Ostrich Farming

General Features:

Having Two toes on each foot.

Have three stomachs

Growth Rate25cm/month

Skin ColourFawn, Dark Brown, Pink, Red

Height2.1 to 2.8 m

No CropNo

Gallbladder

Secretes urine & feces separately

Male Copulatory Organ20 cm ≈ 8 inches

Weigh 63 to 145 Kg

Basic Instructions Before Starting

Ostrich Farm:Each ostrich require 60-80 squire feet space inside thehouse.It would be better if the floor of the house become madeof sand or soil.The ostrich housing place will be located in a sandylocation.Make the house in quite and calm place.It will be far from the residential area.Prevent the entrance to unwanted animals and people.Clean the house as frequently as possible to keep thebird healthy and disease free.The shelter should be designed so that birds must enterconfidently.

Farming PrecautionsHatching Precautions:Store eggs at 55-65 degrees 70% humidity for up to 7 daysbefore incubating.

While in storage or incubation the eggs should be turneddaily.

When Incubation start then maintain 25% humidity &warm up at 1 degree per hour till 98 degrees.

Newly hatched chicks should be kept at a temperature ofaround 95 degrees while older chicks can be kept at 80.Candling of the egg can be done 5-7 days afterincubation.

Allow the chick to hatch on its own

Wash the chick in 7 percent iodine solution

Help chick if they are having difficulty walking.

Providing Nutrition:

Give the chicks alfalfa and clover cuttings withoutthe stems.The cuttings should not be wilted.Provide grit and gravel for proper digestion.Serve meal several times a day in shallow disheswhen chicks are old enough.Place water for your ostriches in shallow containers.Put something shiny into the water for the first fewdays.Add vitamin supplements to chicks diet for the firstfew weeks.

The Brooder

Maintain the temperature within the brooder at88℉ to 92℉ during the first ten days. Then until weekthree lower it to 80℉ to 85℉. After week 3, thebrooder's temperature should 70℉ to 80℉.Clean the brooder every day to keep the ostricheshealthy. Provide a washable mat that can't be eaten bythe chicks. Do not provide any litter hay or sawdust atthe bottom of the brooder since baby ostriches can eatthese items and die.Ostrich chicks need 40 square feet of pen space perchick so the chicks can run and properly develop.

Vaccination:

At present, there are no recommended vaccinationprograms for ostrich. Vaccination for Eastern andWestern Encephalomyelitis and Clostridiumperfringens Types C and D may be useful but notthoroughly tested.

Health Issues:

Mortality and health problems diagnosedmainly in chicks due to cause include improperbrooding or nutrition, improper handling.

They can tolerate almost all types of weatherand environmental condition but for propergrowth and production they need a good houseor shelter for the ostriches.

Benefits of Ostrich Farming

Highly resistant Having friendly behavior

Feather Products leather products

Feeding is quiet easy Large life spam

High meat production Meat has low cholesterol

Any Question

Dr.Fakhar-e-Alam