728 February 16, 2022 Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

We left Indio at around nine this morning.  We drove for a short distance on Route 10.  We saw huge wind farms and snow-covered mountains…gorgeous.

Then we took scenic roads all the way to our destination at Lake Hughes. 

At higher elevations, we began to see Joshua trees.

If you have never stayed at an ostrich ranch…you really should consider it!  This place was amazing. 

There is a large group or unkindness or conspiracy of ravens that live here.

The owner met us with some raw honey and he also brought us ostrich oil.  This oil comes from Africa.  It has lots of healing properties and is good for inflammation.  It is supposed to make your skin look and feel more youthful. 

We explored on our own for a while, marveling at these magnificent beasts.

Beautiful California Scrub Jay.

There are gigantic Coulter Pines here with enormous pine cones. These trees were tall 70 years ago. These trees are also called widowmakers. The cones are very heavy.

At 3pm, we had a tour of the ranch.  We learned A LOT about ostriches.  There are three breeds and two are raised here…black and blue.  Ostriches have not changed for 135 million years.  These animals are very powerful.  They can run at speeds up to 60mph and can sustain their speed for up to 15 miles.  They have incredibly strong immune systems and do not get sick.  They also heal very rapidly after injury.  They have no natural predators here.  They have killed a pack of 4 coyotes.  Mountain lions are no match for them…the lions are too small.  They are omnivores and will eat gophers, squirrels, lizards, rats and anything else that gets into their enclosures.  The ranch owners have seen an ostrich eat a live rattlesnake, all the while being continuously bitten.  They are impervious to the effects of snake venom.  In the wild, ostriches can live 40 years.  In captivity they can live 75 to 100 years.  Ostriches are not usually monogamous but there is a pair here, Morticia and Gomez, who will not tolerate other partners.  He is 44 years old.  The ranch owner is allowing the bird to nibble on his fingers.  They have no teeth and no bite strength…less than a third of the power of a duck…but don’t be fooled. 

Ostrich eggs weigh about 5 pounds and are the equivalent of 24-36 large chicken eggs. Chicken eggs are about 35% yolk and 65% white. Ostrich eggs are 65% yolk. They apparently don’t taste that great…and they were $50.00 each…we didn’t buy any. We also didn’t think we could eat that whole thing! Each female ostrich has their own “fingerprint” on their eggs. The owner can look at the striations and patterns on the egg and tell which were laid by which hen.

These ostriches can be bad dudes!   They have very strong legs and can kick with the force of 2000 pounds per inch.  They can outrun anything and anyone.  They will not allow visitors to their enclosure without becoming aggressive.  We were warned that if we went into the pens, we would be in serious trouble. 

The tour was great and the owners were gracious and hospitable.

This ranch sits along Pine Canyon Road right on the San Andreas Fault.  There is earthquake monitoring equipment on the hill above the ranch.

We found this site through Harvest Host.  What a unique experience to be able to come here and learn.

The February Full Snow Moon should just be rising soon and be directly overhead at midnight.   I am looking forward to seeing it and appreciating it!