Breeding ostriches at home, the cost of growing

Recently, Russia has experienced a literal ostrich boom, with farms for this exotic bird rapidly springing up across the country. Ostrich farming can be considered a waste-free operation, as everything from the bird's eggs to its feathers and skin is used. If you can acquire the bird at a reasonable price and raise it yourself, you can set up a fairly profitable home-based business.

Features of exotic birds

Ostriches - These are birds with very small brains., and it weighs about 40 grams. This is why the brain is unable to process information quickly, and even a slight blow to the head can result in the bird's death. When constructing a birdhouse, it's important to consider that birds often stick their heads through the holes in the fence but don't know how to get them back out. By frantically shaking their heads, the bird can inadvertently injure its spine and die.

Females reach sexual maturity at three years of age, and males at four years of age. The timing of sexual maturity depends largely on the animal's living conditions. If food shortages occur, sexual maturity occurs earlier, and females lay their first dozen eggs at two years of age.

Ostrich breeds

Specialists There are three main breeds of animals, suitable for growing at home:

1. Emu (Australian).
2. African.
3. Rhea (South American).

The most African birds are considered to be unpretentious in breedingThey can reach a weight of 175 kg, and females are significantly larger than males. The African breed is the tallest, with birds sometimes reaching 2.8 meters in height.

This breed of bird reproduces quickly. The ostrich is a family animal, and therefore one male is enough for four to five females, and both breeds incubate eggs. On average, a female lays up to 12 eggs. You can get a more detailed visual assessment of each breed by watching videos of successful farm owners.

Requirements for premises

Types of poultry houses and special premises for breeding ostriches are divided into two groups:

• basic – required for keeping ostriches;
• utility room – necessary for storing feed and products.

Poultry house must be warm and based on a foundationIt can be built from brick and other suitable materials. However, it is necessary to provide space for ventilation and windows. The walls of the shed are best covered with boards and painted or coated with clay. Depending on the owner's budget, the floor can be made of wood or earth, with a thick layer of straw and sawdust as bedding.

Most The optimal ceiling height is considered to be The ceiling should be at least a meter above the ostrich's head. Window openings should also be positioned no lower than a meter above the floor and should face south.

If you watch the video, you can clearly see the interior and exterior of a proper poultry house.

Room temperature and lighting

Exotic birds it is necessary to receive a lot of sunlightGiven that the days in Russia get shorter in the fall, birds begin to lose weight. To prevent such problems, the poultry house should be illuminated for 16 to 18 hours.

Air temperature affects the stability of ostrich digestion, their egg production rate, and immunity. The most suitable temperature for the African beauty is between 16 and 23 degrees Celsius.

What should the feeders be like?

When setting up a feeder, you should take into account the fact that small ostriches actively and greedily eat foodTo avoid crowding during feeding, allow at least 0.5 meters of space per chick, while an adult ostrich requires 1.5 meters.

The feeder must be stable and be located at a comfortable heightWhen feeding, fill it 2/3 full (as in the video). A separate feeder, similar to a slatted manger, is prepared for branches and hay. It should be positioned 70 cm above the floor.

There are no special requirements for drinking bowls, so a wooden trough can be used.

What are the beneficial foods to feed ostriches?

If some doubts about breeding exotic birds at home The problem has cleared up, but the feeding issue is still bothering you, so there's no need to worry about your diet.

• An adult animal eats fresh grass well in summer and flour and silage in winter.
• Young ostriches are a little more of a hassle, so their feeding is taken more seriously if a healthy flock is to be achieved.
• During the first three days after hatching, the babies are not fed, as they consume the nutrients that were introduced into them during the birth process.
• Once this period has passed, the birds are allowed out for their first walk for no more than 30 minutes twice a day and fed according to their diet. This includes chopped alfalfa and clover leaves. In addition, they should be given a high-protein compound feed.
• At one month after birth, you can give food containing 19% fiber and protein.
• A distinctive feature of exotic birds' diets is the presence of a feeder with small stones. These stones are necessary for the animals to better grind their food in the stomach.

Peculiarities of ostrich breeding

The basis for breeding at home is the parent stock, where there are up to three females per male.

There are three main types of ostrich breeding:

1. Natural

Birds are polygamous, and they reproduce quite well on their ownExperts recommend keeping them in groups. During mating season, males begin actively courting females. After mating, the female ostrich begins laying eggs every other day, taking breaks during the season. She makes a nest by digging a hole in the ground and lining it with straw. The farm owner can level the hole to prevent the eggs from breaking. The incubation period lasts approximately 43 days.

2. Artificial

Depending on the breed a female ostrich lays 20 to 80 eggsAt home, breeding birds is most often done through natural or artificial incubation. It's best not to place the first and last eggs laid by the female in the incubator.

3. Mixed

This method involves hatching ostriches either by the female or using an incubator. It is often used on large-scale farms.

Additional a feature of ostrich breeding They consider grazing, preferably in a pasture, a requirement. If this is not possible, grass must be prepared in advance, which increases the owner's expenses.

When starting to breed birds, you need to know what diseases they sometimes suffer from:

• nervous (encephalopathy, Newcastle disease);
• respiratory (bacterial infection, bird flu, mycoplasma, foreign body entering the respiratory organs);
• musculoskeletal (leg diseases);
• gastrointestinal (worms, fungal gastritis, botulism, poisoning);
• dermatological (hepatitis, smallpox).

In any case, calling a doctor and promptly starting treatment can save your pet.

Recommendations for caring for ostriches

A pet's healthy weight and good health are guaranteed only with proper care. To achieve this, follow these guidelines:

• Maintaining sanitary and hygienic requirements involves caring for the birds in summer and winter, cleaning, and monitoring temperature and humidity. Cleaning of the premises is mandatory every day.
• Ostriches cannot tolerate stuffy and humid air, and therefore immediately lose weight.
• The premises are constantly disinfected.

Valuable products

Breeding exotic bird at home allows you to additionally obtain a variety of high-quality products:

1. Ostrich meat tastes similar to veal and contains more protein than fat. A whole ostrich can yield up to 30 kg of meat. It can be cooked using any cooking method.
2. Ostrich fat is used in cosmetology and pharmacology. It is used to make ointments, creams, and soaps. The fat of the emu ostrich is considered the most valuable, as it has antibacterial properties and softens, moisturizes, and regenerates the skin. A single emu can yield 5-15 kilograms of fat.
3. An ostrich egg weighs as much as 40 chicken eggs and can range from 0.5 to 2 kg. Eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a year. Artists often use eggshells for engravings and paintings.
4. White feathers are typically purchased by fashion designers and dance company directors. The rest are used in pillow making as filling. Experts estimate that feather sales account for up to 15% of total revenue.
5. Ostrich skin is known for its elasticity, and its longevity makes it a popular choice for fashion designers. The best ostrich leather accessories include gloves, wallets, bags, belts, and exclusive shoes. In terms of quality and appearance, the leather is reminiscent of crocodile and snakeskin.

Benefits of Ostrich Farming Business

There are three main ways to enter this business sector today:

Purchasing eggs

The price of ostrich meat the egg fluctuates around $35This type of start-up is the most difficult, since the egg may be infertile, and the chicks sometimes do not survive beyond 3 months.

Acquisition of young animals, up to one month old

A single chick can cost up to 10,000 rubles. This option is recommended for beginning home farmers.

Acquisition of a family (one male and three to four females)

These are ready-made producers, and therefore - the best solution for starting a business At full capacity. The price for a family of ostriches reaches $5,000, but the first litter won't arrive for three years. The main consumer category for ostrich products are health-conscious individuals. The meat of this exotic bird is renowned for its low fat and cholesterol content.

When developing a business plan for ostrich breeding, the following circumstances must be taken into account:

• a family of three birds can produce up to 60 eggs a year, and selling one can fetch 800–1000 rubles;
• A single ostrich family produces up to 6 tons of meat, 1.5 tons of which is fillet. It costs 650 rubles per kilogram.

It is important to understand that during the development of the business plan The focus shouldn't be solely on meat products. It's much more profitable to sell ostriches live.