Matt Lee and I took a cruise down U.S. 87 on Friday afternoon and wound up at Perkin's Ostrich Farm, just 30 minutes away from Elon, NC.
We spent the day with the ostriches and farm owner Jake Perkins, 89. Perkins opened the farm - located just outside of Reidsville - in the 1980s, when the ostrich industry was on the rise.
"I started off with two hens and one male," Perkins said. "I raised some and bought some."
The demand for ostriches in North Carolina is on the decline, but Perkins still finds ways to attract people to his farm.
"Most of the people you meet that come here will see the birds and they buy stuff," Perkins said. "You have hamburgers, roast, steak, liver, neck bones, you can use about all of the bird."
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Perkins has spent over two decades with his birds, but handling live ostriches is still a challenge. The birds are far more aggressive than they appear, Perkins said.
"I got side swiped one time. A hen ran in from the back on my left side and broke two ribs," Perkins said. "But it didn't bother the hen - she kept going," he added with a chuckle.
After his close encounter with the hen, Perkins is slots online now more cautious. Respecting the ostriches, he said, is the key.
"I respect them and I don't go unless I am prepared," Perkins explained. "I try to get them away from their eggs so I can get it. But that's his egg. And he"ll kill you over it."
The ostriches may be aggressive at times, but they can also be very friendly. Perkins called to one of his favorite birds, Henry. The bird immediately came to the edge of the fence at the sound of his name. Perkins fed Henry corn right out of his hand.
Matt and I also fed the birds - and the ostriches followed us as we made our way around their enclosure. The birds even mirrored our movements, which we turned into a game of "Simon Says."
Before the day was over, Perkins showed us a real ostrich egg.
"An ostrich egg is like 5 chicken eggs," Perkins said as he held the large egg in his two hands.
Perkins farm welcomes visitors looking to purchase ostrich meat or people who want to spend some one-on-one time with the birds.