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Brooding Ostriches
The brooding facility must protect chicks from predators and inclement weather. The facility should
be dry, sanitary, and well ventilated. It should be easy to clean and sanitize.
The floor of the pen should be rough to provide firm footing for the chicks. Young ostrich chicks will ingest anything they can swallow. Therefore, straw and bedding should be covered with burlap for at least 10 days.
If allowed, ostrich chicks will ingest foreign matter which may cause illness or death. Never cover the litter with newspaper or other slick material as chicks will develop straddle legs which is fatal.
Supplementary heat should be provided to keep the temperature about 90 degrees F at chick level in the 4 by 5 foot pen for the first two weeks. Gradually reduce heat to 75 degrees F from the third week through the eighth.
Birds should be allowed access to outdoors as soon as possible after the eighth week. However, they should never be allowed to become chilled or overheated. Ostriches older than six months are hardy birds which are able to withstand a variety of climatic conditions, as long as they are protected from extreme heat or cold.
Feeding Ostrich chicks may not eat for the first 24 hours while subsisting on the yolk sac. Chicks should be started on a proven commercial ostrich (ratite) ration.
High fibre foods can result in intestinal blockage and result in starve outs. Some fresh foods such as chard and spinach contain oxalic acid which impairs the absorption of calcium and will result in leg problems.
Never feed moldy feedstuff to birds. It is common for young chicks to not eat. Placing chicks which are already eating with young chicks will help. Continuous light and access to feed for chicks less than three weeks of age should be provided.
After three weeks of age, give chicks all the starter they can eat in two, 20 minute feeding periods. Good quality alfalfa pellets, oyster shell, and grit should be available to chicks at all times after three weeks of age.
Clean water should be available to chicks at all times. If chicks are allowed access to pasture, be sure there are no stagnant pools of water. Young chicks can die from ingesting stagnant water.
Chicks should be fed good quality ratite grower food from eight weeks to maturity in two daily meals. Continue to allow access to oyster shell, grit, and alfalfa pellets. Alfalfa pellets may not be necessary if good quality grazing forage is available.
Breeding birds in drylot should be fed a high quality ratite breeder diet. Also, birds should have access to succulent forage or alfalfa pellets.
You can learn much more about ostrich feeding and ostrich nutrition when you review the Ostrich Feeds and Feeding book.
Restraint Handling ostriches can be dangerous to the bird and handler. A mature ostrich is capable of delivering a kick of up to 500psi. They are liable to jump and flail with wings and legs when frightened and can injure a handler.
Ostriches On Line farm almost exclusively African Black Ostriches which we have found to be the most docile and easy to handle species. By and large, we have very little problem in handling or caring for them.
Time is well spent moving among young chicks to tame them. More tame birds are much easier to handle and are less prone to injure themselves than wild birds. For young chicks, simply grasp the birds by the legs and pick them off the ground.
Two experienced people are recommended to handle mature birds. A bicycle handlebar attached to a rake handle works well to fend off aggressive ostriches.
Ostriches On Line encourage everyone to use the Hoodwink Ostrich and Emu Blindfold System which allows you to place a hood on your Ratites easily and quickly.
A sheet of plywood, with holes for the arms to pass through, protects the handler who is placing a hood over the ostrich's head.
Once the bird is hooded, it should settle down and be much easier to handle. Ostriches should be transported in an enclosed trailer so that they can not stick their heads out.
There should not be sharp objects or corners inside the trailer because birds may be injured during sudden stops or quick acceleration.
Ostriches need to have good traction on the trailer floor to prevent falling and possible leg injuries. Old rugs or carpets are often effective for good footing on trailer floors. Different sized birds should be separated during transportation to prevent smaller birds from being injured.
Generally ostriches sit and travel quite well. If there are any doubts about bird safety, do not hesitate to call an experienced person for advice.
The floor of the pen should be rough to provide firm footing for the chicks. Young ostrich chicks will ingest anything they can swallow. Therefore, straw and bedding should be covered with burlap for at least 10 days.
If allowed, ostrich chicks will ingest foreign matter which may cause illness or death. Never cover the litter with newspaper or other slick material as chicks will develop straddle legs which is fatal.
Supplementary heat should be provided to keep the temperature about 90 degrees F at chick level in the 4 by 5 foot pen for the first two weeks. Gradually reduce heat to 75 degrees F from the third week through the eighth.
Birds should be allowed access to outdoors as soon as possible after the eighth week. However, they should never be allowed to become chilled or overheated. Ostriches older than six months are hardy birds which are able to withstand a variety of climatic conditions, as long as they are protected from extreme heat or cold.
Feeding Ostrich chicks may not eat for the first 24 hours while subsisting on the yolk sac. Chicks should be started on a proven commercial ostrich (ratite) ration.
High fibre foods can result in intestinal blockage and result in starve outs. Some fresh foods such as chard and spinach contain oxalic acid which impairs the absorption of calcium and will result in leg problems.
Never feed moldy feedstuff to birds. It is common for young chicks to not eat. Placing chicks which are already eating with young chicks will help. Continuous light and access to feed for chicks less than three weeks of age should be provided.
After three weeks of age, give chicks all the starter they can eat in two, 20 minute feeding periods. Good quality alfalfa pellets, oyster shell, and grit should be available to chicks at all times after three weeks of age.
Clean water should be available to chicks at all times. If chicks are allowed access to pasture, be sure there are no stagnant pools of water. Young chicks can die from ingesting stagnant water.
Chicks should be fed good quality ratite grower food from eight weeks to maturity in two daily meals. Continue to allow access to oyster shell, grit, and alfalfa pellets. Alfalfa pellets may not be necessary if good quality grazing forage is available.
Breeding birds in drylot should be fed a high quality ratite breeder diet. Also, birds should have access to succulent forage or alfalfa pellets.
You can learn much more about ostrich feeding and ostrich nutrition when you review the Ostrich Feeds and Feeding book.
Restraint Handling ostriches can be dangerous to the bird and handler. A mature ostrich is capable of delivering a kick of up to 500psi. They are liable to jump and flail with wings and legs when frightened and can injure a handler.
Ostriches On Line farm almost exclusively African Black Ostriches which we have found to be the most docile and easy to handle species. By and large, we have very little problem in handling or caring for them.
Time is well spent moving among young chicks to tame them. More tame birds are much easier to handle and are less prone to injure themselves than wild birds. For young chicks, simply grasp the birds by the legs and pick them off the ground.
Two experienced people are recommended to handle mature birds. A bicycle handlebar attached to a rake handle works well to fend off aggressive ostriches.
Ostriches On Line encourage everyone to use the Hoodwink Ostrich and Emu Blindfold System which allows you to place a hood on your Ratites easily and quickly.
A sheet of plywood, with holes for the arms to pass through, protects the handler who is placing a hood over the ostrich's head.
Once the bird is hooded, it should settle down and be much easier to handle. Ostriches should be transported in an enclosed trailer so that they can not stick their heads out.
There should not be sharp objects or corners inside the trailer because birds may be injured during sudden stops or quick acceleration.
Ostriches need to have good traction on the trailer floor to prevent falling and possible leg injuries. Old rugs or carpets are often effective for good footing on trailer floors. Different sized birds should be separated during transportation to prevent smaller birds from being injured.
Generally ostriches sit and travel quite well. If there are any doubts about bird safety, do not hesitate to call an experienced person for advice.