Before we look at the diet of ostriches, let's find out what they generally eat in nature. We want to note right away that these birds are unique and have a special structure of the digestive system. By the way, it differs from those possessed by poultry. Firstly, ostriches do not have a goiter, which means that rougher feeds are digested faster.

This provides a powerful stomach. Also, their digestive tract has a characteristic elongated back part of the intestine. This allows the bird to get the maximum amount of fiber and to cleanse the microflora well from coarse plant fibers.

Most experts call ostriches herbivores, although in fact they can be safely ranked among omnivores. They perfectly eat plant and animal food. With an abundance of green fodder, the basis of nutrition is grass, shrub leaves, seeds and roots of some plants. Also, African birds are not averse to feasting on small insects and even reptiles.

In natural habitat

If you have already read our previous publications, you probably already know what is in the African savannas. There, on long plains, they graze along with other herbivores in fresh greenery, and also collect leaves of young shoots. Basically, in natural conditions, these birds feed on pasture, that is, grass.

Since ostriches can live without water for a long time, they often choose semi-arid deserts for nesting. There they find various seeds, roots and branches of shrubs for food. In the absence of abundant greenery, birds also hunt for small insects, reptiles and even rodents. An adult in nature eats about 4 kilograms of food per day. This is exactly the amount they need for a long run and a strong expenditure of energy.

At home

In principle, at home, ostriches eat everything the same as in nature. True, in such cases, they eat less, since they do not need such a large expenditure of energy. Their diet is based on greens: grass and leaves. In winter, they are also given hay, various concentrated feed and cereals. Today, ostriches at home include cabbage leaves, beets in their diet at home, give root crops, for example, beets and carrots, birds eat apples and zucchini well. Often they are also given table scraps.

Ostrich feeding ration

At home, much attention is paid to their nutrition. So, for example, with normal food, young animals grow and develop well, females increase productivity. Today, alfalfa is the best food for African birds throughout the year. In winter it is given in the form of hay, in summer it is fresh with the addition of compound feed. Give at the rate of 1.5 kilograms per adult.

Allocate an intensive, semi-intensive, normalized and extensive feeding system. Alfalfa, grass and compound feed form the basis of the latter type of feeding. With intensive or semi-intensive, grain, legumes, mineral and vitamin feeds are added to the greens. Their number depends on the productivity of the bird.

It is worth noting that these feeding programs for ostriches are still very conditional and developed by analogy with other poultry. But, as practice shows, there is a place of its own existence. However, you should definitely take into account the place of residence of the African bird, its living conditions, use, age and weight.

In summer, ostriches should spend most of their time in the pasture, grazing. Once a day, they are added to special feeders 1.5 kilograms of compound feed. If the bird needs protein, it is given lupine, soybeans, meal and cake. For their better assimilation, amino acids are added. For raising young animals, it is imperative to add minerals to the feed. These are, for example, chalk, bone meal, eggshells, pounded shells. You can also give bran.

As a vitamin supplement, especially in winter, ostriches are recommended to give herbal flour, alfalfa hay, and silage. Let's consider all the feeds again in more detail:

• green - grass, leaves, vegetables;
• grains - oats, barley, soybeans, corn;
• protein feed - cake, meal, bone meal, baker's yeast;
• hay - alfalfa, herbs, soybeans, silage;

It is important to feed the birds correctly. For example, grain should be given in the form of grains, proteins - in the form of flour, vegetables and root crops should be carefully chopped. In separate feeders, small pebbles or gravel should be poured over the ostriches. For ostriches, there is a different diet, they do not even begin to feed them immediately, but only 6-8 days after hatching. But read about this in our next publications.

Video "Ostriches on the farm"

In this video, you will learn not only how to feed ostriches, but also the general rules for keeping these birds. What do they eat and what kind of diet they have, one of the private breeders will tell you.

Feeding ostriches practically does not differ from feeding other types of poultry. The diet includes various compound feed, alfalfa, shell rock and vitamins. The main thing that ostriches eat is harvested alfalfa for the winter in the form of greens or hay. However, it is recommended to add 1.5 kg of combined feed per day per animal.

Corn, wheat, extracted soybeans, and ground millet are used as standard ingredients for the preparation of feed. Bean or alfalfa flour, fish meal, calcium carbonate, yeast, vitamin feed with useful microelements are also important.

In principle, the diet for ostriches when grown at home is no different from what they eat in their natural habitat. On the farm, the birds move much less, so almost no energy is wasted, as a result of which the feed consumption is less. Often they prefer to eat greenery in the form of grass, leaves of various bushes and trees.

In order for ostriches in a private household to grow and develop well, it is necessary to pay special attention to dry food. It is he who allows you to improve the productive qualities of females.

Ostriches are very fond of eating alfalfa, but the daily rate should not exceed 1.5-1.8 kg.

The feeding of African birds can be divided into several basic systems:

• Semi-intensive. In this mode, regular walking of livestock on farms and abundant feeding with concentrated mixtures is carried out. It will be most practical to make the highest quality imitation of natural conditions for their development, and feed should be based on natural substances and vitamins. This is necessary so that the birds themselves get their own food in the right amount. Complementary feeding should be done during the lay phase.

In winter, it is recommended to give about 1 kg of compound feed with a gradual increase to 3 kg. It is also important that ostriches consume a variety of dispersed green mixtures. And when they are not interested in mating, feeding should be done more intensively.

• Intense. When keeping ostriches in conditions without walking, it is necessary to constantly provide a sufficient amount of feed in the form of hay, as well as greens mixed with food based on vegetables and grain crops. One bird can eat 3-4 kg of this mixture daily. For daytime feeding, you can use succulent herbal food, for this, alfalfa, rapeseed and various herbs are suitable.

When females are preparing to lay, feeding should be intensified throughout the entire period.

It is necessary to know that if at this time the diet and diet are drastically changed, the female can completely stop laying.

Also, ostriches should constantly have free access to sand and pebbles, as they are an integral part of the diet.

• Extensive. With this system, the costs of feeding are relatively minimal, since the birds find the main food for themselves. However, for this it is necessary to provide a large enclosed area where they can freely graze and get food.

The main disadvantage of such a regime is the dependence on natural phenomena and climatic conditions content. For example, during drought or frequent torrential rains, ostriches will not be able to graze in an open area.

Summer

Ostriches prefer to spend most of their time in the pasture, finding food on their own. However, the ostrich nutrition is supplemented with fresh herbs and mixed feed of about 1.5 kg every day for good growth. To saturate the body with protein, cake, lupine, meal or beans are added to the feed ration, which it is desirable to mix with amino acids. In this case, chalk, bone meal, bran, shells or eggshells are added to the compound feed for ostriches.

In the autumn-winter period

In winter, ostriches should be fed with the main ingredient - alfalfa in the form of hay. It is also necessary to use compound feed, microelements and vitamins of different groups to ensure the development of birds. Mineral feed includes limestone, chalk or shells, but it is better to purchase ready-made in specialized stores.

In winter, the main type of feed is cereals: corn, beans, oats, protein mixtures from oilcake, yeast and bone meal, as well as the right amount of hay, silage, a mixture of various herbs and soybeans.

Despite the fact that ostriches prefer hot weather, they still need water. When kept at home, special drinkers should be installed for them and filled with clean fresh water daily.

It is recommended to carry out this at the same time as the feed, so that after the dry ingredients they can drink a lot. At the same time, in order for the birds to remain healthy, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water, since various microbes and bacteria collect in it.

Fattening for meat

Ostriches are fed for meat from 1.5 months of age. To get 1 kg of growth, you need to spend about 5 kg of feed. Feeding is carried out in two stages:

1. The first period lasts from 6 to 15 weeks of life, while the birds receive sufficient greens and feed;
2. The second period is 15-40 weeks. Keeping is carried out in groups of 30 adult birds of relatively equal size. The food includes mash of silage, compound feed, hay and corn on the cob.

Features of feeding young animals

When feeding ostriches, it is necessary to monitor the correct distribution of food so that they grow up healthy, without defects (curvature of the skeleton, disproportionate limbs, etc.). On the first run, chicks should have access to food and water. They are fed finely chopped clover or alfalfa with a protein feed.

To saturate with proteins, young animals must necessarily consume cottage cheese and boiled eggs.

Upon reaching 2-3 months, the feed is saturated with protein about 20% and fiber 12-15%.

In summer, they nibble on greens and leaves of young shoots when walking, and in winter they must feed on flour and silage. Small stones help break up food in the upper intestine. At the same time, they are able to protect the baby from death when eating tough greens.

Breeding the world's largest bird is suitable for those who, not wanting to waste their time on trifles, want to get a lot of profit at once. Compared to raising other animals or birds, this type of business is the most profitable. Indeed, from one pair of ostriches per year you can get about 1.5 thousand kg of meat, 50 sq. m. leather and more than 30 kg of feathers.

The only problem may be the availability of sufficient space for their content, but first things first.

What is attractive about the business of growing ostriches in Russia?

An ostrich farm can be called waste-free production. The fat of these birds is used to make medicinal ointments with bactericidal and healing properties. Souvenirs are made from eggshells and feathers. Buttons are made from claws. Even the long eyelashes of this overseas bird are used in cosmetology. But main value ostriches are, of course, meat, skin and eggs. Good business can be done on these products.

The meat of this exotic bird is highly valued. It is dietary and delicious. There is practically no cholesterol in it, but about 22% protein. And it is, accordingly, expensive. These birds grow very quickly at home, so in a year you can already get about 50 kg of pure meat and almost 1 square meter from one individual. m of leather. However, 3 month old chicks can be slaughtered for meat, which at this age usually weigh about 15 kg and have the most tender and juicy meat.

Their eggs are huge. The weight of one egg can reach 1.3 kg. You can feed 10 people with scrambled eggs. Moreover, such a dish will be much healthier than from ordinary chicken eggs... After all, it contains a lot of healthy fatty acids, but little bad cholesterol. Various decorative elements can be made from the egg shell, its thickness reaches 1.5 cm. Therefore, it is difficult to call ostrich eggs fragile. The egg production of the female of this bird is very high and can reach 80 eggs per season, which usually lasts from March to October. Females begin to rush at the age of 1.5-2 years.

You can see the benefits of ostrich eggs and how to cook them in this video.

Ostrich skin is no less valuable in Russia. Strong and beautiful leather products are made from it. In terms of quality, it is put on a par with the skin of an elephant and even a crocodile. It is very durable and soft and flexible. The cost is 1.5 sq. m. skin obtained from one bird will fully compensate you for all the costs of its care and maintenance. This is already a weighty argument in order to create your own successful business on the cultivation of these birds.

What good can you get from an ostrich in a Russian farm can be seen in this video

Growing ostriches at home

There are many subspecies of ostriches in the world. But in central Russia and Ukraine, for business, they are most often engaged in the cultivation of a black African ostrich. It is the largest of its kind. The growth of an adult male ranges from 2.5 m, and its weight is about 150 kg. Females are slightly smaller. Their height is approximately 2 m, and their weight, respectively, is within 120 kg. This bird is completely unpretentious to care for. It perfectly tolerates low temperatures, which allows it to be kept even in the north of Russia.

Keeping ostriches for business is not particularly difficult, but it has its own nuances that you need to know about in advance. First of all, these include:

1. Having a large meadow or even a field of grass where birds can walk. If you seriously decide to do business with ostriches in Russia, you need to acquire an area where you will keep them. The point is that in wildlife ostriches spend most of their time in the pastures in search of food. They need a large walking area so that they feel comfortable and not get sick. To do this, it is best to create a paddock on sandy soil, which should not contain trees and shrubs that can provide shade. These birds love to have a lot of sun. There should be another area nearby, but with green grass. If there is no such area, you will have to mow the grass yourself.
2. The presence of large covered pavilions with good ventilation and heating. Although the black African ostrich is considered less picky about temperature indicators, thanks to which he received such distribution in Russia, but still it is better to keep it in a heated room in winter. Otherwise, the bird may freeze. After all, the African steppes, where the climate is much less severe, are considered her homeland. Therefore, keeping ostriches at home is impossible without a stationary poultry house on a solid foundation. Be sure to take care of the presence of windows and hoods in the walls and ceiling for the winter period. It is best to coat the walls of the room with clay. Sawdust or hay can be used as bedding.
3. These birds are polygamous. In nature, they create a family consisting of one male and 3-4 females. Therefore, it is necessary to select pairs based on this calculation. When the male decides on the choice of girlfriends, he begins to dig holes in the ground. Then the females lay eggs in them. Remarkably, both parents are watching the eggs. Usually the female is during the day and the male at night. Most often, these birds choose the most remote areas of pasture for laying eggs, therefore, during the mating season, it is best to limit their movement with special fences. Otherwise, you might just lose all your eggs.

Caring for this bird is not difficult at all. Ostriches have long been accustomed to the natural conditions of Russia, so the main thing when growing them is to follow the basic recommendations for your business to be successful.

How to properly breed ostriches at their summer cottage in Russia can be seen in this video

Feeding ostriches at home

These birds are quite voracious. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the feeders. Their length should be at least 50 cm per chick and at least 150 cm per adult. Otherwise, the birds may fight. It is advisable that they are deep, and you do not have to completely fill them with food. Also make sure the feeders are stable. It is also advisable to acquire a manger for grass or hay. The ostrich is considered an omnivorous bird, but the main diet for it is:

The approximate amount of food per adult is three kg per day. You need to feed twice. You can also add cabbage, carrots, beets as a treat. It is forbidden to give potatoes and parsley.

For proper digestion of food at home, these birds usually eat pebbles. It promotes grinding of plant fibers and replaces teeth with them. Pebbles for these birds should always be available.

You can use a regular trough as a drinker. They consume a lot of water. It takes about 10 liters per day per adult.

There must be artificial lighting in the house. In nature, these birds are accustomed to long daylight hours. Therefore, at home in winter, they simply do not have time to eat the entire daily dose of food they are entitled to. As a result, they may start to hurt and stunted. Artificial lighting must be extended to 16 hours.

The air temperature also influences the feed intake. It is better that it is not lower than 15 degrees Celsius. Sudden changes in temperature are highly undesirable.

Breeding ostriches

The male reaches maturity at 3-4 years, the female at 2-3 years. It is not difficult to determine that the male has entered the mating period. Usually at this time his legs, beak and around his eyes turn red.

These birds live up to 80 years old, but their reproductive age does not exceed 35 years.

For hatching chicks, special incubators are used.

Newly born chicks reach a height of about 20 cm. However, ostriches grow incredibly quickly, adding in growth by one centimeter per day. In the first three days, it is better not to give them food and water, so that the gall sac, which reaches 25% of the chick's weight, can dissolve. Then they can begin to be fed with alfalfa or clover leaves and compound feed for broiler chickens. It is also useful to add cottage cheese and a hard-boiled egg to their feed. It is imperative to avoid low temperatures, drafts, dampness and unsanitary conditions. At three weeks, ostriches already need to pour gravel into separate feeders and add ground corn, wheat, and various mineral additives to their food. Chicks begin to actively feed from about 3 months.

The sale of ostrich chicks can also be used as one of the lines of business. They are not cheap in Russia. And they can generate additional income from the farm, in addition to the sale of meat, eggs and skin.

Despite the fact that ostrich farming in Russia is very expensive at the initial stage, this business is very profitable. These exotic birds are a great source of valuable meat, skin and eggs. If the business is organized correctly, then it will create no more difficulties for you than any other household, while the income from it will be significantly higher.

For information on where to start breeding ostriches, what pitfalls can await you along the way, see this video.

In our article we want to talk about though not flying. The ostrich is a funny and unusual bird. Generally speaking, each breed is unique and has its own characteristics. Ostriches, on the other hand, fascinate, first of all, by their dissimilarity to others. In our country, these beautiful birds can be met infrequently, and therefore it is so interesting to watch them.

What kind of bird?

It is believed that these special birds appeared on the planet 12 million years ago. Absolutely all types of ostriches belong to the subclass (flightless), they are also called running. Ostriches live in warm countries of Australia and Africa, preferring semi-desert areas and savannahs.

These special birds are completely different in behavior from their counterparts. An interesting fact is that in translation from Greek the word "ostrich" means nothing more than "camel-sparrow". Isn't it a funny comparison for so How at the same time the same creature can look like two completely different individuals? Probably, it's not for nothing that people who hide from problems are called ostriches. After all, there is even such a popular expression: "Hide your head in the sand, like an ostrich." Do birds actually behave this way and how did they deserve such an unflattering comparison?

It turns out that in real life ostriches do not hide their heads. In a moment of danger, the female can rub her head on the ground in order to be less noticeable. Thus, she tries to save her offspring. From the outside, it may seem that the bird is thrusting its head into the sand, but this is absolutely not the case. Animals in the wild have a lot of enemies: lions, jackals, eagles, hyenas, snakes, birds of prey, lynxes.

Appearance

No other bird on earth can boast of such a large size. The ostrich is undoubtedly the largest bird on the planet. But at the same time, such a strong and large creature cannot fly. Which, in principle, is not so surprising. The weight of the ostrich reaches 150 kilograms, and the height is 2.5 meters.

At first it may seem that the bird is rather awkward and awkward. But this is not at all the case. It just knocks down the dissimilarity of this creature to all other birds. Ostriches have a large body, a small head, but a very long neck. Birds have very unusual eyes that stand out on the head and are bordered by thick eyelashes. The legs of the ostrich are long and strong.

The body of the bird is covered with slightly curly and loose feathers. Their color can be brown with white, black with white patterns (mainly in males). What distinguishes all types of ostriches from other birds is the complete absence of the so-called keel.

Ostrich species

Ornithologists classify ostriches as running birds, which include four families: three-toed creatures, two-toed and cassowaries, as well as kiwi (small wingless).

Currently, there are several subspecies. african bird: Massai, Berberian, Malay and Somali. All these types of ostriches still exist today.

And here are two more species that once lived on earth, but now they are classified as extinct: South African and Arab. All African representatives are impressive in size. It is difficult to find another bird with such parameters. The weight of an ostrich can reach one and a half centners (this applies to males), but females are more modest in size.

It is also worth remembering the rhea. This is the second species, which is very often referred to as ostriches. It includes two representatives: Darwin's rhea and great rhea. These birds live in the Amazon basin and on the plateaus and plains of the South American mountains.

Representatives of the third order (cassowary) live in New Guinea and Northern Australia. It includes two families: cassowary (cassowary muruka and common cassowary) and emu.

But the latter type includes kiwi. They live in New Zealand and are even a symbol of it. Kiwis are very modest in size compared to other running birds.

African ostriches

The African ostrich, although it is the largest bird on earth, is deprived of the ability to fly. But on the other hand, nature has endowed him with an amazing ability to run incredibly fast.

The bird has another feature that we mentioned - it's a small head, which gave rise to talk about the fact that ostriches have very poor mental abilities.

There are only two toes on the legs of the African ostrich. A similar phenomenon cannot be found among other representatives of the avian world. An interesting fact is that these two fingers are very different. The large one looks more like a hoof, while the smaller one is much less developed. However, this does not interfere with running fast. In general, the ostrich is a strong bird, you should not get too close to it, since it can hit with a powerful paw. Adults can easily carry humans. The animal can also be attributed to centenarians, since it can live up to 60-70 years.

Lifestyle

The ostrich is a polygamous animal. In nature, during the mating season, males are surrounded by a whole harem of females, among which there is the most important. This period lasts from March to October. For the entire season, the female can lay from 40 to 80 and is very large in size. The shell is very white on the outside, giving the impression that it is made of porcelain. Plus, it's also durable. An ostrich egg weighs between 1100 and 1800 grams.

An interesting fact is that all females of one ostrich lay eggs in one nest. The father of the family incubates his offspring with the female he chooses. An ostrich chick is born sighted and weighs about a kilogram. He moves well enough and within a day begins to independently obtain his own food.

Bird features

Birds have good eyesight and horizons. This is due to the peculiarities of their structure. Flexible and special eye positioning make it possible to survey large spaces. Birds are able to focus on objects at long distances. This gives them and other animals the opportunity to avoid danger in the pasture.

In addition, the bird can run perfectly, while developing a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour. In those parts where the ostrich lives, in the wild, it is surrounded by an incredible number of predators. Therefore, good eyesight and the ability to run quickly are excellent qualities that help to avoid the clutches of the enemy.

What does an ostrich eat?

Since animals live in hot climates, they cannot always eat well. Therefore, they are omnivorous. Of course, plants are the main food. But ostriches can also eat up the remains of predators, insects, reptiles. In terms of food, they are completely unpretentious and tolerate hunger very steadfastly.

Nanda

The rhea lives in the mountains of South America. This bird is similar to the ostrich, but has a more modest size. The animal weighs about forty kilograms, and its height does not exceed one hundred and thirty centimeters. Outwardly, the rhea is not very beautiful. Its plumage is completely nondescript and rare (barely covers the body), and the feathers on the wings are not too lush. The rhea has powerful legs with three toes. Animals mainly feed on plants, tree shoots, seeds.

During the breeding season, females lay from 13 to 30 eggs, each of which weighs no more than 700 grams. The male prepares a hole for the eggs and incubates all of them himself and further takes care of the offspring.

In nature, there are two types of rhea: common and northern. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these animals were quite numerous, but soon found themselves on the verge of destruction due to mass extermination. And the reason for this is delicious meat and egg collection. In natural natural conditions rhea can be seen only in the most remote places. Only there they managed to survive. But the rhea is hastily bred on farms and kept in zoos.

Emu

Emu outwardly slightly resembles a cassowary. In length, the bird reaches 150-190 centimeters, and its weight ranges from 30-50 kilograms. The animal is capable of speeds of about 50 kilometers per hour. This is facilitated by the presence of long legs, which enable the birds to take steps up to 280 centimeters long.

The emu has absolutely no teeth, and in order for the food in the stomach to grind, the birds swallow stones, glass and even pieces of metal. Animals have not only very strong and developed legs, but also excellent eyesight and hearing, which makes it possible for them to detect predators before they have time to attack.

Features of emu

Emus can have different plumage depending on where they live. The feathers of the animal have a very special structure that prevents them from overheating. This allows the birds to be active even in very hot periods. Emus generally tolerate a temperature difference from -5 to +45 degrees. Outwardly, females and males do not have much difference, but they make different sounds. Females usually scream louder than males. In the wild, birds live for 10 to 20 years.

Emus have small wings, a long light blue neck with gray-brown feathers that protect their skin from ultraviolet radiation. The birds' eyes are covered with blinking membranes, protecting them from debris and dust in windy and arid deserts.

Emus are distributed almost throughout Australia, as well as on the island of Tasmania. Exceptions are dense forests, arid regions and large cities.

Animals feed on plant food, these are the fruits of shrubs and trees, plant leaves, grass, roots. They usually feed in the morning. They often enter the fields and eat the crops of grain crops. Emus can also eat insects. But animals drink quite rarely (once a day). If there is a large amount of water nearby, then they can drink several times a day.

Emus often become victims of animals and birds: foxes, dingo dogs, hawks and eagles. Foxes steal eggs, and birds of prey strive to kill.

Emu breeding

During the mating season, females acquire a more beautiful shade of feathers. They are quite aggressive and often fight among themselves. For a lonely male, they can intensely fight.

During the season, emus lay 10-20 eggs of a dark green color with a very thick shell. Each of them weighs about a kilogram. Emus are also polygamous, and therefore several females lay eggs in one nest, after which a male incubates them. The hatched chicks weigh about half a kilogram, while their growth is 12 centimeters. While the males are busy gathering offspring, they become incredibly aggressive, and therefore it is better not to bother them.

In Australia's wildlife, birds are protected by law, but this is just a formality. In fact, many populations have long been on the brink of extinction. Emu is the symbol and pride of the Australian continent.

From the history…

It is believed that ostriches appeared on the planet 12 million years ago. And the trade in the feathers of these animals dates back to the early Egyptian civilizations and goes back three thousand years. In some countries, even before the beginning of our era, animals were kept in captivity. In ancient Egypt, noble ladies rode on ostriches for festive ceremonies. Animal feathers were in great demand at the beginning of the nineteenth century, which led to a significant reduction in the number of birds. In the middle of the century, a period of rapid development of ostrich breeding began. The first farm in Africa appeared in 1838. The animals were bred solely for the purpose of obtaining valuable feathers. For example, in South Africa at that time, the export of feather was in fourth place after the export of gold, wool and diamonds.

Gradually, ostriches began to be bred in captivity in other countries and on other continents: in the USA, Algeria, Egypt, Australia, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand. But during the two world wars given view the business almost ceased to exist, and the number of farms decreased significantly.

Instead of an afterword

In zoological literature, African ostriches, rhea and emus are classified as running birds. However, as we have already mentioned, only the African ostrich can be attributed to the ostrich, which is rightly considered the largest bird.

The world around us is full of unusual and outlandish animals. And one of them can be considered ostriches. These cute and adorable big-eyed creatures just can't help but please. Currently, even in our latitudes, ostriches are bred in households to obtain valuable meat, eggs, feathers, and simply as exotic pets.

Many farmers who maintain and breed different kinds poultry, claim that keeping ostriches in the household is no more difficult than chickens or ducks. After all, each of the breeds has its own characteristics. This exotic species can be bred for several purposes: to obtain delicious meat, beautiful feathers and eggs.

Most biologists consider herbivorous birds, however, in fact, they can be safely classified as omnivores. They perfectly eat both food of plant and animal origin. With an abundance of greenery around, the basis of the bird's diet is grass, shrub leaves, seeds and roots of some savanna plants. Also, African birds are not averse to feasting on small insects and even reptiles. In a drought, they calmly do without water.

What to feed at home

We suggest starting to consider the composition of the diet and nutritional characteristics of ostriches with.

Newly appeared ostrich chicks do not need to be fed immediately at all... This is due to the fact that they feed from the yolk sac, which is in the umbilical cord for the first few days. In the wild, they first peck on adult manure, thanks to which they receive a set of microorganisms in their intestines, which further help them in the breakdown and digestion of plant fiber in the intestines, and also contribute to the development of the baby's immune system. They begin to feed the ostriches with chopped alfalfa, which contains a lot of easily digestible protein.

Experts recommend making a slide of sand or shell rock in powder form in an aviary with chicks. This will help improve the digestive processes of the young. Also, the feed must be enriched with B vitamins and biotin. These elements are essential for the correct formation of a healthy musculoskeletal system.

There are three ways to raise adult ostrich in three ways: intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. The first method is inherently very similar to keeping cattle in a stall. The extensive system is based on the placement of exotic birds in conditions very similar to their natural habitat. The semi-intensive method is a compromise between the two methods described above. In each of the cases, they reveal their own dietary habits of ostriches.

Ostrich feeding with an intensive housing system

When birds are constantly in the confined space of the aviary, provide them with sufficient hay and green fodder. They should be mixed with grain-based foods. One person can eat up to 3 kg of this assortment per day.

The basis of the daily diet should be rich, succulent food on chopped grass. Rapeseed, alfalfa or herbs are ideal. Do not forget to leave coarse river sand or fine expanded clay for the ostriches in the open.

When the female is preparing for, the intensity of feeding should be increased for the entire period of "motherhood". If you suddenly make adjustments to the existing diet or change the content of essential elements (fats, proteins, carbohydrates and others) in the food, the ostrich can stop laying eggs.

What to feed with an extensive housing system

The cost of food with this method is the lowest: the bird itself searches for food. To implement an extensive housing system, it is necessary to fence off a sufficient area of ​​unplowed field where ostriches will graze like other livestock. The disadvantage of this system is that success and effectiveness depend on climate, terrain and variability of the weather. In the event of drought or, conversely, the onset of prolonged rains, the pasture may be unsuitable for walking and feeding ostriches.

Feeding with semi-intensive housing

This is a combination of walking an ostrich in the field and sub-crusting it with specialized feed mixtures. The ideal option here is to design and try to create conditions for the ostriches close to their natural habitat. However, it is very important that they are engaged in obtaining their own food in sufficient quantities.

How to prepare food yourself

The basis of the diet of ostriches consists of approximately the same components as any other poultry: compound feed, alfalfa, vitamins, shell rock. Alfalfa can be used both in the form of hay and in the form of green mass.

Also, ingredients for ostrich feed can be chopped corn, millet and wheat, soybeans, fish meal, yeast.

In winter, ostriches are mainly fed from dried herbal mixtures (hay). For example, the composition may be as follows: meadow fescue, meadow bluegrass, meadow clover (red) and creeping (white), forage sainfoin and sowing seradella. In the table below, we consider the need for ostriches in feed throughout the year.

Contraindications

The diet of the ostriches contained in must be formulated so that their body weight is close to ideal. You can not feed birds to obesity - if ostriches are actively gaining weight, it is necessary to cut back on the amount of cereals, replacing them with green juicy feed or hay. If the birds are depleted, you need to increase the amount of cereal food, as well as animal feed. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the birds move enough - this factor affects both their weight and the taste of meat.