on it.  We decided not to sit in the back, where we would catch some air as we went over some of the rocky terrain.  Instead, we were the good kids that sat right behind the driver.  Yes, I know that this makes me lame and pathetic.  I'm okay with that.  

At the end of the ride, we got to go ostrich fishing.  We clipped orange slices to a pole and got to feed them to the ostriches.  Since the ostriches were farther away, I enjoyed this more than the earlier feeding.  

Did you know that an ostrich's eye changes color just before they eat?  Apparently they have a second eyelid of sorts.  That is one of the many facts I learned about ostriches during this tour.  Want another one?  The egg of an ostrich weighs about four pounds.  Still not satisfied?  Ostriches can run only a few days after birth.  Okay, I'll stop now.  

I enjoyed my adventure at the ostrich farm.  Now, when I drive by it on my way to and from Phoenix, I will be able to say that I've been there.  Thanks again for going with me, Rachel!  :-)

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