Ostrich Breeding

How to raise ostriches

The ostrich is considered one of the large domesticated birds , and it is the largest bird in the world, and it is characterized by its great ability to adapt to the weather, and its spread in many regions around the world . The following is an explanation for this:

Take care of the eggs until they hatch

The ostrich needs special care since it is in its egg until it grows up , and it starts with the egg, which is kept for 7 days in tree areas with temperatures ranging between 12.8-18.3 degrees Celsius, and a humidity of 70%, then the egg is transferred to the incubation area for a period of 42 days, during which the temperature is increased The temperature is gradually from 15.5 to 36.6 Celsius, but the humidity is reduced to a level of 25%.

Caring for young ostriches

Ostrich chicks often hatch after an incubation period of 42 days, and when they come out of the egg they need to be kept for several days in a place with a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, and temperatures can be gradually reduced to 26.6 degrees Celsius, and this point is very important, because the chicks will accumulate on top of each other in cold weather, and many of them will die .

Ostrich chicks need to provide a good and separate floor from the large ostrich for their upbringing, because the large ostrich may kill them, and it also stops laying eggs when it sees the presence of chicks among them, and it is mentioned that the preferred area for correct breeding should not be less than 12 m ^ 2, and it is recommended to put clean carpets Under the chicks, and before laying the carpet, its edges are removed so as not to get tangled with the ostriches’ legs or eat them.

Every 6 to 10 chicks are placed in one area, and before laying the carpet, the breeder makes sure that the ground is level, as the uneven ground contributes to the emergence of problems with the chick’s toes. It is also preferable to turn this carpet over and clean it every period of time, and change it when there are new small chicks.

Preparing the appropriate space for raising large ostriches

Ostriches prefer large spaces to live and move around in; It is a moving bird and a lot of activity, as the area of the ostrich farm must not be less than 13,277 m ^ 2, as the narrow space affects the psychology of the ostrich and it may not lay eggs in it, just as overcrowding affects the feathers and leads to their plucking.

Build a strong fence surrounding the farm

Ostriches move a lot, and they are ready to jump over short barriers, and here it is necessary to build a higher fence than ostriches that are more than 1.8 meters long, so the length of the fence must not be less than 2.75 meters, and the fence walls must be strong.

Well-welded barbed wire is used in building the fence, and it must contain openings whose dimensions do not exceed 5-10 cm, because the ostrich may stick its head in the large openings, and after the fence is finished, it is covered with a quantity of dirt.

Keep the ostriches warm

Ostriches live in nature in desert and warm places, and when building a farm in a cold area, the owner needs to provide warmth for the ostriches, so the investor needs to provide heating devices and water heaters for the birds, but one must beware of electric heaters and exposed wires, as the ostrich is a very curious animal, and it may click on heaters and wires, which It causes electric shocks that lead to his death.

Build a private house for each ostrich

In the ostrich farm, a separate shelter is built for each ostrich or for a small number of them, due to its preference for seclusion during rest times. The dimensions of the shelter are as follows: the length is 3.66 m, the width is 1.83 m, and the height is 2.44 m.

A single door and a strong roof are installed for each shelter to protect from wind, rain, and volatile weather conditions. In hot climates, water sprinklers are installed to protect from the sun, as the exposure of ostriches to them reduces male fertility.

Ostrich feeding

Ostriches are fed a balanced diet consisting of 60% of plants, 15% of fruits and legumes, 20% of grains, salts and stones, and 5% of insects and small animals. An explanation of the appropriate food ingredients for ostriches follows:

small animals

Ostriches eat a lot of small animals such as: bugs, mice, snakes, lizards, cockroaches, and locusts.

rocks

Ostriches eat rocks and pebbles from time to time, and their aim is to help grind the food they consume, because ostriches do not have stomach stones like other birds, and there are no teeth to cut solid food.

Additives

Some substances must be added to the food of ostriches, especially small ones, such as: vitamins and various minerals.

the plant

Ostriches feed on many plants such as: green herbs, plant seeds, buds, leaves and wild shrubs, berries, carrots, chopped beets, cabbage, and oranges.

Feeding ostrich chicks

The method of feeding ostrich chicks differs from that of adults, as the chicks do not need food and water for the first 6-8 days of their birth due to the presence of a liquid bag that provides them with the nutrients necessary to survive in their first days, until they learn to eat and drink, and it is reported that some breeders start feeding the chicks from the first day.

The chicks are given special fodder that contains low levels of fat and fiber, and high levels of lysine after the first week of their hatching, and when they reach the age of 8 weeks, they switch to fodder and adult ostrich food.

Keeping the ostrich safe

Ostrich birds are exposed to many accidents, such as eating nails, paint chips, harmful substances, or hanging their heads in a narrow space, so the breeder must search for the best means of protection for the ostriches, put equipment, food, and nutrients in a safe place, and keep food and plants harmful to the ostriches away.

Maintaining the health of ostriches

Treating ostriches and maintaining their health requires a permanent review of a specialized veterinarian, as the doctor helps to quickly detect ostrich problems, treats infected chicks professionally, provides health and nutritional advice suitable for birds, and provides the breeder with the necessary health certificates for raising ostriches.

And the doctor provides some medicines that help eliminate diseases and are used for birds, such as: chloramphenicol, enrofloxin, and sulfa drugs, and it is indicated that many signs of disease may appear on ostriches, such as: