How to grow an ostrich at home?

One of the options for running your own effective business is an ostrich farm. Breeding ostriches at home is exotic, in demand, and profitable!

Why breeding an ostrich?

Every year this type of farming is gaining more and more popularity, because it quickly pays off and begins to make a profit after one or two years.
A businessman who decides to breed ostriches at home, in addition to studying a large amount of information from various sources, is recommended to visit several farms specializing in this particular type of farming. This is required to form the correct impression of the planned business and a clear idea of ​​its optimal conduct.

Valuable ostrich products

Why exactly breeding an ostrich? Because it:

• Meat is tasty and healthy, a dietary product that is rapidly gaining popularity due to its rich composition of trace elements, high protein content and minimal fat content. Reminding in taste of veal, ostrich meat lends itself to any kind of heat treatment, perfectly absorbs marinades and spices. The meat yield when cutting carcasses is about 25-30 kilograms, which is 40% of the poultry. One sold ostrich carcass can bring $ 500 and more, while the price per kilogram of such meat in European and American markets ranges from $ 15 to $ 25.

• Fat, widely used in pharmacology and cosmetology, as an ingredient in the production of soaps, balms, ointments, and creams. The most valuable is the fat of emu ostriches, which has bactericidal, hypoallergenic, anti-inflammatory properties. On average, an adult bird is capable of producing from 7 to 15 kilograms of such a valuable product.

• An egg, the weight of which ranges from 450 to 1800 grams, which is equivalent to 25-40 chicken counterparts. The cost of such an unusual giant, which is not inferior in anything to a chicken egg and is an exotic dining table, is 10-15 dollars. In terms of shelf life, an ostrich egg is also a record holder, as it can lie in the refrigerator for up to one year. A strong shell, which is very difficult to break, is similar to porcelain and is in demand among artists as a subject of painting and engraving, and is also in demand among craftsmen who make a variety of jewelry. Fertilized eggs are considered the most valuable; their price from poultry farmers reaches up to $ 100 apiece.In a year, this can amount to 3.5 - 8.0 thousand dollars, based on the calculation that one female is capable of laying about 70 eggs per season.
• Feather, which, along with meat, became the cause of the mass extermination of ostriches. The fashion for ladies' hats with a feather in 1840 impoverished South America by 1000 kg of such a valuable product, and in 1910 this figure rose to 370 thousand kilograms. And today, the white ostrich feather growing on the back or in the tail of males is readily bought up by fashion designers, designers, dance groups, as well as visitors to farms as a souvenir. The rest of the feathers are used as pillow filling. Breeding ostriches in Russia benefits even from the sale of the feathers of this bird, which brings the farmer about 10% of the total profit.

• The skin is moisture-resistant, elastic, with a long service life (more than 30 years), is in great demand among designers and is a material for the manufacture of elite models of bags, wallets, shoes, gloves, belts, wallets and cowboy shoes popular among Americans. Ostrich skin, which in its qualities is equated to snake and crocodile, cannot be faked. Selling the skin of one ostrich, the price of which varies from $ 200 to $ 300 per piece, fully pays for all the costs of breeding poultry.

• Adult poultry is also an important part of a farmer's income. As a rule, breeding chicks and individuals are sold, which can later be used to breed future offspring. A five-day-old chick in Russia costs about $ 100, a month-old ostrich can be bought for $ 200, a pair of adult ostriches will cost 3,500 and more.

The African ostrich is a favorite of farmers

The African ostrich is the largest breed (weight 100 - 160 kg, height - about 3 meters), due to its unpretentious maintenance it is grown in more than 50 countries of the world. This bird is able to endure high and low temperatures. The running speed reaches 50 km / h. Emu ostriches, which are less developed on farms than African ostriches, do not require special care. It is important to know the behavior of this bird in natural conditions, so that later the artificially created environment can be optimized for the natural environment familiar to such exotic creatures.

Brief description of poultry keeping

In winter, the bird can be kept in unheated rooms on a deep bedding; for 6-month-old young animals on cold days, the room should be warmed up to a temperature of 12-18 degrees. The productive season for the African ostrich is from March to October. The egg production of one female per season ranges from 50 to 80 eggs, the weight of which is 1.3-1.8 kg. The incubation period of young animals, which hatch simultaneously, is 45 days. The emerging ostriches weigh up to 1 kilogram with a growth of 20-25 centimeters. Females reach sexual maturity at 18-24 months, males at 24-30 months.

Feeding ostriches

Ostriches, being an omnivorous bird, feed on what nature gives. Preference is given to vegetation (grass, leaves, fruits, roots). They also do not disdain various animals, birds, small insects and lizards. In general, the poultry ration should consist of 50% green feed, 30% of combined feed, 20% - at the discretion and capabilities of the farmer. Adult birds and young animals older than a year need to be fed 2 times a day, young birds up to a year - at least 3-4 times.

On farms, poultry with an average daily ration of 3 kg of feed receives:

• Green fodder (clover, rapeseed, alfalfa, quinoa, white cabbage and fodder, spinach, corn and cereal silage, mustard, nettle, beet leaves, carrots, mulberries).
• Rough forage (hay of clover, alfalfa, meadow grasses, soybeans, seradella and cereal straw).
• Root crops, fruits and vegetables (pumpkin, radish, cucumbers, carrots, beets, apples, watermelon, bananas).
• Cereals (corn, barley, oats, wheat, rye, millet, sorghum, sunflower).
• Feed additives (meat and bone, bone and fish meal).
• Minerals (shells, gravel, limestone, egg shells), which ostriches are very eager to find and eat with pleasure. This contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive system. By the way, the territory of the farm must be thoroughly cleaned, since ostriches do not disdain any small debris (nails, pieces of plastic).

Ostrich systems

Modern ostrich breeding adheres to three main systems on which the breeding of these birds is based:

• Intense. Breeding and keeping ostriches is similar to the stall care of livestock on livestock farms. Birds are kept in a small area in full support of their livelihoods by the farm staff, which has a positive effect on the development of the livestock, especially the young. Close contact and regular grooming make the bird tame and easy to control. In an intensive system, eggs are removed from the nests and incubated, which leads to a high rate of reproduction, allowing up to 80 eggs per year from one layer.

  

• Extensive. Breeding an ostrich is as close as possible to natural conditions: the bird itself is more or less worried about itself. Females, thanks to free movement, can mate with various males, as a result of which the number of fertilized eggs increases markedly.
• Semi-intensive - combines the positive qualities of the above systems and is recommended for novice poultry breeders. Here there is one female for one adult male.

Where to begin? Business plan

Breeding ostriches in Ukraine and Russia is a promising business, because the unpretentiousness of this bird in care and the high cost of ostrich products will pay off the new business quickly enough, starting to bring tangible profits in a fairly short time.

The first step in starting your own farming business will be finding a suitable area for keeping ostriches. Where to start breeding ostriches? The first steps are the arrangement of the farm for their maintenance and the purchase of young animals or adults.Of course, breeding an ostrich will require certain financial investments, but they are worth it, since they will pay off already in the first year of the ostrich farming. Although the ostrich is an unpretentious bird, nevertheless, the key to a successful start in the ostrich business will be to create the most comfortable conditions for it.

Expense item - building a farm

The construction of a farm will require significant costs. The value of the investment will depend on local conditions, personal and rental agreements, prices for building materials and the work of employees.

You will need to build:

• closed insulated room, bright and spacious, with an approximate area of ​​150 sq. meters for keeping an average herd of about 30 adult heads: one individual should have at least 50 square meters. meters of land;
• open enclosures with an area of ​​1500 sq. meters;
• fences;
• communications that ensure the continuous life of the farm.

It is imperative to pay attention to the remoteness of the farm from noisy highways, industries with hazardous emissions; wind protection and terrain are also important. Good access roads and a good water supply are essential to keep the farm running smoothly.

Finding less costly ways

Farmers who own land with buildings on it will be in an advantageous position.

Another way with a minimum investment is to search somewhere in the hinterland for an abandoned pigsty or cowshed, surrounded by pastures and water.Of course, the premises will require repairs (heating, sewerage and ventilation) and the purchase of equipment, but this option will save a significant part of the money that can be invested directly in the purchase of livestock. Buying 4 adult families and 6-8 females will cost 30-40 thousand dollars. You can buy grown chicks, which will significantly reduce the investment of funds, but delay the time period for making the first profit.

Breeding work is the right way to a healthy livestock

From the first days, special attention will need to be paid to breeding work, periodically updating the herd with good productive birds and rejecting sick and unusable individuals. When forming families, it will be necessary to take into account the mutual sympathies of the ostriches, because the mechanical connection of birds may turn out to be unproductive and will cause a decrease in egg production.

You will definitely need to get an incubator, the cheapest of which, designed for 45 eggs, costs $ 1,500.

To feed ostriches, you will need to buy domestic compound feed for laying hens, including vitamin and mineral supplements. Also, the bird will be happy to consume oats, corn, barley, millet, bran, hay and straw. In summer and autumn, the bird can be switched to green juicy feed: alfalfa and clover.

With a large poultry population (500 individuals and more), it is advisable to establish its own production of feed, which will only reduce the cost of keeping ostriches. Own feed can be sold to neighboring farms.

In the general classification of animals, the numerous class of birds, due to their originality and specificity, is divided into three large groups: flying, swimming and running.

Among the latter, flightless flat-chested birds, the largest currently living on earth are the African ostriches.

According to the "experienced", keeping ostriches at home is no more difficult in terms of labor intensity than any other poultry. This exotic bird can be bred for several purposes: to obtain high-quality meat, feathers, skins and other types of products.

Breeding ostriches at home

For breeding in households, the largest among other species of ostriches, the African black ostrich, is most suitable.

The African black ostrich is a cross between South African and North African. The growth of an adult male can reach 2.7 m, body weight - up to 150 kg, of a female - 2 m and 120 kg, respectively.

Ostriches are considered centenarians, as they can live up to 80 years. However, the reproductive function of these birds remains only up to 40 years.

While in the usual habitat, egg-laying in African black ostriches begins at the age of four years, at home it begins much earlier - from 2 years old. If under natural conditions the female usually lays 12-18 eggs, then in the household she can lay from 40 to 110 eggs. The average weight of one egg is 1400-1900 g. Depending on the weight of the egg, the incubation period ranges from 42 to 45 days.

A feature of breeding ostriches is that the female and the male take turns incubating eggs: the female - during the day, and the male - at night. It turns out that if one female brings 60 eggs, then up to 40 chicks can be hatched, the live weight of which in a year of rearing can exceed 100 kg. Thus, the total amount of meat in live weight will exceed 4 tons, which no farm animal is capable of.

Keeping ostriches at home

There are three ways to keep ostriches at home: intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. The first approach is similar to stalling cattle. An extensive system of keeping involves placing domestic ostriches in conditions as close as possible to natural ones. The semi-intensive method is a cross between an intensive and an extensive system of content.

Domestic ostriches overwinter in stationary wooden or brick poultry houses. Each family of ostriches is placed in a separate section at the rate of 10 m2 per adult bird. The height of the room should be at least 2.7-3 meters. The floor of the house should be covered with dry straw and shavings.

Part of the stall should be covered with sand so that the ostriches can take a sand bath. During the mating season, the male makes a small depression on the earthen floor for the future nest, which must be filled with clean sand - the females will lay eggs there. By the way, usually females lay eggs every other day.

It is worth remembering that during the mating season, the male-producer can be very aggressive, so the attendants need to be extremely careful. It is allowed to use a special hook with a length of more than 2 meters, with which the male's head is pressed to the ground for the purpose of disorientation. Then the so-called "hood" is put on the head - a cloth bag measuring 15x30 cm with a hole for the beak.

In the warm season, it is better to keep ostriches outside in spacious corrals, fenced with a metal mesh with a cell size of 30x30 cm. The height of the fence should be at least 2 meters so that a domestic ostrich cannot jump over it.

Feeding ostriches at home

Around the perimeter of the corral, sheds are arranged, under which the feeders are located. Drinking bowls and feeders are best placed so that maintenance personnel do not have to go inside the pen. Usually food for adult ostriches is placed at a height of 1-2 meters, for ostriches - a little lower.

Optimal diet for domestic ostriches throughout the year:

• 1.5 kg of compound feed;
• chopped hay;
• green mass.

The level of feeding depends on the degree of feed intake. The amount of concentrates can be increased to 2-3 kg mixed with green chopped food.

Growing ostriches at home

Newly hatched chicks have a height in the back of about 20 cm. They grow at a rate of 1 cm per day until they reach 150 cm. It is not recommended to feed or water the ostriches for the first three days. This is necessary for the resorption of the bile sac, which, when hatched, makes up 25% of the mass of the ostrich chick.

From the fourth day of life, ostriches are given water and leaves of clover or alfalfa more than 1 cm in size, which are mixed with compound feed PK-5 (this is compound feed for broiler chickens in the first 4 weeks of growing).

At the same time, they are fed cottage cheese, a hard-boiled egg. From the 5th week to 3 months of age, ostriches should be fed with PK-6 compound feed (finishing compound feed for broiler chickens). In the first days of growing, the temperature under the brooder should be 32-33 ° C.

In the first three weeks, ostriches are kept on the floor with a stocking density of one head per 1 m2 in a community of no more than 40 heads in a group. After 3 weeks, the area increases to 5 m2, and from 6 months of age - at least 10 m2 of area per head.

In addition, ostriches that have reached 3 months of age can be kept in pens with sheds. Grown ostriches consume a significant amount of grass in summer, root crops (potatoes, beets, carrots) in autumn, silage and grass flour in winter.

From 3 weeks of age, ostriches should be fed gravel in separate feeders. Typical feed ingredients for ostriches can be: ground corn, millet, wheat, fish meal, hydrolysis yeast, dicalcium phosphate, table salt, vitamin-mineral premix.

The cost of a baby ostrich at the age of 1-7 days is approximately $ 180, 3 months. - 350 US dollars, 1 family of 3 birds of two years old - 5 thousand US dollars.

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Ostriches are gigantic birds, successfully domesticated by man.Having appeared in the hot African savannah, they gradually reached the vastness of the European continent. From Greek, "ostrich" is translated as "camel-sparrow": inventive Greeks capaciously noticed its belonging to birds and large sizes inherent in animals. Breeding ostriches is a profitable and profitable investment. The enterprise turns out to be almost waste-free: meat, feathers, eggs, fat and even claws are in demand both in the domestic and foreign markets. If you strictly adhere to all the components of the business plan, the initial investment will pay off within 2 or 3 years.

Breeding ostriches

Why breed ostriches

If a few decades ago these giant birds were considered an exotic curiosity, exhibited exclusively in zoological parks, now Africa has become closer by several tens of thousands of ostriches! The number of ostrich farms is increasing every year.

Every year the ostrich business becomes more and more popular in the territory of the Russian Federation

The secret to the success and profitability of this business lies in several components:

• high profitability, which, with an average rate of 100%, sometimes even reaches 150%;
• product needs: ostrich meat is not only nutritious, but dietary. Due to its unusual origin, it is in demand among the chefs of restaurants and outdoor clubs, as well as among the population that cares about the health and beauty of physical forms;

  The cholesterol content of ostrich meat is quite low.

• a constant increase in the cost of food, including an increase in the never-before-democratic price of ostrich products. The interest in ostrich products is constantly increasing;
• free access to the national market for products of domestic manufacturers, in contrast to foreign colleagues. Restrictions on the import of foreign products give carte blanche to domestic producers;
• subject to all appropriate conditions, the ostrich business can qualify for benefits and other favorable conditions;

  Entrepreneurs engaged in the cultivation of ostriches, in some cases, can count on assistance from the state in the form of subsidies or benefits.

• the unpretentiousness of these birds: due to their good immunity, they rarely get sick, demonstrate excellent survival rates and calmly react to cold Russian winters;

  The birds tolerate frost well.

• income is brought not only by the sale of meat and eggs, but also by the sale of lard, leather, feathers and even feathered claws.

  Ostrich feathers are used in decorative arts

Ostrich meat can easily become an alternative to all other types of meat products. In addition, the birds are known for their high productivity: annually one female produces at least 40 babies, some of which are gaining up to 100 kg of live weight by the 10th month.

For 1 year from one pair of ostriches you can get:

• 1800 kg of meat;
• 50 m2 of leather;
• 36 kg of feathers.

Birds retain their reproductive qualities from 25 to 35 years: the length of this period cannot but rejoice farmers, since the purchase of ostriches is a long-term investment.

Buying just one or a few ostrich families can generate a stable income for many years.

Valuable ostrich products

The uniqueness of these birds lies in the fact that, in addition to their aesthetic appeal, if viewed exclusively from a consumer point of view, they represent an invaluable source of meat, eggs, feathers, fat and skin. Even the claws of these birds can be used as accessories.

Diet meat

It is famous for its low cholesterol content: up to 34 mg per 100 g. But the presence of proteins so useful for the body, on the contrary, reaches 22%. In addition, it contains the most luxurious set of micronutrients in composition.If you look at this meat from a culinary point of view, it is difficult to find any drawback in the mass of positive aspects. It is superbly saturated with spices, which made it so popular in Mexico and Asian countries. Europe and the United States also could not resist its "charm": as of 2000, the level of beef consumption by Europeans decreased due to an increase in the purchase of ostrich.

Ostrich meat is rapidly conquering the stomachs of the inhabitants of the whole world

Ostrich eggs

One egg weighs on average 1.5 kg. Similar to meat, it is also low in cholesterol. The gigantic size of the eggs is attracting more and more buyers. The hard boiled egg process can take over 75 minutes! In South African countries, exotic bird eggs are successfully used to make bakery products. In Europe, restaurants are interested in gigantic eggs, luring guests with a huge fried egg, which can be easily divided into 10 servings.

If there is a need to prepare breakfast for 10 people, it is enough to fry only one ostrich egg

Ostrich skin

It is included in the luxury category and is increasingly becoming an alternative to the skin of animals belonging to endangered or protected species. The skin of these birds has a unique texture. It is appreciated for its positive characteristics such as wear resistance, elasticity and moisture resistance. The most popular is the skin located on the back and in the chest area: it is in these areas that a pattern resembling air bubbles is inherent in it. The skin covering the limbs of birds is used primarily for the manufacture of boots.

If you sell only ostrich skin, without selling either meat or eggs, you can still fully cover all maintenance costs

Ostrich fat

From a medium-sized ostrich, you can get from 5 to 7 kg of fat, and if the bird ate well and managed to accumulate a sufficient amount of fat, then the amount of fat can reach up to 16 kg. Although the most valuable and healthy fat comes from Emu ostriches, African ostrich fat is also popular in the market. It is renowned for its hypoallergic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it perfectly complements and enriches the useful components of cosmetics. The fat is able to penetrate deeply into the epidermis, paving the way for the rest of the ingredients, and prevents the loss of invaluable moisture. Ointments based on it are successfully used to treat muscles and joints.

Ostrich fat warms and relieves joint pain

Ostrich feathers

The most popular are the white feathers of males, located in the area of ​​the wings and tail: they are used mainly for decorative purposes. The rest of the plumage also did not go unnoticed: due to its anti-electrostatic properties, it is often used to clean dust on electrical appliances.

After slaughter, from one ostrich you can get:

• 1―1.2 kg of short feathers, up to 22 cm long;
• 0.4-0.5 kg of medium and long feathers, over 22 cm long.

The share from the sale of feathers is only 10% of the total production.

Ostrich feathers appealed to artists and lovers of home art

In addition to selling products, income can be obtained from organizing excursions to ostrich farms. In addition to sightseeing walks, you can offer tourists dishes prepared with ostrich meat or eggs.

In addition, feathered claws can also be sold: some factories use them as fasteners. The large form inspired the craftsmen to sell painted eggs, from which the contents were previously extracted.

Excursions to a bird farm can be another source of income

Main breeds

The ostrich is the largest bird of our time. The resemblance to a camel, so clearly noted by the Greeks, is confirmed by bulging eyes, long eyelashes and the ability to feel good in the endless desert expanses.

There are 3 ostrich breeds:

1. African ostrich... A specious bird of black and white color. It arose as a result of crossing a South African ostrich with a North African one. It turned out to be quite strong, unpretentious both to weather conditions and to content, a specimen: it easily tolerates ―22 ° С, and + 36 ° С. If it gets used to a person, it becomes friendly, and some individuals even begin to behave like tame pets.

   African ostrich

2. Australian Emu. He is the second tallest among the ostriches. The feathers are gray or light brown. Due to the underdevelopment of the skeleton, it lacks flight wings. He is picky about food and friendly towards humans.

   Ostrich Emu

3. American rhea... In terms of exterior features, it is similar to the black African counterpart. The growth of these feathered babies does not exceed 130 cm, and the average weight is about 30 kg.

   Ostrich Nandu

Breeding ostriches in Russia: how profitable?

Russia has always been famous for breeding cattle, pig breeding and sheep breeding. However, the pace of development of the "ostrich business" is so fast that it will soon be able to compete with them based on the results of the profit it has earned. For home cultivation, the African black ostrich is recognized as the best option among all the varieties of this overseas bird.

The average ostrich is characterized by:

• the growth of a mature male is 2.7 m;
• live weight - up to 150 kg;
• the growth of a mature female is 2 m;
• live weight - 120 kg.

By nature, ostriches are quite calm and obedient birds, therefore they do not cause much trouble in keeping. Only males show concern during the mating season. An additional bonus is their rapid growth: young animals reach the weight required for slaughter already at 10 months.

Ostriches grow very quickly

Performance characteristic

If in the natural environment the females begin to lay eggs from about 4 years of age, then in the conditions of private farms, the ostrich lays the first egg at 2 years.

To understand how profitable it is to breed ostriches in the temperate continental climatic zone inherent in the European part of the Russian Federation, it is enough to turn to the indicators of ostrich fertility, which is impressive in its results:

• egg production - on average from 40 to 80 eggs per productive season, sometimes from 100 or more;
• egg weight - from 1400 to 1900 g;
• egg length - from 15 to 21 cm;
• diameter - 15 cm;
• shell thickness - 0.6 cm;
• the duration of the incubation period is from 42 to 45 days;
• female productivity - from 25 to 35 years;
• male productivity - 40 years;
• fertilization of eggs - 90%.

In the wild, the female lays about 20 eggs during the season.

Females enter sexual maturity between two and three years, and males are 1 year behind them, although sometimes layers begin to lay eggs as early as 1.5 years. Females lay eggs 2 times a year: in winter and autumn. Usually clutch lasts up to 2 months: the ostrich lays eggs approximately every 2 days. During the first season, she lays from 10 to 30 eggs, over time this figure increases significantly. Eggs obtained at the beginning and at the end of the productive season are characterized by a lower fertility rate.

Ostriches are considered centenarians: with good maintenance, they can live up to 70 years. These birds are unusually hardy in relation to temperature extremes, which allows them to be bred not only in the European territory of the Russian Federation, but also in Siberia.

Ostriches can survive even at -38 ° C, so they attracted the attention of Siberian poultry farmers

Market value

The result of farming work on raising birds is in demand on the national market.Recently, poultry farmers are more and more inclined towards the ostrich business.

Ostrich chicks: 1 day	7 000
Ostrich chicks: up to 1 month	10 000
Ostriches: 2 months	12 000
Ostriches: 6 months	18 000
Ostriches: 10 to 12 months	25 000
Sexually mature ostriches: 2 years	45 000
Adult ostriches: 3 years	60 000
Family: 4-5 years	200 000
Hatching ostrich egg	3 000
Table ostrich egg	1000―2000
Souvenir ostrich egg	500
Processed fat, 1 kg	1000
Ostrich meat (fillet), 1kg	1100―2200 depending on quality
Wet-salted ostrich skin 1.2 - 1.4 m2	3 000
Crafted ostrich leather 1.2─1.4 m2	7000
Ostrich feather, 60 cm	400

From an economic point of view, growing ostriches is practically waste-free

An approximate business plan for breeding ostriches

While this idea may seem bizarre at first, it builds on the solid foundation of a carefully thought out and tested business plan.

The "ostrich" business plan can be applied by both experienced entrepreneurs and novice businessmen.

Starting points for starting a project:

• determine the volume of sales of products;
• describe the expenditure part: the purchase of feed, the consumption of water and electricity;
• plan the main components of marketing;
• find suppliers of products necessary for the implementation of the plan;
• assess risks;
• fix the planned profit.

When assessing potential failures, it should be remembered that raising ostriches, like any other activity, carries certain risks. There is always a danger of natural disasters that can lead to the death of the entire livestock.

Natural disasters are a significant risk when breeding ostriches

To make the "ostrich" event doomed to success, you should adhere to simple recommendations:

1. Purchase or rent a spacious land plot.

   It is recommended to use a plot of land located on the south side: ostriches love to soak up the sun

2. Prepare the necessary documentation and deal with obtaining the appropriate permits, for example, from the veterinary control service. It is impossible to start a business of growing ostriches without the necessary permits.
3. Hire staff, ranging from a livestock technician to a watchman. Breeding ostriches alone will be problematic.
4. Purchase an ostrich incubator. The average cost of an apparatus with a capacity of 128 eggs is 120,000 rubles.

   For a successful business, it is preferable to use an incubator

5. Buy ostriches.

   The initial number of ostriches depends on the planned sales volumes

6. Stock up on all the necessary feed.

   It is advisable to purchase long-term food in advance.

After completing the above points, you can start the exciting process of breeding these amazing birds.

In order to increase income, you can do the processing of leather, feathers and tallow. An additional source of income can be the opening of points for the sale of products.

Keeping ostriches in terms of labor intensity is no different from growing any poultry

Home care and maintenance

The cultivation of these birds is conventionally divided into 3 types:

• intense;
• semi-intensive;
• extensive.

The first type resembles the peculiarities of keeping cattle in a stall, the principle of the second is to copy the natural habitat of birds, and the third is a mix of these two systems.

In farming circles, ostriches are called "livestock with wings"

In order to provide the birds with comfortable content, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of important points.

Territory

First of all, one should reckon with the fact that the ostrich is a large bird: the growth of a mature male can reach 2.7 m, and the weight is 150 kg. Therefore, the area for the content should be vast. In addition, the bird is quite mobile, therefore, it requires a lot of open space.

1. Earth. When choosing a place to create an ostrich farm, one should take into account the terrain, the presence of a forest belt that protects from the winds, remoteness from the city limits and motorways, equipment with electricity and sewerage.

   The land on which the ostriches will be kept must be covered with grass.

2. Terrain. You should choose dry land with a groundwater level of at least 1 m. It is desirable that there is a slight slope of the relief to the south: in this position, the sun will better illuminate the territory.

   It is not recommended to build a farm on wet or damp land

3. Corral length. Birds love open areas: the minimum length of the enclosure should be 40 m.

   The pen for birds must be at least 40 m in length

4. Walking area... It is recommended to set aside at least 0.4 hectares for bird walking. It is also advisable to equip the area with 2-meter fences.

   It is advisable to put dividing fences on the walking area

5. Fencing of the territory. In the case when a metal mesh is used instead of a fence, the option with small cells should be purchased: curious birds will not be able to push and damage their heads through small holes.

   The size of the cells in the protective mesh should be much smaller than the head of the ostrich, about 30x30 mm

After arranging the territory, you can move on to equipping the room for placing ostriches.

Room for content

"Ostrich House" must meet a number of requirements, without which it is impossible to grow a full-fledged livestock.

1. You can rent an abandoned pig house or build a new stall as a room for keeping. It is desirable that its height be from 3 m.For a family consisting of one male and two females, the occupied area should be 12x16 m.The doors should be made wide, from 1.2 m.

   The room should be well lit

2. If the stall is covered with concrete, a sufficiently large layer of hay or shavings should be used as bedding. Otherwise, the birds may freeze.

   The room must have a flat floor, covered with hay or shavings

3. Male ostriches are polygamous individuals: up to 4 females can be present in one family. Separate maintenance of families is recommended: for this, the stall should be equipped with partitions separating one "social cell" from another.

   Partitions separating one ostrich "room" from another should not be continuous

4. The part of the enclosure adjacent to the room needs to be covered with sand: birds like to pamper themselves with a sand bath.

   Sand baths are an integral part of the "care" procedures

5. The nests that the male makes after the honeymoon should be lightly sprinkled with gravel to ensure drainage and clean sand on top.

   Fine gravel should be used to equip the nest

6. Feeders and water tanks are recommended to be installed directly into enclosures. This will greatly facilitate the work of the service personnel, since the employees will be able to update the food inventory without entering the ostrich territory. For one polygamous family, a feeder 1.2 m long and at least 15 cm deep is suitable. The size of the drinker should be about 75 cm long and 20 cm deep. It is not advisable to give the birds cold water.

   It is recommended to use open type ostrich feeders

From mid-spring to mid-autumn, it is recommended to keep the birds outdoors.

Caring for the health of birds

In addition to ensuring comfortable living conditions, no less attention should be paid to the health of the birds. To keep the birds always cheerful and energetic, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules.

It should not be forgotten that on an ostrich farm it is necessary to strictly observe all the prescribed technological conditions of production and periodically check the birds with a veterinarian.

Keeping ostriches

Chicks can see and move from the very first minutes of their birth. They must be kept on a litter floor for the first 3 weeks. The stocking density should be at least 1 m2 per individual, since ostriches are born large enough, with a body weight of at least 1 kg. It is not recommended to keep more than 40 chicks in one group.

When babies reach 3 weeks of age, the area of ​​the occupied territory is increased to 5 m2, and after the chicks are 6 months old, each of them needs a personal space of 10 m2.

It is advisable to grow ostriches in aviaries with awnings

Features of poultry breeding

Incubation of ostrich eggs

Features of behavior during the mating season

With the onset of the mating period, the male sometimes becomes hostile: it is important to be extremely careful when interacting with the bird. To calm a male with overly played hormones, a 2-meter hook is used with which he is laid on the ground for disorientation. If this measure does not work, a cloth bag with slots for the beak must be put on the head.

The duration of the mating season is due to the quality of the diet, conditions of detention and climatic features.

How do ostriches breed?

It is important for a novice farmer to know how the birds he plans to breed reproduce. Fromour articleyou will learn all about poultry breeding and how mating and hatching of eggs occurs.

How to feed ostriches

Plant foods and seeds are the main dishes of these fast-running birds. As a dessert, ostriches feast on insects: they have excellent eyesight, so they can notice these little creatures from afar. In addition, a long, well-developed neck makes it easier to find bugs.

Ostriches are omnivores

The amount of food required for food is determined by the age, the degree of mobility of the birds and the nutritional value of the food:

• young individuals eat 3 to 4% of their body weight daily;
• adults - 2.5%.

As you grow older, the proportion of weight gain and the amount of feed consumed changes:

• chicks: 1.4 - 2.1 to 1, which is deciphered as follows: in order for one baby to gain 1 kg, he needs to be given from 1.4 to 2.1 kg of concentrated feed;
• young growth from 3 to 6 months: 2.6 ―3.0 to 1;
• individuals from 7 to 12 months: 4.1 - 15.0 to 1.

The weight gain per feed unit in ostriches is significantly greater than that of other poultry

Birds are allowed to feed feed developed for other farm animals or birds. If there is no financial means for the constant purchase of expensive concentrated feed, it is recommended to prepare mash and dry mixtures for birds. It is advisable to mix them with good quality hay, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements.

Calcium should be included in the daily diet

Types of food used to feed ostriches

Green food	The basis of the bird feeding system is: alfalfa; White cabbage; Clover; nettle; beet and spinach leaves; fodder cereals; quinoa; carrot tops; rape.
Roughage	meadow hay; straw. After vegetable feed, hay is the second most important element of the diet.
Juicy root vegetables	carrot; radish; onion; turnip; cucumbers; watermelon; apples.
Cereals and seeds	pumpkin seeds; wheat; cow peas; corn; sunflower; rye; oats; millet; barley.
Animal products	meat and bone and fish meal; gravel; limestone; crushed shells; shell rock. Meat and bone meal is an important mineral supplement.

Ostriches also love to feast on silage.

The volume of drinking water is determined by weather conditions, dietary habits and the amount of food fed. For example, at high temperatures and a shortage of juicy feed for one mature ostrich, at least 10 liters of water are needed daily.

Ostriches grow very quickly during the first 3 months of life, so it is important to provide them with a balanced diet at this stage.

Ostrich diet

The balance of all elements that are essential for the body of babies is very important for the growth of a healthy livestock. For example, an illiterate ratio of calcium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc is fraught with deformation of the limbs and metabolic disorders.

The stems of plants fed to birds should be thoroughly crushed: undigested feed lingering in the gastrointestinal tract is fraught with the death of birds

It is not recommended to feed the chicks for the first 3 days: high-calorie substances in their bodies come from the yolk sac, which makes up 25% of the total weight of the babies. When its contents are depleted, you can begin to give water from the drinkers. And on day 4, the chicks are already able to eat finely chopped clover leaves, thoroughly mixed with feed for chickens.

Starting from day 4, you can give a mash of boiled egg, chopped corn and curd mixture

To help the digestive system work, fine gravel should be poured into separate feeders from 3 weeks.

Despite the exotic nature of the breed, ostriches are absolutely unpretentious in keeping and caring.

How to feed ostriches?

The topic of making a ration for ostriches is immense. Learn more about feeding ostriches from our article: features of the digestive system, intensive and extensive feeding methods, feeding during the laying period and the diet of young animals. And we answer the question, what is the drinking regime of ostriches?

Video - Growing ostriches at home

Video - Keeping ostriches at home

Ostriches, although considered exotic birds, have recently become increasingly popular among ordinary poultry breeders. And growing an ostrich at home is not at all difficult. Despite their tropical origin, ostriches are not whimsical at all and do not require large investments.

In order to raise an ostrich, all you need is an ostrich egg and an inexpensive incubator. During the first three days, hatched chicks do not need any care at all, they do not need to be fed or watered. These days, the body of ostriches assimilates the yolk and moisture from the muscles of the ostriches. The main thing is that the place where you kept them was cozy and quiet. Ostriches by their nature are very shy, it will not work to place a home farm by the road. But the fact that we know from childhood that ostriches hide their heads in the sand when frightened is actually a myth. Ostriches are very fast and, frightened, run away at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour.

There will be no problems with feeding ostriches, they eat ordinary grain and alfalfa, although they eat a lot, up to three kilograms of grain a day. The content of ostriches does not change depending on the season, thanks to the lush plumage in winter, the birds practically do not freeze. To breed ostriches at home, you will need a small aviary - ten meters.

More information can be found in the video below:

What is the use of an ostrich?

Where to start breeding ostriches?

The beginning of ostrich breeding in Ukraine!

In conclusion, a few photos without comments.