Commercial Ostrich Production
Prepared by Gary S. Davis, Extension Poultry Specialist, North Carolina State University - Ostrich production in the United States must currently be considered a highly speculative venture. Ostriches may be a short-term attraction or they may become a minor agricultural industry of some economic importance.
16 October 2003
20 minute read
Current demand for ostrich breeding stock far surpasses supply, resulting in excessively high prices for all ages of birds. It is anticipated that these prices will decline dramatically once speculative demand for breeders is satisfied and prices become dependent on market demand for products such as skin or hide, plumage, and meat.
Current demand for ostrich breeding stock far surpasses supply, resulting in excessively high prices for all ages of birds. It is anticipated that these prices will decline dramatically once speculative demand for breeders is satisfied and prices become dependent on market demand for products such as skin or hide, plumage, and meat.
Successful large-scale production depends on implementing scientifically proven practices in management and husbandry, breeding brooding and rearing, nutrition, health maintenance and, above all, hatchery management and incubation. Maximum utilization of quality forage will likely be necessary to make production economically feasible.
Getting Started
An ostrich business can be started in one of the following ways:
- Buy eggs and hatch chicks -- requires the least capital initially, provided eggs can be obtained at reasonable cost. However, production is at 2 years away.
- Buy started, sexed chicks (8 weeks or older) -- reduces problems involved in hatching and early brooding but will, of course, be more expensive than eggs. Again, production is at least 2 years away.
- Buy juveniles (year-old-birds) -- offers the opportunity to select quality birds within a year of sexual maturity.
- Buy proven breeders -- the expensive route, but enables the producer to begin production immediately.
- Any combination of the above.
Methods for raising ostriches are variable and no two ostrich farms are alike. For these reasons, it is difficult to predict production costs. Accurate expenses and profits can only be predicted by the feed costs, and the market value of ostrich products, eggs, or birds within your market area. At present, the only available market in North Carolina is the sale of breeding pairs, and it is estimated that it costs about $200 per month to feed and maintain one adult breeding pair.
One thing to remember in evaluating start-up costs of an ostrich farm is that the cost will be amortized over the life of the operation. This would result in a reduction of the cost per bird or egg over the operation's lifespan.
Nutrition
Nutritional practices recommended by some self-professed experts often are not based on sound nutritional principles. Nutrition related mortality problems in chicks and young juveniles include malnutrition or starvation, intestinal obstruction, and leg abnormalities.
It is absolutely essential that ostriches have clean, potable water available at all times. They must receive feedstuffs that provide adequate levels of protein and essential amino acids, and meet vitamin, mineral, and energy requirements.
The following program is practical and has provided excellent results in rearing ostrich chicks. When chicks are 24 to 48 hours old they should be started on a good quality turkey or gamebird starter ration containing at least 18% protein. These rations are formulated to provide all nutrients necessary for optimum growth and health during the first two weeks of life. Fresh foods, including chopped lettuce, kale, and spinach, are low in energy and protein and are not needed by chicks. Some greens, such as spinach and chard, contain oxalic acid which can inhibit the absorption and use of calcium and contribute to leg abnormalities. High fiber foods can cause intestinal obstructions in young chicks and result in 'starveout' deaths. NEVER feed any feedstuff that is moldy, musty, or suspect in any way. Botulism or intestinal problems can occur. Raw bone (often fed for mineral content) can easily cause health problems and should never be fed to ostriches.
Chicks should receive continuous light and have access to the starter ration at al times during the first 3 weeks. After that, they can be fed all they will consume in two short (20 minutes) daily feeding periods. Good quality small alfalfa pellets should be available to chicks on a continuous basis when twice daily feeding of the started ration commences. Chicks may also be given oyster shell or grit at this time. Supplementing the high protein starter ration with alfalfa will ensure that chicks consume adequate levels of essential nutrients while minimizing excessive weight gain which may contribute to leg weakness problems. Night lights are not required after chicks reach 3 weeks of age.
Waterers should be rinsed daily and scrubbed every 3 days with a mild disinfectant. Inexpensive, water soluble vitamins and electrolytes for poultry should be added (at the recommended level) to the drinking water for the first 1 to 3 weeks. The fat soluble vitamins - A, D3, E, and K -- are compounded with a starch or protein emulsifier to enhance dispersion and availability in water. This will ensure an adequate intake of vitamins, particularly A and D3. Other additives are not needed.
Refusal to eat and drink is a common problem with a young ostrich chicks. This problem can be easily alleviated by placing several older chicks (1 to 3 weeks of age) that are already eating with the younger chicks. If older chicks are not available, domestic poultry chicks can be placed with new-hatched ostrich chicks to teach them to eat and drink.
At 8 weeks of age chicks can be placed on a good quality ratite, gamebird, or turkey grower ration and fed what they will eat in two daily feeding periods. Continue to offer alfalfa pellets as a supplemental feed unless good quality forage is available. Juveniles can be maintained on this program until they reach sexual maturity. Breeder rations contain a high calcium level and should not be fed to juveniles. Suggested diets for ostriches are shown in Table 1.
| Table 1: Suggested diets for Ostriches | |||
| Calculated Analysis | Starter 0-8 wks |
Grower 9 wks-17 months |
Layer 18 months+ |
| % Protein | 18.0 | 18.0 | 24.5 |
| % Crude Fat | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| % Calcium | 1.35 | 1.35 | 2.40 |
| % Available Phosphate | 0.72 | 0.64 | 0.70 |
| % Crude Fiber | 6.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Salt (NaCl) | 0.90 | 0.50 | 0.60 |
Adults and older juveniles can be ranged on well drained, succulent pasture plots or they can be maintained under dry-lot conditions. Pastured birds should be maintained on small plots and rotated periodically for optimum grazing efficiency. Birds on large acreage may become semi-wild and difficult to manage.
Succulent forages such as irrigated alfalfa, wheat, rye, vetch, oats, or Bermuda grass are desirable for juveniles and adults and will reduce production costs significantly. Some forages may be too tough or high in fiber or too low in protein and energy to provide the nutrient level required for desired growth performance.
If ostriches are allowed to forage on natural grasses or grain, try to balance this nutrient intake with the amount of commercial feed that is fed. Ostriches should not be allowed to become overweight. Excess body weight in the form of fat is detrimental to egg production by breeders and to meat quality of birds that are to be slaughtered.
Breeding birds on pasture should receive daily supplements of a good quality, high protein ratite, turkey, or gamebird breeder ration to ensure optimum egg production, fertility, and hatchability. Breeders in dry-lot confinement also should be fed the ratite or turkey or gamebird breeder ration with continuous supplemental feeding of good quality alfalfa pellets or cubes of hay. Pellets or cubes are less wasteful and easier to feed than hay.
Breeders should have access to oyster shell, grit, or commercially prepared bone meal during the breeding period. The addition of poultry vitamins and electrolytes to the feed or water may improve fertility and hatchability.
Breeder Flock Management
Well-nourished ostrich hens begin laying at approximately 2 years of age and are reported to have a productive life of more than 30 years. Egg production is variable but can exceed 70 eggs per year. Production begins in early spring and continues into the fall. Healthy hens may lay throughout most of the year--particularly if they are placed on an appropriate lighting program.
The reproductive performance of birds is regulated by the length of daylight per day. Lighting programs generally use a combination of natural daylight and artificial light to stimulate and maintain egg production and fertility in breeder birds. Time clocks should be used with artificial light sources in order to control daylength in a consistent manner.
Juvenile hens and cocks should be reared separately from 1 year of age to sexual maturity. Mature hens and cocks should be separated after the breeding season. This will allow the birds to be more rested and they will begin egg production more readily when placed together for the breeding season.
Eggs are usually infertile during the early part of the breeding season. This is usually caused by infertility in the cock. Breeding cocks should receive 16 hours of light per day beginning 3 to 4 weeks before being penned with their hens. After being placed together, hens and cocks should receive 16 hours of light per day during the entire breeding season. If the ostrich farm is located in an area of the country which has a natural daylength longer than 16 hours, et the time clock to match the longest natural daylength. After natural sunset, 2-5 footcandles of artificial light intensity at head height should be adequate to stimulate and maintain egg production. Two footcandles is actually very dim light. If you held this document at arm's length under two footcandles of light, you should barely be able to read it. Daylength must NEVER be shortened and light intensity must NEVER be decreased during the laying cycle. Three of four days of diminished light or shortened daylengths may cause the entire flock to almost completely stop egg production.
The breeding pen for each cock and his two to four hens should be 1 to 3 acres in size and well drained. Birds in larger enclosures are more difficult to manage. Eggs also will be more difficult to find and collect. Ideally, there should be a 6-8-foot-wide lane between pens to prevent fighting between cocks. A few trees or shrubs in the pens will provide privacy and help induce mating.
Eggs are normally laid in a shallow scrape. They should be collected twice daily. Reproductively active cocks can be extremely protective and aggressive. Caution should be taken when entering their breeding areas. Aggressive cocks can be fed and penned in a catch or holding pen while eggs are collected. Keep in mind that an adult cock may stand 8 feet tall and weigh over 350 pounds. The ostrich is a very fast runner with strides of 16 to 23 feet in length.
Hatchery Management
Hatchery management is critical for successful hatchability. Hatchability problems can be caused by inadequate breeder nutrition, mating problems, improper egg handling, incubator or hatcher malfunctions, and humidity or temperature problems.
Successful management of a moderate size hatchery requires a high degree of expertise and attention to detail. Cleanliness is very important. The environmentally controlled hatchery building should be designed for durability and ease of cleaning. It should be of sufficient size to handle the egg volume anticipated and must include areas for egg cleaning and culling, egg trays, cooling and storage, incubation and hatching, chick holding, equipment washing and storage, as well as office and sanitary facilities.
Equipment requirements for the hatchery include a standby generator, forced draft incubators and hatchers, service tables, a vacuum for cleaning, pressure washer, tray washers, and carts. Incubators, and hatchers, which can be utilized for ostrich eggs, are manufactured and sold by several commercial companies.
Incubation Requirements
Ostrich eggs should be stored with the large end up at a room temperature of 65 to 70 F. During this holding time, the egg should be rotated twice a day. Better hatchability will occur if eggs are set (placed in the incubator) within 2 to 4 days after lay. Longer storage will reduce hatchability. Never set an excessively dirty egg. Manure or dirt should be gently scraped off or lightly sanded with a fine grit sandpaper. It is generally not advisable to wash eggs unless absolutely necessary. Only in extreme situations should eggs become wet during the cleaning process. Dirty eggs can be rinsed with commercially available 3% hydrogen peroxide. If eggs are to be wet, the wash water and rinse water must be at least 10 F warmer than the eggs. There should also be an individual towel for each egg and towels should not be reused. Disinfectants should not be used. The use of disinfectants in the cleaning solution can alter the egg shell cuticle and affect the rate of water loss during incubation, thus possibly adversely affecting chick quality and hatch time.
Incubation time to hatch for ostrich chicks is between 39 and 44 days with 42 days being about the average. The optimum incubation conditions for the ostrich are in the range of 97.0 to 98.4 F dry bulb temperature with a relative humidity in the 20 to 30% range (wet bulb 67 to 73 F). The optimal incubator humidity for ostrich eggs is 25% to allow a 15% loss of initial egg mass during a 45 day incubation period. The higher the dry bulb temperature the lower relative humidity needs to be. For instance, at a dry bulb temperature of 98.3 F it is estimated that the relative humidity needs to be as low as 20% (wet bulb 68 F), whereas at an incubation temperature of 97.5 F the relative humidity may need to be as much as 30% (wet bulb 72 F). It should be remembered that the higher the incubation dry bulb temperature the more water that is produced in the egg, thus creating the need for a lower incubation humidity to remove that water from the eggs. Individual hatchery incubation requirements will be dependent upon the lowest wet bulblb temperature that can be maintained in the setter room when the air conditioners are set on 100% fresh air. This will determine the lowest operating humidity of the incubators.
It is recommended that eggs be transferred no earlier than internal pipping (when a chick pips into the air cell internally). This can be confirmed by candling. If this procedure is followed, the hatch time can be more accurately predicted. If the relative humidity in the hatcher cannot be controlled, the embryo should be allowed to externally pip before moving to the hatcher. It is suggested that the hatcher be maintained at the same relative humidity as the incubator until at least external pipping has occurred. This will allow the egg to lose the water necessary to get the proper oxygen intake during this very critical period of time of embryo development. During the final stages of the hatching process and after external pipping, a relative humidity of 30 to 40% is recommended. It is also suggested that the hatcher dry bulb temperature be run at .5 F higher than the incubator temperature since the hatcher will routinely have fewer eggs than the incubator.
After hatching, the chicks should be allowed to remain in the hatcher only for the time sufficient to provide for drying without dehydration. A chick that is up and moving about is ready to be removed from the machine. On the average, the holding time after hatch should be about 12 hours.
Brooding
Ostrich producers often experience high mortality in chicks and young juveniles as the result of improper brooding and poor early management practices. The following recommendations, when effectively implemented and carefully followed, will significantly improve livability and quality of both chicks and juveniles. Caretakers must be trained and properly supervised to maintain desired conditions and to recognize and correct problems.
The brooding facility must be designed to protect chicks from predators (dogs, foxes, etc.) as well as from inclement weather. Chicks should NEVER be allowed to get soaking wet. It must be kept dry and sanitary at all times and should be designed for effective ventilation and ease in cleaning. Concrete floors in brooding units make them easy to clean.
Temperature at chick level should be 88 to 92 F during the first 10 days of life, then 80 to 85 F until they are 3 weeks of age. From 3 through 8 weeks the ideal temperature is between 70 and 80 F. Chicks must never be exposed to chilling temperatures nor allowed to become overheated. Chicks brooded in small pens with raised wire floors and heated with infrared heat lamps are particularly susceptible to chilling in cool weather. Warm room brooding (uniform temperature throughout the room) will prevent this problem. Space heaters or central heating is recommended.
If chicks are placed on litter material such as wood shaving, rice hulls, or washed builder's sand, the litter should be covered with burlap for the first 7 to 10 days to keep chicks from eating litter and developing intestinal obstruction problems. After the burlap is removed, the litter or sand should be stirred daily to stimulate drying an prevent packing. Slick surfaces cause 'spraddle legs,' which is always fatal. NEVER cover litter with newspaper, cardboard, plastic, or other slick material or place chicks on such materials.
If ostriches are allowed to forage on natural grasses or grain, try to balance this nutrient intake with the amount of commercial feed that is fed. Ostriches should not be allowed to become overweight. Excess body weight in the form of fat is detrimental to egg production by breeders and to meat quality of birds that are to be slaughtered.
At 6 to 8 weeks of age, chicks can be ranged outside in good weather, but they must be sheltered at night. They can be managed in groups of 25 to 50 birds. Young ostriches will swallow anything. Pens must be well drained, clean, and free of coarse, dry vegetation, pebbles, small rocks, wire, staples, and other debris which may cause intestinal obstruction or death, if consumed. Clean up all spilled feed. Again, NEVER allow ostriches access to moldy, wet or spoiled feed.
At 4 months of age, chicks are fairly hardy and can be ranged outside with less danger of intestinal obstruction problems. Shelter and shade must be available to protect both birds and feed during inclement weather and at night.
General Management Tips
Ostriches are hardy animals that readily adapt to a variety of climatic conditions. Performance should be satisfactory in most areas, provided adequate shelter is available in pasture plots and pens to protect adults and older juveniles form extreme conditions such as snow, ice, heavy winds, cold rain, and sleet. In summer, shade must be available. Chicks and juveniles younger than 1 year must, of course, be well protected against bad weather.
The shelter should be designed so that birds must enter through a confinement pen. This makes it easier to catch them. Feed and water should be located inside shelters in order to condition birds to enter the shelters freely, as well as to protect feed from the weather. Feeders should be positioned so that caretakers can fill them without being exposed to aggressive males. Both feeders and waterers should be the open type and should be adjustable so that they can be kept at chest height of the birds.
Fences for older juveniles and adults should be at least 5 feet high and constructed of 5 to 7 strands of smooth, barbless wire. The bottom wire should be high enough above the ground so that the caretaker can escape from aggressive cocks. Mesh wire is sometimes used for outside fencing to keep out predators, but should not be used in pens because the birds can injure themselves on it. Fence posts should be on the outside of pen areas.
Loading chutes and catch pens should be at least 8 feet high and of solid construction to prevent frightened birds from seeing beyond the pen and attempting to escape by jumping or climbing out.
Tame, gentle ostriches are much easier to handle and less prone to injury than non-gentle, semi-wild birds. Caretakers should spend time with chicks and young juveniles to tame them. Move gently among the birds, taking care to avoid frightening them. Daily hand-feeding of tidbits to juveniles is recommended. Ostriches can be trained to follow but are difficult to drive. Teaching young ostriches to follow by trailing pellets, lettuce, etc. will make handling easier as they mature.
In chicks and young juveniles, there is little difference between the sexes. Early sex determination is difficult, but can often be made by examining the sex organs. The penis of the cock is slightly larger than the hen's clitoris, although both are very similar in appearance. At about 9 months of age, sex determination becomes easy when the penis emerges during urination.
Chicks can be tattooed, branded, or microchipped at 1 day of age. The brand can be placed on the bare patch of the belly immediately behind the thigh. A thin wire can be formed into the identifying numerals or letters, heated red-hot and touched to the skin to create a permanent mark. Leg and wing bands also can be used for identification, but these may create health problems.
Health
Mortality and health problems diagnosed mainly in chicks and juveniles include starvation and malnutrition, intestinal obstruction, leg abnormalities, and coliform infections. Causes include improper brooding or nutrition, stress, improper handling, and genetics. Diagnoses in a variety of areas in the United States have confirmed rhinitis, candidiasis, Salmonella, aspergillosis, and coccidiosis infections. Parasites identified include lice and ascarids.
Ostrich diseases and parasites, reported in Africa include anthrax, tape worm, ire worm, nematodes, opthalmia, lice, and ticks. While none of these has proven to be a problem in the United States, it is possible that imported ostriches may bring them in and create future problems.
Professional assistance should be obtained promptly when a health problem is suspected. Indiscriminate use of medications can create problems and should be avoided.
References:
Brake, J. and B. Rosseland. 1991. "Ratite Incubation - a Framework for Further Refinement." The Ostrich News. 4.
Davis, G. S. and V. L. Christensen. 1995. "Eggshell Conductance and Other Functional Qualities of Ostrich Eggs." The Ostrich News. Vol.8, No.80:60-68.
Bastien, R. W. 1988. "Ostrich Management Guide." Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.
Thornberry, F. D. 1989. "Ostrich Production." Texas Agric.Ext.Svc.
Ostrich Facts at a Glance
Cost:
- Breeding pair of chicks $6,000
- General care of chicks per month per bird (veterinarian, feed, housing) $50
- Breeding pair of yearlings $12,000
- General care of yearlings to 2 years of age per month per bird $75
- Adult breeding pair per month per bird 100
- Blue Neck (largest ostrich)
- Hybrid Blue (better egg layer)
- Red Neck (smaller ostrich)
- Begin lay at 2 years of age
- Produce eggs for 30 years
- Produce 40-70 eggs per year
- Fertility rate 80%
- Incubation time to hatch 39 to 44 days
- Hatchability rate 80%
- Livability 80%
- Commercial feed absolutely essential
- Require at least 1 acre per pair
- Adequate shelter with a confinement pen
- Six foot high chain link fence
- Ostrich Products and Estimated Value:
- Rendered meat at 75 lbs. per bird at $10/lb
- Hide or leather at 14 sq. ft. per bird at $40/sq. ft.
- Feathers at 4 lbs. per bird at $40/lb.
| Ratite Diet (Open Formula): Ingredients | ||
| Ingredient | Percentage by Weight | |
| Oats, heavy, pulverized | 30.0 | |
| Alfalfa meal, 17% protein | 30.0 | |
| Soybean meal, 44% protein | 10.0 | |
| Fish meal, menhaden | 5.0 | |
| Meat and bone meal, 50% protein | 2.5 | |
| Brewers dried yeast | 2.5 | |
| Soybean oil | 2.0 | |
| Oat hulls, pulverized | 16.5 | |
| Dl-methione | 0.05 | |
| Salt | 0.5 | |
| Dicalcium phosphate | 0.5 | |
| Vitamin and mineral premixes | 0.5 | |
| Ratite Diet (Open Formula): Nutrient Standards (Minimum) | ||
| Crude protein | 18.0% | |
| Crude fat | 3.0% | |
| Crude fiber | 17.0% | |
| Lysine | 0.85% | |
| Arginine | 1.0% | |
| Methionine | 0.36% | |
| Tryptophan | 0.18% | |
| Calcium | 1.05% | |
| Available phosphorus | 0.5% | |
| Magnesium | .05% | |
| Sodium chloride | 0.4% | |
| Potassium | 0.6% | |
| Iron | 100 ppm | |
| Copper | 10 ppm | |
| Zinc | 100 ppm | |
| Manganese | 130 ppm | |
| Iodine | 0.4 ppm | |
| Selenium | 0.2 ppm | |
| Vitamin A | 10,000 IU/kg | |
| Vitamin D-3 | 1,000 ICU/kg | |
| Vitamin E | 120 IU/kg | |
| Vitamin K | 1.5 ppm | |
| Thiamine | 3 ppm | |
| Riboflavin | 5 ppm | |
| Niacin | 90 ppm | |
| Pyridoxine | 6 ppm | |
| Pantothenic acid | 24 ppm | |
| Folic acid | 4.0 ppm | |
| Biotin | 0.25 ppm | |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.015 ppm | |
| Choline | 1,500 ppm | |
| Linoleic acid | 1.2% | |
Source: North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service - October 2003
