Ostriches, like any other poultry, require mandatory daily provision required quantity minerals and vitamins. The condition of the bird and, ultimately, the quality of the meat or eggs of ostriches depends on how correctly and harmoniously the owner draws up the rules for feeding ostriches. Feeding ostriches whose diet should be varied is an important component of the success of any
Feeding ostriches Ostrich diet - more vitamins and microelements
All substances necessary for ostriches can be divided into several essential components:
- Squirrels: The ostrich can get them from various types of beans.
- Minerals: are extremely necessary for strengthening the skeletal system of the bird - they can be gleaned from eggshells, bran.
- Vitamins: The nutrients ostriches need to boost their immunity can be found in green food and hay.
Food for ostriches Ostriches can be kept in different conditions, so the composition of the feed can differ significantly. However, there are requirements that must be met regardless of other conditions:
- It is important to ensure the necessary balance between the content of vitamins and nutrients; it is important to correctly combine proteins and carbohydrates; the ideal ratio is 1:4.
- An adult ostrich can eat about five kilograms of food per day, but this does not mean that all the food will be digested. It is important that some of the food is digested fairly easily.
- Ostriches are gourmets; for their proper development, it is important that the food is tasty. These birds especially love pumpkin, turnips, and green grass.
- Bran or flour are not suitable as food for adult ostriches. the best solution There will be food in the form of granules.
As for the frequency of feeding, adult birds eat no more than twice a day, and young birds three to four times.
Ostrich rearing systems that influence feeding principles:
Semi-intensive: They are additionally fed with mixtures containing useful substances, as well as with hay prepared in advance. With such a rearing system, it is important that the conditions for keeping the poultry are as close to natural as possible. During the breeding season, it is important to supplement their diet with useful substances.
Extensive: with this system, the ostrich receives most of its food while in an open space that the farmer fences on his territory. Only if the summer is dry or rainy, the owner should organize additional feeding for the birds.
During the period when the bird begins to actively reproduce, ostriches require additional feeding. Females require an increase in calcium in the feed, but males should not add calcium to the feed. Since, in this case, zinc is reduced in the bird’s body, which is extremely important for high-quality offspring. Overeating and excess nutrients lead to obesity in birds and do not at all contribute to increased fertility.
Ostrich chicks that have just hatched do not need to be fed immediately, because they have a so-called yolk sac, from which they are provided with food for a couple of days after birth. After a week, you can begin to feed the chicks with food containing special substances they need for growth and development. It is important not to feed chicks under four months of age with fiber.
Feeding ostriches, diet which should include everything essential vitamins and microelements are the main component of any farmer. Do not forget about maintaining a drinking regime. Although ostriches tolerate prolonged absence of moisture well, they still drink water quite readily. That is why it is important to provide ostriches with a container of water on time, especially during meals.
The African ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus) is the largest bird in the world and the only representative of the order Ostrichidae, the ostrich family, the genus Ostrich. Belongs to the class of birds, subclass ratites.
International scientific name– Struthio camelus, Linnaeus, 1758.
Security status– causing the least concern.
The biological name of the flightless bird, translated from Greek, literally sounds like “camel sparrow” (Greek στρουθίο-κάμηλος). Such an apt allegory arose thanks to characteristic features ostrich: it has the same expressive eyes, framed long eyelashes, two-fingered limbs and pectoral callus. Comparison with probably arose due to the small, poorly developed wings.
Ostrich - description, structure, characteristics, photo. What does an ostrich look like?
The African ostrich is a bird unique in nature, which cannot fly, has no keel and has only two toes, which is also an exception in the class of birds.
Being the largest birds on the planet, large specimens of the African ostrich boast a height of 2.7 meters and an impressive weight of up to 156 kg. However, the average weight of an ostrich is about 50 kg, with males being slightly larger than females.
The ostrich skeleton is not pneumatic, with the exception of the femur. The ends of the pubic bones fused together and formed a closed pelvis, which is also uncharacteristic of other birds.
African ostriches are distinguished by a dense build, a very elongated neck and a small, flattened head, ending in an even, wide, flat beak, on which there is a soft growth of horny tissue. The ostrich has large eyes, and the upper eyelid is dotted with long, fluffy eyelashes.
The outgrowth of the sternum, or keel, characteristic of representatives of the class of birds, is completely absent in ostriches, and the sternum itself is poorly developed. On its surface there is a bare area of thick skin - a special breast callus that acts as a support when the bird lies on the ground.
The forelimbs of the bird are represented by underdeveloped wings, each of them has two fingers ending in sharp claws. The hind legs of the ostrich are long, strong and muscular, with two toes, and only one of them has a kind of hoof at the end, which serves as a support while running.
The ostrich's plumage is loose and curly, relatively evenly distributed over the surface of the body. There are no feathers on the head, neck and legs: they are covered with soft, short down.
Ostrich feathers have a primitive structure: their barbs practically do not adhere to each other and do not form a fan. Birds have very beautiful feathers and there are quite a lot of them: 16 flight feathers of the first order and from 20 to 23 of the second order, tail feathers can be from 50 to 60.
It is very easy to distinguish a male ostrich from a female. The plumage of adult males is black, and only the tail and wings are colored White color. The females are quite inconspicuous: their feathers are distinguished by a protective grayish-brown color, and their wings and tail plumage look off-white.
What does an ostrich eat?
The ostrich is an omnivorous bird, and although the diet of young individuals consists mainly of animal food, adult birds feed on all kinds of vegetation. Their diet consists of grasses, shoots and seeds of plants, flowers, ovaries, as well as fruits, including quite hard ones. However, adult individuals are far from vegetarians and, if possible, will not refuse various insects, for example, as well as small rodents and carrion in the form of uneaten prey of large predators. Ostriches have nothing to chew food with, so to improve digestion they eat sand and small pebbles, and often various inedible objects: wood chips, pieces of plastic, metal and even nails. Ostriches can also easily fast for several days.
Like camels, ostriches are capable for a long time do without water: the liquid from the consumed green mass of plants is enough for them. But, having access to water, the ostrich drinks a lot and willingly. Ostriches bathe with just as much pleasure.
Where do ostriches live? Lifestyle of ostriches.
Ostriches live in Africa. Birds avoid wet tropical forests, preferring open grassy landscapes and semi-deserts located north and south of equatorial forests.
The habitat of ostriches on the African continent. The places where different subspecies of the African ostrich live are highlighted in color. Photo by: Renato Caniatti
African ostriches live in family groups consisting of a mature male, 4-5 females and their offspring. Often the size of a flock reaches 20-30 individuals, and young ostriches in the south of their range live in groups of up to hundreds of birds.
Often ostriches share pastures with entire herds or animals, while animals and birds treat each other quite peacefully and travel together through the African savannas. Possessing tall stature and excellent eyesight, ostriches immediately notice the approach of predators and quickly run away, taking steps up to 3.5-4 m long. In this case, the speed of an ostrich can reach about 60-70 km/h. Long-legged runners are able to quickly change direction without slowing down. And ostrich chicks, 30 days old, are practically as good as their parents and can run at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
Types of ostriches, photos and names.
In the Pleistocene and Pliocene eras, there were several varieties of ostriches on earth that lived in the Front and Central Asia, in India and southern regions of Eastern Europe. The chronicles of the ancient Greek historian Xenophon mention these birds that inhabited the desert landscapes of the Middle East, west of the Euphrates River.
The uncontrolled extermination of birds led to a sharp decline in the population, and today the only kind ostriches include 4 surviving subspecies living in the vastness of Africa. Below is a description of the subspecies of the African ostrich.
- Ordinary or North African ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus camelus) is distinguished by a bald spot on the head. This is the largest subspecies, whose height reaches 2.74 meters, while the ostrich weighs up to 156 kg. The limbs and neck of the ostrich are painted an intense red color, and the shells of the eggs are covered with thin rays of pores, forming a pattern similar to a star. Previously, common ostriches lived over a large area covering the north and west of the African continent, from Ethiopia and Uganda in the south of their range to Algeria and Egypt in the north, covering West African countries including Mauritania and Senegal. Nowadays, the habitat of these birds has been significantly reduced, and now the common ostrich lives only in a few African countries: Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic and Senegal.
Common ostrich (North African ostrich) male (lat. Struthio camelus camelus). Photo by: MathKnight
Female common ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus camelus). Author of the photo: שלומי שטרית
- Masai ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus massaicus) - inhabitant of East Africa (southern Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Ethiopia, southern Somalia). Its neck and limbs turn an intense red color during the breeding season. Outside the breeding season they are pink.
Male Masai ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus massaicus). Photo by: Nicor
Female Masai ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus massaicus). Photo by: Nevit Dilmen
- Somali ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus molybdophanes) based on mitochondrial DNA analysis is sometimes considered as independent species. Males have the same bald patches on their heads as representatives of the subspecies of common ostriches, but their necks and limbs are distinguished by a bluish-colored gray skin, and female Somali ostriches have especially bright brown feathers. Somali ostriches live in southern Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya and Somalia, and the local population calls them a beautiful word"gorayo". This subspecies of ostriches prefers to live in pairs or alone.
- Southern ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus australis) is also distinguished by the gray color of the plumage of the neck and limbs, and its range is limited to the southwestern part of Africa. The ostrich is found in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana, and lives south of the Zambezi and Kunene rivers.
Male southern ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus australis). Photo by: Bernard DUPONT
Female southern ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus australis). Photo credit: Yathin S Krishnappa
Reproduction of ostriches.
Ostriches reach puberty at the age of 2-4 years. During the mating period, each male vigilantly guards his personal territory within a radius of 2 to 15 square kilometers and ruthlessly drives out competitors. The neck and limbs of the displaying male become bright red, and to attract females, he falls to his knees, intensively beats his wings, arches his neck back and rubs the back of his head against his back. During competition for possession of a female, males make very original trumpeting and hissing sounds. Having collected more air into its crop, the male ostrich sharply pushes it into the esophagus, announcing the surroundings with something like a uterine roar, reminiscent of the roar of a lion.
Ostriches are polygamous, so the dominant male mates with all the females in the harem, but mates exclusively with the dominant female for subsequent incubation. After mating, the future father personally digs a nest in the sand up to 30-60 cm deep, where all fertilized females periodically lay eggs, performing a similar manipulation once every two days.
Among all the bird variety, the ostrich has the largest eggs, although, in relation to the body, they are quite small. On average, the size of an ostrich egg is between 15 and 21 cm in length and about 13 cm in width. The weight of the egg reaches 1.5-2 kg, which is equivalent to 25-35 eggs. The thickness of the shell is approximately 0.6 mm, and its color is straw-yellow, sometimes darker or, conversely, lighter. In eggs laid by different females, the texture of the shell varies and can be glossy and shiny or matte and porous.
Ostrich egg compared to chicken and quail eggs. Photo by: Rainer Zenz
In the inhabitants of the northern part of the range, a joint clutch, as a rule, contains from 15 to 20 eggs, in the south - about 30, in the East African population the number of eggs in a nest often reaches 50-60. After laying eggs, the dominant female ostrich forces her competitors to leave and rolls her eggs into the middle of the hole, identifying them by the texture of the shell.
The incubation period lasts from 35 to 45 days, only the male incubates the clutch at night, and the females take turns watching during the day. This choice is not accidental: thanks to their protective coloration, the females remain unnoticed against the backdrop of the desert landscape. During the day, the masonry is sometimes left unattended and warmed by the heat of the sun. Despite the general care of the parents, many clutches die due to insufficient incubation. In populations where there are too many females, the number of eggs in a clutch may be such that the male is physically unable to cover all the offspring with his body.
An hour before birth, the ostrich chick begins to open the shell of the egg, rests its splayed legs against its sharp and blunt ends and methodically hammers its beak into one point until a small hole is formed. Thus, the chick makes several holes, and then hits this place with force with the back of its head, so ostrich chicks are often born with significant bruises that tend to disappear quickly. When the last chick is born, the adult ostrich mercilessly destroys the non-viable eggs lying on the edge, and immediately gathers for a feast, serving as food for the chicks.
Newborn ostrich chicks are sighted, well developed, their bodies are covered with light fluff, and their weight is about 1.2 kg. The chicks that are born move well and the next day they leave the nest, going with their parents in search of food. For the first two months, ostrich chicks are covered with black and yellow bristles, the crown is brick-colored, and the neck is off-white with dark longitudinal stripes. Only over time do they develop real feathers, and the outfit of all chicks becomes similar in color to the plumage of females. Male ostrich chicks acquire the black color characteristic of adults only in the second year of life.
Taken from: www.reddit.com
Ostrich chicks are very attached to each other and if two groups of chicks meet, it is no longer possible to separate them, due to which flocks consisting of ostrich chicks are often found in the savannas of Africa different ages. Being polygamous birds, the male and female start a fight with each other, and the stronger parent gets further care of the brood.
The ostrich is a feathered giant that looks like prehistoric animals. He is the largest flightless creature with wings on our planet. This is due to the fact that it does not have a keel in the sternum. However, someone born to run does not need to soar: he has powerful, strong legs and is an excellent runner. Weight adult can reach 150 kg, and height - 250 cm. Many people wonder what ostriches eat? Despite its impressive size, this gigantic creature is a herbivore, although sometimes it can indulge itself in small amphibians or bugs.
Ostriches do not live in the most fertile corners of the Earth. They prefer to graze in savannas or prairies - places where you can not often find lush greenery or shrubs, which are the basis of their diet. In order to feed themselves and their offspring, they should make a lot of effort in finding suitable food.
One unique feature helps ostriches cope with difficult climatic conditions in arid areas: they are able to exist for a long period of time without water. When there are not enough green bushes for food, they switch to feeding on seeds, twigs and roots, interrupting from time to time with small reptiles. Along with basic food, they swallow small pebbles contained in the soil, which contribute to better digestion of food.
During the day, this giant absorbs as much as 4 kg of food, but is absolutely not picky about food. drinking regime. The habit of being content with a small amount of water for a long time led to the choice of a desert area as a habitat, in the vastness of which birds even nest.
On home farms, the diet of ostriches is more varied and nutritious:
- all types of grains;
- alfalfa;
- clover;
- corn silage;
- nettle;
- beet;
- carrot;
- cabbage;
- legumes.
Features of the digestive system
Birds of this species do not have a crop, and the intestines, on the contrary, are too long. These character traits buildings digestive system They were not invented by nature by chance: they are “sharpened” for the processing of coarse fiber of plant origin. The cecum is especially elongated because the process of decomposition of plant fibers occurs in this place. The stomach looks like a fairly powerful organ with thick walls.
The function of the goiter is taken over by the proventriculus, in which food is temporarily collected. Then it passes into the stomach, in which small pebbles and sand are found in sufficient quantities, which have a beneficial effect on its grinding. The further path lies to the small intestine, which is about 5 m long, and passes into the 8-meter rectum, ending in the cloaca.
Diet of ostriches living on a farm or in a private household
The issue of ostrich nutrition is still under study, but many years of practice have proven that alfalfa is the best food for them. It is most quickly absorbed, which is probably why birds are ready to eat it all year round. In summer it is added to compound feed, and in the cold season it is offered in the form of hay
The specifics of feeding African birds kept in conditions not typical of their natural habitat depend, first of all, on the time of year: in summer it is much easier to provide them with high-quality food than in winter. Most of the time they graze and get their own food. The farm owner can only make the necessary adjustments to the feeding schedule, supplementing them with mixed feed or grains. Ostriches love grain crops in all possible variations: corn, oats, barley, etc.
In a saturated diet, it is advisable to diversify the menu with nutritious legumes, which will significantly increase the energy value of the feed. Feathered giants eat grass in all varieties. Nettle, clover and dandelions are very beneficial for their body.
Fattening young shoots deserves special mention. To feed young animals, the menu for adults should be diluted with all kinds of mineral baits that will promote their growth. Suitable for these purposes fish fat, chalk or bone meal. It is recommended to introduce these components into the diet of ostrich chicks starting from 72 hours of life. Until this time, nutrition is based solely on the residual yolk.
There are intensive, semi-intensive and extensive nutritional methods. These systems are still under development, but are already showing good results after being used in ostrich farms. When choosing a specific scheme, it is necessary to take into account the particular climatic conditions of the ostrich’s habitat, its age and physiological characteristics.
Intensive technique
When birds are free-range, they should be provided with a sufficient amount of hay and dispersed green feed, which must be mixed with grain-based food. One individual can consume up to 3 kg of this assortment.
The main component of the “lunch” should be in the form of rich, juicy grass-based food. Rapeseed, alfalfa or forbs are perfect for these purposes.
At the stage of the female’s readiness to lay eggs, the intensity of feeding is increased for the entire period of “motherhood”. If you suddenly make adjustments to the existing “culinary” regime or reduce the degree of saturation of the body with nutrients, the bird may stop laying.
Note! We should not forget about the need for sand and pebbles in the diet of ostriches: they must be constantly available.
Semi-intensive technique
This diet involves walking birds on pastures and abundant feeding with concentrated mixtures. If possible, birds should be provided with conditions reminiscent of their natural environment habitat, and feed them with food on a natural basis. It is very important that they themselves produce their own food in sufficient quantities.
During the laying stage, additional feeding should be provided to the birds. In winter, it is advisable to give ostriches 1 kg of feed, gradually raising this figure to 3 kg.
In addition, it is important to ensure the constant availability of dispersed green mixtures. When birds do not show much interest in the mating process, it is necessary to increase the intensity of feeding.
Extensive technique
Feeding costs according to this method are minimal: the bird independently obtains food. In order to apply this method, the owner of an ostrich farm will need a fenced large plot non-arable land on which birds can graze freely along with livestock. The only disadvantage of this system is its dependence on climatic conditions and natural characteristics. In the event of a dry period or, conversely, a prolonged rainy season, the pasture may turn out to be unsuitable for walking birds.
Feeding during laying period
The need to increase the saturation of the bird’s body with nutrients during egg laying differs between the female and the male. For example, in expectant mothers, due to the maturation of the shell, the need for calcium increases significantly. But for proud fathers, the presence of a large amount of this element in the diet can do a disservice: calcium will inhibit the absorption of a substance such as zinc, which is so necessary for the formation of sperm.
During this period, a separate feeding method is recommended. It is advisable to keep the male in an adjacent enclosure with the female, taking her to her territory every other day for mating. It is very important to ensure that the female is fed at the time of intercourse.
Feeding ostriches
Nutritious feeding and quality conditions contents are the main components that contribute to good survival of chicks. Newborn ostrich chicks do not need feeding from the first day of their birth: at first they exist at the expense of the yolk sac. Then you should constantly ensure that the feeders for the chicks are always full. Mature individuals can be fed twice a day, but babies should be given 24-hour access to food consisting of liquid mixtures High Quality based on concentrated feed and alfalfa, from which the stems have previously been removed.
This point is very important, since alfalfa stalks cause constipation in ostrich chicks.
Gradually, starting from the 16th week, food with a fiber content exceeding the previous norm should be introduced into the baby’s menu. Also, before this period, they are prohibited from grazing in meadows with alfalfa. In addition to food, for the first 4 months, babies happily eat chicken shells, limestone, carrots, small pebbles, apples, in short, everything they can find in the walking area.
It is recommended to make a slide of sand and crushed shell rock in the enclosure in order to improve the digestive processes of the young animals. It is also advisable to add B vitamins and biotin to the food. These elements are important for the good formation of a strong musculoskeletal system.
It is not advisable to keep mature individuals in the same enclosure with the younger generation. This ban is associated with the risk of infection.
Drinking regime
Feathered giants tolerate thirst with ease. However, if you provide them with a large amount drinking water, they will drink a lot, and with great pleasure. It is advisable to give them water at the same time as feeding. To maintain the number of chicks, it is very important to constantly add fresh water. In addition, drinking bowls must always be cleaned and comply with sanitary and hygienic standards. Recommended cleaning frequency is once a day.
Features of catering on ostrich farms
In order to organize a bird breeding business, it is important to understand how much elements they need for full development.
Accepted standards of nutrients
Indicators Starting diet type For young animals For an adult bird Metabolic energy, kcal/g 2540 2430 2485 Crude protein, % 18 19 20 Crude fat, % 4 4,25 4,40 Crude fiber, % 8 10 10 Dehydrated fiber, % 15 15 16 Calcium,% 2 2 2,5 Phosphorus, % 1 1 1 Lysine, % 1 1 1,2 Methionine, % 0,34 0,34 0,4 Cystine, % 0,3 0,3 0,3 In the form of additional nutrition, you can feed the birds cake and meal. It is very important to give babies only soybean meal until they reach 12 weeks. Boiled potatoes and chopped vegetables will also have a good effect on their body. Under no circumstances should you feed parsley.
Annual food intake for birds
Taking into account the fact that the ostrich is a rather large and active creature, the space for its breeding should be quite large in terms of area. Beginning farmers should equip a pen and paddock for birds. A pig enclosure can be converted into a living area for birds. A pigsty is ideal for housing ostriches, but you need to ensure that the ceiling height is approximately 3 m. These African birds prefer to live together in families. As a rule, one male takes care of 4 females at the same time.
If desired, you can fence off the walking area from the “home” territory using metal mesh with slight cellularity. This is necessary so that a naturally curious bird does not have the opportunity to stick its head through the hole.
Popular questions when breeding ostriches
Beginning farmers who have decided to start a feather farm for the purpose of breeding birds will be interested in familiarizing themselves with the statistics that make the ostrich business so attractive.
How profitable is the ostrich business?
Ostrich meat is priceless because it is dietary. The amount of fat in it is extremely small, the cholesterol level is very low, and the protein content, on the contrary, is very high. Such positive meat characteristics allow this type of meat to top the lists of the most popular products. An important point is the rapid weight gain of poultry: in terms of the speed of weight gain, they will give a head start to any farm animal. One can also add to the list of undeniable advantages the fact that ostriches are quite unpretentious in feeding, with one adult producing up to 40 kg of pure meat.
The skin of this bird is in no way inferior in popularity to the skin of a crocodile or snake. It is used in the production of belts, shoes, bags, clothing, and about 1.5 square meters comes out of one mature bird. meters of leather.
Ostrich feathers are also widely used: in filling pillows, jewelry and all kinds of accessories, in the lining of down jackets and jackets, etc. With a standard haircut once every 8 months, you can get up to 2 kg of feathers from one adult.
Ostrich eggs are known throughout the world, although they are not very suitable for culinary use. But this product is of great value for farmers who want to start breeding birds. During one season, the female lays up to 50 eggs.
Tips for ostrich farmers
For the purpose of artificial breeding of ostrich chicks, it is necessary to use a double incubator. For the first 39 days, eggs should be kept in the main incubator. Afterwards they are placed for about 1 week in a brood incubator, which differs in conditions of detention: more low temperature and higher humidity.
The baby ostriches continue to live in it for about 3 days after hatching, then they are transferred to separate room in compliance with strict temperature regime- 25°C. Let on Fresh air the younger generation is possible if the air warms up to 18°C.
Video - How to keep ostriches at home
Due to the fact that ostriches gain weight very quickly when fed with relatively inexpensive food, and their meat has excellent taste, breeding birds of this breed is a very profitable investment with a quick return on investment. In addition, in addition to dietary meat, ostriches have beautiful plumage, which is widely used in industry. Despite the fact that these African birds come from warm, southern countries, thanks to their unpretentiousness, they take root well on our continent and give full-fledged offspring.
African ostrich(lat. Struthio camelus) is a ratite flightless bird, the only representative of the ostrich family (Struthinodae).
Its scientific name translated from Greek means “ camel sparrow».
The ostrich is the only modern bird that has a bladder.
common feature
The African ostrich is the largest of the modern birds, its height reaches 270 cm; it weighs up to 175 kg. “A very principled bird” - the ostrich has a dense build, a long neck and a small flattened head. The beak is straight, thin, with a horny “claw” on the upper beak, and quite soft. The eyes are huge - the largest among terrestrial animals, with thick eyelashes on the upper eyelid. The mouth slit reaches the eyes.
Ostriches are flightless birds. They are typically characterized by a complete absence and underdeveloped pectoral muscles; the skeleton is not pneumatic, except for the femurs. The wings of ostriches are underdeveloped; two fingers on them end with claws or spurs. The hind limbs are long and strong, with only 2 toes. One of the fingers ends in the semblance of a horn - the bird leans on it when running. When running, an ostrich can reach speeds of up to 60-70 km/h.
The ostrich's plumage is loose and curly. Feathers grow more or less moderately throughout the body, so there are no pterilia. The structure of the feather is primitive: the barbs are practically not interlocked together, therefore the feather does not appear dense plates. The head, neck and hips are not feathered. There is also a bare area of skin on the chest, the pectoral callus, on which the ostrich rests when it lies down. The plumage color of an adult male is black, and the feathers of the tail and wings are snow-white. The female ostrich is smaller than the male and is colored monotonously - in grayish-brown tones; the feathers of the wings and tail are dirty white.
The ostrich forms several subspecies, which differ in size, skin color on the neck, and certain biological features - the number of eggs in a clutch, the presence of bedding in the nest, and the structure of the egg shell.
Distribution and subspecies
The ostrich's habitat covers the dry, treeless areas of Africa and the Middle East, including Iraq (Mesopotamia), Iran (Persia) and Arabia. But due to intense hunting, their population has greatly decreased. Middle Eastern subspecies, S. c. syriacus, considered since 1966. Even earlier, in the Pleistocene and Pliocene, different types of ostriches were widespread in Frontal Asia, southern Eastern Europe, Central Asia and India.
There are two basic classes of African ostrich: East African ostriches with reddish necks and legs, and two subspecies with bluish-gray necks and legs. Subspecies S. c. molybdophanes, found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya and Somalia, is from time to time isolated as a separate species - the Somali ostrich. Another subspecies of grayish-necked ostriches (S. c. australis) lives in southwestern Africa, where its range is very mosaic. In the subspecies S. c. massaicus, or Masai ostriches, have a bright red neck and legs during the mating season. Another subspecies is distinguished - S. c. camelus in North Africa. Its natural range extends from Ethiopia and Kenya to Senegal, and in the north to eastern Mauritania and southern Morocco.
Ostriches with reddish necks, found in southern Africa, for example, state park Kruger (South Africa), are imported individuals.
Lifestyle and nutrition
The ostrich lives in open savannas and semi-deserts, north and south of the zone equatorial forests. Outside the mating season, ostriches usually live in small packs or families. The family consists of an adult male, four to five females and chicks. Often ostriches graze together with herds of zebras and antelopes, and together with them they make long migrations across the African plains. Thanks to own growth and beautiful eyesight, ostriches are the first to notice danger. If threatened, they rush to flight, developing speeds of up to 60-70 km/h and making steps 3.5-4 m wide, and, as necessary, abruptly change the direction of running without reducing speed. Young ostriches, already a month old, can run at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The usual food of ostriches are plants - shoots, flowers, seeds, fruits, but on occasion they also eat small animals - insects (locusts), reptiles, mice and leftovers from predators' meals. In captivity, an ostrich requires about 3.5 kg of food per day. Because ostriches have no teeth, to grind food in the stomach, they swallow small stones, and often everything they come across: nails, pieces of wood, iron, plastic, etc. Ostriches can survive for a long time in the absence of water, obtaining water from the plants they eat, but In any case, they drink readily and love to swim.
Ostrich eggs, left unattended by adult birds, often become the prey of predators (jackals, hyenas), as well as carrion birds. Vultures, for example, take a stone in their beaks and throw it at the egg until it breaks. From time to time, lions catch chicks. But adult ostriches are unsafe even for large predators - the first blow of their strong leg, armed with a hard claw, is enough to seriously injure or destroy a lion. There are cases when males, defending their area, attacked people.
The legend that a frightened ostrich buries its head in the sand may stem from the fact that a female ostrich sitting on a nest, when threatened, spreads her neck and head on the ground, trying to become inconspicuous against the background of the surrounding savanna. Ostriches do the same thing when they see predators. If such a hidden bird approaches, it immediately jumps up and runs away.
Ostrich on the farm
The beautiful flight and control feathers of ostriches have long enjoyed consumer interest - they were used to make fans, fans and plumes of headdresses. The strong shells of ostrich eggs were used by African tribes as vessels for water, and in Europe beautiful goblets were made from these eggs.
Because of the feathers that were used to decorate ladies' hats and fans, ostriches were practically exterminated in the 18th and early 19th centuries. If in the middle of the 19th century. ostriches were not bred on farms, then by the present time, perhaps, they could have been completely exterminated, just as the Middle Eastern subspecies of ostrich was exterminated. At the moment, ostriches are bred in more than 50 countries around the world (including countries with cool climates, for example, Sweden), but most of their farms are still concentrated in South Africa.
Currently, ostriches are bred mainly for their expensive leather and meat. Ostrich meat is similar to lean beef - it is lean and does not contain enough cholesterol. Additional products include eggs and feathers.
Most of the coats of arms of Poland have ostrich feathers in the crest. The coat of arms of Australia is a shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, animals that live exclusively in this country.
Reproduction
The ostrich is a polygamous bird. In most cases, it is possible to meet ostriches in groups of 3-5 birds - one male and a few females. Only during non-nesting time, ostriches from time to time gather in flocks of up to 20-30 birds, and immature birds in southern Africa - up to 50-100 individuals. During the mating season, male ostriches occupy an area of 2 to 15 km2, driving away rivals.
When the time comes for breeding, male ostriches display in a peculiar way, attracting females. The male kneels down, beats his wings rhythmically, throws his head back and rubs the back of his head against his back. During this period, the neck and legs of the male acquire colorful colors. When competing for females, males make hissing and other sounds. They can trumpet: to do this, they take in a full crop of air and forcefully push it through the digestive tract - with all this, a semblance of a dull roar is heard.
The dominant male covers all the females in the harem, but forms a pair only with the dominant female and hatches the chicks together with her. All females lay eggs in a common nesting hole, which the male scrapes out in the ground or sand. Its depth is only 30-60 cm. The eggs of ostriches are the largest in the bird world, although relative to the size of the bird itself they are small: testicle length - 15-21 cm,weight - from 1.5 to 2 kg(this is approximately 25-36 chicken eggs). The shell of ostrich eggs is very thick - 0.6 cm, its color is usually straw yellow, less often darker or snow-white. In North Africa, the total clutch usually consists of 15-20 eggs, in the south of the continent - 30, in East Africa the number of eggs reaches 50-60. Females lay eggs apparently once every 2 days.
The eggs are incubated alternately by females during the day (due to their protective colors, blending into the landscape), and by the male at night. Often during the day the eggs are left unattended and warmed by the rays of the sun. Incubation lasts 35-45 days. Nevertheless, often many testicles, and from time to time all, die due to lack of hatching. The chick breaks the strong shell of an ostrich egg for about an hour, sometimes more. An ostrich egg is 24 times larger than a chicken egg.
A newly hatched baby ostrich weighs approx. 1.2 kg, and by four months it reaches 18-19 kg. The next day after hatching, the chicks leave the nest and travel with their father in search of food. During the first 2 months of life, the chicks are covered with brownish, hard bristles, then they dress in an outfit similar in color to the female’s outfit. True feathers appear in the second month, and dark feathers in males appear only in the second year of life. Capable of reproduction ostriches become at 2-4 years. Ostriches live up to 30-40 years.
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African ostriches on private farms are no longer uncommon. Breeding these birds at home brings not only exotic meat and eggs, but also income to the owner. Before you start breeding birds, study the necessary information about them. One of the main questions is what do ostriches eat? How can we provide them with complete and balanced nutrition? We'll find out now.
The ostrich is an exotic bird, feed it right!
The African ostrich is unique and very different from the usual domestic birds. For example, the structure of the digestive system. The ostrich does not have a goiter, this helps to cope with roughage faster. It is processed by a powerful stomach, which is adapted to heavy food. The back part of the bird's intestine is elongated, which makes it possible to extract large amounts of fiber from food and better absorb microelements.
The African ostrich, according to some experts, is a herbivore. But that's not true. Birds can feed on plants, bush leaves, and rodents, insects, and reptiles.
Natural conditions
What do ostriches eat in wildlife? They live mainly in African savannas. The birds' diet consists of leaves and young shoots of bushes, grass, and plant seeds. They mostly eat pasture.
The African bird is able to do without water for a long time, and receives moisture from the plants that it feeds on. This way of life also influenced the nesting sites of birds. Most often these are semi-arid desert areas with virtually no green leaves or grass. Green food is replaced by insects, reptiles and small rodents. The daily food requirement for an African ostrich is 4 kg. Having received it, the bird’s body can generate enough energy for a long run.
In the wild, an ostrich can eat about 4 kg of food per day.
Home habitat
Living on farms, birds receive food similar to what they eat in the wild. The main diet includes green leaves and young shoots of plants, freshly cut grass and cereals.
In captivity, African ostriches eat less, about 3-3.5 kg per day.
This is due to the fact that birds lead a less active lifestyle and spend less energy, because the enclosures where they live are small sizes. They do not need to travel tens of kilometers in search of food and water and use their strength for this.
What do ostriches eat in the cold season, when there is no fresh greenery? In winter, they receive hay with various feed and grains. Additionally, the birds' diet includes beet tops, cabbage leaves, carrots, beets, and apples. Sometimes farmers feed ostriches table scraps.
For normal development, birds need vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
If the farmer has special equipment and sufficient knowledge, food for ostriches is made at home. But in the case of a small number of birds on the farm independent production mixed feed may not be economically viable. Then they resort to using industrially prepared feed mixture. If it is not possible to order specialized food additives or it is too expensive, then feeding ostriches at home is carried out with compound feed intended for other farm animals.
Ostriches love to pick up whatever they like from the ground.
Nutritional Features
When raising African ostriches at home, it is important to pay attention to the diet. The growth rate of young animals, the productivity of females, and the health of birds depend on it. What to feed the birds? Best option- alfalfa, dry in winter, and freshly cut in summer. For one adult ostrich, 1.5 kg of alfalfa is allocated.
Bird feeding systems:
- Intense. The farmer’s goal is to enrich the birds’ diet with vitamins and minerals as much as possible. It is usually carried out during the nesting period and for the rapid growth of young ostriches. Legumes and grains are given as a supplement.
- Semi-intensive. The same goal as with intensive feeding.
- Normalized. Typical daily diet: greens, root vegetables, grains.
- Extensive. Standard set, as with the normalized system. In both cases, feed is added.
Beet tops are good food for ostriches
These methods are conventional and mainly based on the principles of feeding poultry. But when using them, you need to take into account a number of factors:
- where do birds live;
- age and weight;
- living conditions;
- purpose of cultivation.
In summer, African ostriches spend the entire day grazing and feeding on pasture. Compound feed for ostriches up to 1.5 kg is added to the main food; for young animals, minerals are required: crushed shells, bone meal, eggshells.
Principles of rational nutrition:
- Cereals are used only in the form of derti.
- To quickly absorb proteins, vegetables and root vegetables must be chopped.
- Using 2 feeders: one contains the main food, the second contains small pebbles and gravel.
- The bird drinks only clean and fresh water. It needs to be replaced every day.
With these nutritional rules, African ostriches will have excellent health, gain weight faster and increase productivity.
An important element of ostrich nutrition is soybeans.
Summary
Now, knowing what ostriches eat, you can start raising them. In fact, these birds are not picky and eat the same foods as farm birds. It is important to provide ostriches with nutritious food and enrich it with vitamin and mineral complexes, and then the result will not be long in coming.
