Ostrich

Ostrich Production
The ostrich, a flightless bird that belongs to the ratite family and originates from Africa, is the world’s largest living bird. When fully grown, the ostrich weighs approximately 450 pounds and stands eight-feet-tall. Although ostrich farming faded in the world during the early 1960s, it is now a fast-growing agricultural alternative. Ostrich production can be adopted by small scale and part–time farmers with adequate investment capital because land and husbandry requirements are minimal.

Marketing
As with any business, the ostrich producer needs to research the markets for his/her product before it is produced. The major market for ostriches is breeding stock. In order for the ostrich industry to become a more viable agricultural enterprise, the markets for leather, meat, and feathers need to be further developed. The ostrich produces three marketable products: the skin, which is soft and durable, the meat which is similar to beef in colour, taste, and texture (but is lower in fat and cholesterol), and the feathers. Today the market for ostrich feathers is limited. Ostrich skin boots remain popular and the meat has a gourmet market.

Establishing
An ostrich operation can be established in several ways. Evaluate the following options and decide which one is best for you. Consider the following:

The producer can purchase and incubate eggs. This method is lowest in cost, but also highest in risk. Ostrich eggs are white and easily candled; their fertility can be guaranteed once incubation is started. However, a sound knowledge of ostrich egg incubation is required for a successful hatch.
The producer can purchase chicks more than three months old (the highest mortality rate is from one day to three months). Although more expensive than purchasing eggs or hatchlings, the purchase of chicks at this age will probably prove more cost effective because the mortality rate is greatly reduced after the age of three months.
The producer can purchase yearlings or young adults. While yearlings are more expensive than chicks, yearlings should be productive within two years.
The most costly method is the purchase of proven breeders, pairs of birds that have produced fertile eggs together. This method of buying will allow production to begin in the next season.

Budgeting
Included in this publication are four sample budgets which summarize the costs and returns of purchasing chicks at three months for sale at 12 months, buying chicks at 13 months for sale at 18 to 20 months for breeder stock and slaughter stock, and purchasing a breeder pair. These sample budgets should help ensure that all costs and receipts are included in your calculations. Costs and returns are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation because they are numerous and variable. Therefore, you should think of these budgets as an approximation and then make appropriate adjustments using the “Your Estimate” column to reflect specific situations. From these sample budgets, it appears that if you can sell in the breeder market you may be able to realize substantial profits. Not all birds can be sold in the breeder market and the extent to which this market can be further expanded is not known. The slaughter market is very limited. With the present price of the animals, the overall profitability of the enterprise is very questionable.

Incubating
The process of hatching can be very rewarding as well as very frustrating. Incubator costs range from Euro 300,-- to Euro4.500,-- For the beginner, it may be more profitable to have a custom hatchery who has experience with ostrich eggs do the hatching. If you wish to do your own hatching, get information from the various commercial incubator companies, talk to others who are hatching, and work with poultry specialists on specific incubation questions.

Housing and Fencing
Each pair of ostriches should be considered individually, but the following recommendations can be used as guidelines for fencing, pen size, and shelter. Ostriches require high tensile or mesh fence that will not allow them to get their heads or legs caught. Ostriches can be quite aggressive and will bite or nip. They will reach over, through, and under any type of fence if possible, and can hurt themselves if their necks or legs get caught. Ostriches can grow to more than eight-feet-tall so the fencing should be at least six-feet high around a recommended running area of one to three acres. Ostriches need shelter from the extreme cold of winter and heat of summer. The shelter is best placed inside the fenced area where ostriches will have free access. The design of the shelter can range from a plywood three-sided building to a small barn that can be heated if necessary. A shelter measuring 20 feet by 20 feet is adequate for a breeder pair.

Managing for Health and Productivity
Ostriches have developed unique characteristics in order to adapt and survive. These characteristics make ostriches different from other birds in terms of management and nutrition. To ensure that your ostriches are healthy and productive, you should practice appropriate management techniques. Consider the following:

When changing from one feed to another, do so gradually over a ten-day period.
Make certain your birds get enough exercise. Exercise helps to prevent leg problems and decrease the incidence of impactions.
Minimize moving birds from one location to another, either within the same production unit or to another.
Carefully check pens for and remove any object that can be picked up and swallowed.
Mixing grit with feed may help to decrease the incidence of impactions.

Nutrition
As with any livestock, the nutritional needs of ostriches are different at different stages of development.

Hatchlings – hatching to two days of age. Provide water and start chicks on a good quality turkey or game bird starter ration containing at least 26 percent protein. Chicks should receive continuous light. The first week after hatching it is imperative that the yolk sac be completely absorbed. Running seems to help the chick absorb the yolk sac. This is the most difficult stage in raising ostriches. Chicks will eat anything and tend to eat too much. Impaction is the most common reason for death.
Chicks – two days after hatch to approximately six months of age. Feed a good starter crumble either from the ratite rations developed by certain feed companies or a regular chicken starter with at least 26 percent protein. Chicks should receive the starter crumble ration at all times during the first three weeks. After the first three weeks, feed all they can consume in two, short (20 minutes), daily feeding periods. Alfalfa pellets should be available on a continuous basis. Vitamins and electrolytes for poultry should be added to the drinking water at the recommended level for the first two to three weeks of age.
Yearlings – six months to approximately 18 months of age. Use a commercial ratite grower feed or a turkey-broiler grower feed. Protein should be 24 to 26 percent and fibre should be 11 to 12 percent when the birds are not on grass.
Adult – when the birds are sexually mature. Use a layer ration or a breeder ration from a commercial ratite feed company and supplemental alfalfa pellets or cubes. Pellets or cubes are less wasteful and easier to feed than hay. Always have clean water available to all birds at all stages of development. Waterers should be rinsed daily and scrubbed with soap and water every three days. Grit is also essential to an ostrich diet. Small stones or commercial grit is best.

Breeding
Three types of ostriches are raised commercially: black, blue, and red. Ostriches are normally paired off for breeding. Hens will start laying anywhere from 24 to 36 months of age. Hens tend to mature earlier than males. The breeding season is between February and August. The female can lay up to 70-120 eggs per year; the egg incubation process takes approximately six weeks.

Establishing
An ostrich operation can be established in several ways. Evaluate the following options and decide which one is best for you. Consider the following:

The producer can purchase and incubate eggs. This method is lowest in cost, but also highest in risk. Ostrich eggs are white and easily candled; their fertility can be guaranteed once incubation is started. However, a sound knowledge of ostrich egg incubation is required for a successful hatch.
The producer can purchase chicks more than three months old (the highest mortality rate is from one day to three months). Although more expensive than purchasing eggs or hatchlings, the purchase of chicks at this age will probably prove more cost effective because the mortality rate is greatly reduced after the age of three months.
The producer can purchase yearlings or young adults. While yearlings are more expensive than chicks, yearlings should be productive within two years.
The most costly method is the purchase of proven breeders, pairs of birds that have produced fertile eggs together. This method of buying will allow production to begin in the next season

When changing from one feed to another, do so gradually over a ten-day period.
Make certain your birds get enough exercise. Exercise helps to prevent leg problems and decrease the incidence of impactions.
Minimize moving birds from one location to another, either within the same production unit or to another.
Carefully check pens for and remove any object that can be picked up and swallowed.
Mixing grit with feed may help to decrease the incidence of impactions.