Feed ostriches & emus or buy an egg that can feed a family at the roadside attraction, OstrichLand USA in Solvang, California.
I have a soft spot for tourist traps. Sure, they are silly little roadside attractions meant to separate you from your money. Then again, so is the mall. And I have to say, the $5 spent so that I could feed a aggressively hungry pack of ostriches at OstrichLand USA was completely worthwhile.
OstrichLand USA is a farm. Flocks of ostriches and emus are corralled in massive pens spread out along the Santa Ynez Valley on the way to Solvang, California. While these giant birds tend to wander far away from peeping visitors but one thing that will bring them swarming to one spot is the sound of a food bowl. With a bowl, you are the most popular animal in the farm and they want to get as close to you as possible. That fence around the ostriches is for your benefit. You will be surprised how strong those beaks are. and how far their neck reach. that is why the bowls have handles intended to keep your fingers as far away from the ostriches as possible. In fact, if given the chance, An ostrich will grab the bowl.
Our Visit
So, of course, I pay to feed the ostriches. Actually, Cowboy is the one defensively holding the food bowl just close enough for the ostriches to violently peck at it while I take pictures of these modern-day-dinosaurs. At one point, I do take the food bowl. But after one ostrich tries to grab the whole bowl from my hand I vindictively march to the emu pen. Yes! OstrichLand USA has emus as well. These smaller birds are much better behaved.
Ostrich & Emu Eggs
One last thing. I did mention that OstrichLand USA is a farm. Like any proper farm, it has a certain product for sale: ostrich and emu eggs.
Ostrich Eggs
A shiny, white, and gently textured Ostrich egg contains the equivalent of two dozen eggs. Occasionally I have seen them for sale at stores but that much food in one go is a giant undertaking.
Emu Eggs
In surprising contrast, an emu egg is a matte dark green with slightly lighter green speckles. It looks like an oversized avocado. The emu egg contains about half as much as an Ostrich egg: around the equivalent of a dozen chicken eggs. Unlike a chicken egg, however, the ratio of egg white to egg yolk is a little higher than a chicken egg and the texture is a creamier.
How do I know so much about emu eggs? I bought one.
