What do ostriches eat in nature and at home. What do ostriches eat in the wild and at home

The nutrition of ostriches is practically no different from feeding other types of poultry. The diet includes various compound feeds, alfalfa, shell rock and vitamins. The main thing that ostriches eat is harvested alfalfa for the winter in the form of greens or hay. However, it is recommended to add 1.5 kg of combined feed per day per individual.

The standard feed ingredients are corn, wheat, extracted soybeans, millet in ground form. Bean or alfalfa flour, fish meal, calcium carbonate, yeast, vitamin feed with useful microelements are also important.

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

In order for ostriches to grow and develop well in a private household, special attention must be paid to dry food. It is he who improves the productive qualities of females.

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

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

• Semi-intensive. In this mode, regular walking of livestock on farms and abundant feeding with concentrated mixtures are carried out. The most practical would be to make the highest quality imitation of natural conditions for their development, while the feed should be based on natural substances and vitamins. This is necessary so that the birds themselves get their own food in the right amount. Supplementary feeding should be carried out at the laying stage.

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

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

When females are preparing for oviposition, feeding should be carried out more intensively throughout the entire period.

You need to know that if at this time you change your diet and diet dramatically, the female can completely stop laying eggs.

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

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

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

Summer

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

In the autumn-winter period

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

In winter, the main type of food is cereals: corn, beans, oats, protein mixtures from cake, yeast and bone meal, as well as the right amount of hay, silage, a mixture of various grasses and soy.

Even though ostriches prefer hot weather, they still need water. When kept at home, they need to put special drinkers and fill with clean fresh water daily.

It is recommended to do this at the same time as feeding, so that after the dry ingredients they can drink enough. At the same time, in order for the birds to remain healthy, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water, as various microbes and bacteria accumulate in it.

Fattening for meat

Ostrich fattening for meat is carried out from 1.5 months of age. To obtain 1 kg of growth, it is necessary to spend about 5 kilograms of feed. Feeding is carried out in two stages:

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

Features of feeding young animals

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

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

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

In summer, they pluck the greens and leaves of young shoots while walking, and in winter they must eat flour and silage. Small pebbles help to grind food in the upper intestine. At the same time, they are able to protect the baby from death when eating hard greens.

The ostrich is a feathered giant that looks like prehistoric animals. It is the largest non-flying creature with wings on our planet. This is due to the fact that he does not have a keel in the sternum. However, one born to run does not need to soar: he has powerful, strong legs and is an excellent runner. The weight of an adult can reach 150 kg, and height - 250 cm. Many people wonder what ostriches eat? Despite its impressive size, this gigantic creature belongs to herbivores, although sometimes it can treat itself to small amphibians or bugs.

Ostriches do not live in the most fertile corners of the Earth. They prefer to graze on savannahs or prairies, places where lush greenery or shrubs are not often found, 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 regions: they are able to exist for a long period of time without water. When green bushes become insufficient for food, they switch to feeding on seeds, twigs and roots, interrupted, from time to time, by small reptiles. Together with the 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 it is absolutely not demanding in the 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 an areola, in the expanses of which birds even nest.

In home farm conditions, the diet of ostriches is more varied and nutritious:

• all types of cereals;
• alfalfa;
• clover;
• corn silage;
• nettle;
• beet;
• carrot;
• cabbage;
• legume crops.

Features of the digestive system

In birds of this species, there is no goiter, and the intestines, on the contrary, are too long. These characteristic features of the structure of the digestive system were not invented by nature by chance: they are “sharpened” for the processing of coarse fiber of plant origin. The caecum is especially oblong, because in this place the process of decomposition of plant fibers takes place. The stomach looks like a fairly powerful organ with thick walls.

The function of the goiter was taken over by the pancreas, 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.

The 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 absorbed the fastest, perhaps that is why the birds are ready to eat it all year round. In the 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 that are not typical of their natural habitat depends primarily on the time of year: in summer it is much easier to provide them with quality food than in winter. Most of the time they graze and get their own food. The owner of the farm can only make the necessary adjustments to the nutrition schedule, supplementing them with compound feed or cereals. Ostriches love cereals in all sorts of variations: corn, oats, barley, etc.

In a saturated diet, it is desirable to diversify the menu with nutritious legumes, which will significantly increase the energy value of the feed. Feathered giants eat grass in any variety. Nettle, clover and dandelions are very useful for their body.

Special mention deserves the fattening of young shoots. For feeding young animals, the menu for adults should be diluted with all kinds of mineral baits that will contribute to their growth. For these purposes, fish oil, chalk or bone meal are suitable. It is recommended to introduce these components into the diet of ostriches starting from 72 hours of life. Until this time, nutrition is based solely on the residual yolk.

There are intensive, semi-intensive and extensive methods of nutrition. These systems are still under development, but already show good results after application in ostrich farms. Choosing a certain scheme, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the climatic conditions of the ostrich's habitat, its age and physiological characteristics.

Intensive technique

When birds are free-ranged, they should be provided with a sufficient amount of hay and particulate green fodder, 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 feed. For these purposes, rapeseed, alfalfa or herbs are perfect.

At the stage of female readiness for oviposition, the intensity of feeding is increased for the entire period of "motherhood". If you suddenly make adjustments to the existing "culinary" regimen 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 the presence of sand and pebbles in the diet of ostriches: they must be in constant open access.

Semi-intensive technique

This diet involves walking birds in pastures and abundant feeding with concentrated mixtures. If possible, birds should be provided with conditions reminiscent of their natural habitat and fed with natural-based feed. It is very important that they are engaged in the extraction of their livelihood in sufficient quantities.

At the laying stage, additional feeding should be provided to the birds. In winter, it is advisable to give ostriches 1 kg of compound 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

The cost of food according to this technique is minimal: the bird is independently engaged in the extraction of food. In order to apply this method, the owner of the ostrich farm will need a fenced large area of ​​non-arable land on which birds can freely graze 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 not be suitable for walking birds.

Feeding during oviposition

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 dads, the presence of a large amount of this element in the diet can do a disservice: calcium will inhibit the absorption of zinc, which is so necessary for the formation of sperm.

During this period, the method of separate feeding is recommended. It is advisable to keep the male in an adjacent enclosure with the female, taking her to the territory for mating every other day. It is very important to ensure that the female is fed by the time of intercourse.

Nutrition of ostriches

Complete feeding and high-quality conditions of detention are the main components that contribute to the good survival of chicks. Newborn ostriches need feeding not from the first day of their birth: at first they exist due to the yolk sac. Then you should constantly ensure that the chick feeders are constantly full. Adults can be fed twice a day, and youngsters should be given 24/7 access to a high quality liquid formula based on concentrated feed and de-stemmed alfalfa.

This point is very important, because alfalfa stalks provoke constipation in ostriches.

Gradually, starting from the 16th week, food with a fiber content that exceeds the previous norm should be introduced into the menu of babies. Also, before this period, they are forbidden to graze in meadows with alfalfa. In addition to food for the first 4 months, babies are happy to eat chicken shells, limestone, carrots, small stones, an apple, in a word, everything that they can find in the walking area.

It is recommended to make a hill of sand and crushed shell rock in the aviary in order to improve the digestive processes of young animals. It is also desirable to add B vitamins and biotin to the feed. 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 prohibition is associated with the risk of infection.

Drinking regime

Feathered giants easily endure thirst. However, if you provide them with a large amount of drinking water, they will drink a lot, and with great pleasure. It is advisable to water them at the same time as feeding. To maintain the chick population, it is very important to constantly add fresh water. In addition, drinkers should always be cleaned and comply with sanitary and hygienic standards. The recommended cleanliness of cleaning is 1 time per day.

Features of catering on ostrich farms

In order to organize a bird breeding business, it is important to understand how many elements they need for full development.

Accepted norms of nutrients

Indicators	Starting type of diet	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 food, you can feed cake and meal to birds. It is very important to give babies only soybean meal until they are 12 weeks old. Boiled potatoes and chopped vegetables will also have a good effect on their body. In no case should you feed parsley.

Annual feeding rate of birds

Taking into account the fact that the ostrich is a rather large and active creature, the space for its breeding should be large enough in terms of the area it occupies. Novice farmers should equip a paddock and paddock for birds. An aviary for pigs can be converted as a place for birds to live. A pigsty is great for housing ostriches, but you need to make sure that the height of the ceilings is approximately 3 m. These African birds prefer living 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 a metal mesh with a small mesh. 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

Novice farmers who decide to acquire a feathered farm for the purpose of breeding birds will be interested to get acquainted with the statistics that make the ostrich business so attractive.

How profitable is the ostrich business?

Ostrich meat is invaluable 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 in poultry: in terms of the rate of weight gain, they will give odds to any farm animal. In the list of indisputable advantages, one can also add the fact that ostriches are quite unpretentious in feeding, while up to 40 kg of pure meat comes out from one adult.

The skin of this feathered one is in no way inferior to the skin of a crocodile or a snake in terms of its popularity. It is used in the production of belts, shoes, bags, clothes, and about 1.5 square meters comes out of one mature bird. meters of skin.

Ostrich feathers are also widely used: in the filling of 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 purposes. But this product is of great value to farmers who want to breed birds. During one season, the female lays up to 50 eggs.

Tips for ostrich farmers

For the purpose of artificial breeding of ostriches, it is necessary to use a double incubator. For the first 39 days, the eggs must be kept in the main incubator. After they are placed for about 1 week in a brood incubator, which differs in keeping conditions: lower temperature and higher humidity.

The ostriches continue to live in it for about 3 days after hatching, then they are transferred to a separate room with a strict temperature regime of 25 ° C. It is possible to let the younger generation into fresh air if the air has warmed up to 18 ° C.

Video - How to keep ostriches at home

Due to the fact that ostriches gain weight very quickly when fed relatively inexpensive feed, and their meat has excellent palatability, 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 excellent plumage, which is widely used in industry. Despite the fact that these African birds come from warm, southern countries, due to their unpretentiousness, they take root perfectly on our continent and give full-fledged offspring.

Now the cultivation of ostriches is practiced by many farmers in our country, but many do not know what birds eat and do not dare to start them. Of course, the diet of birds at home will be somewhat different from the food that a wild bird receives. To begin with, consider the structural features of the main digestive organs of birds, since they are slightly different from those that are familiar to us in chickens, geese, ducks. The ostrich does not have a goiter, which means that the bird will digest roughage faster. The stomach of birds is quite powerful, there is an elongated intestine, which allows better absorption of food. Experts consider ostriches herbivores, although these birds can also eat other foods, such as leaves, roots of small plants, seeds, and of course grass. Birds often feast on insects, frogs and small fish.

African shrouds are considered the birthplace of the birds in question. On the flat terrain, birds graze along with other birds and animals that eat grass. In addition, ostriches eat young leaves and seeds. It has been observed that Africans can live for a long time without water, so they often nest in semi-arid deserts. If there is no lush vegetation in the area, then ostriches eat reptiles, rodents and small insects. An adult requires about four kilograms of food per day.

How to feed ostriches at home

On farms, birds eat the same food as in the wild, but in smaller quantities, as they will use up much less energy. The basis of the diet of ostriches include leaves and grass, in winter they give grain, hay, as well as root crops (beets, carrots, cabbage leaves) from fruits give apples. Birds can eat kitchen waste.

A good increase in the muscle mass of birds can be achieved by compiling the right diet. According to experts, the best type of green fodder is alfalfa, in winter this plant is fed in the form of hay. In the summer, ostriches spend almost the whole day on the pasture, eating grass. In order to achieve good gains, special compound feeds are added to their diet, about 1.5 kilograms per individual. The need for protein in birds is replenished with legumes and various meals. When growing young chicks, mineral components are added to food, such as bone meal, chalk, crushed shells.

In winter, the diet of ostriches should contain hay flour obtained from alfalfa, various vegetables and grains. Of the feeds containing protein, it is recommended to use baker's yeast, sunflower and soybean meal. It is also important to properly prepare food, grain and meal are interrupted on a turf, and vegetables are rubbed on a grater. To improve digestion, small pebbles are poured into the feeders.

It is the largest bird on earth. It grows up to 250 centimeters or more in height and is capable of weighing about 150 kilograms. As farmers today increasingly have such birds on their own farms, they are interested in what wild ostriches eat and how to feed an ostrich at home. All this is our today's article.

Under natural conditions, an ostrich can be found in the semi-desert or savannah in America. It is real to see such majestic birds in the Middle East, namely in Iraq, as well as in Arabia and Persia.

It should be noted that the digestive system of birds is arranged in a special way. Unlike other farmland dwellers who have goiters, they do not. Therefore, roughage is digested in the digestive tract quite quickly. They also have a powerful stomach. There is also an elongation of the part of the intestine that is located behind. So birds get a lot of useful fiber.

The ostrich, contrary to popular belief, is not a purely herbivorous bird, since feeding ostriches involves the introduction of both plant and animal feed into the diet.

When the birds are convinced that there is enough green food, they prefer to eat grasses, seeds and roots of crops, as well as succulent foliage. So, what do ostriches eat in the wild and when kept at home? Let's try to figure it out.

Video “Life in the natural environment”

From the video you will learn how ostriches live in freedom.

In natural habitat

In the expanses of the African savannah, you can find a large amount of greenery and leaves of young shoots. This is an excellent food for ostriches, which happened to live in natural conditions. In the expanses of the savanna with its characteristic long plains, these birds can always find pasture in abundance. Since such birds are able to do without water for a long time, semi-arid desert areas often become their habitat.

What do ostriches live in such conditions? They like to eat roots, branches and seeds of various shrubs. Instead of greenery, which is very scarce in the territories, birds eat reptiles, insects, and some species of rodents. It is known that an adult ostrich needs to eat about 4 kg of food every day. It is this amount of food that will allow the bird to run well, be healthy and feel good.

At home

The home daily diet of such large birds is not much different from what they are used to in the wild. The difference is only in the amount of feed consumed. Domestic ostriches eat less because they move little and do not need a lot of vital energy. The basis of their diet in farms is a variety of herbs and foliage crops.

In winter, the owners prepare a sufficient amount of hay for their birds, which is then mixed with special concentrated feed and cereals. But it is also recommended to offer pets beet tops, cabbage leaves, beets and carrots, zucchini and apples. Although ostriches continue to be considered exotic birds, they readily eat a variety of food waste, which makes them economically viable to keep at home.

Feeding ration

With a rational feeding system, it is realistic to get a quick and full growth of young animals, to increase the degree of productivity of females several times. In modern farming, several feeding systems for ostriches have taken root. Among them are intensive, semi-intensive, extensive and normalized. Alfalfa is recognized as an excellent type of food for such birds. It can be used in winter in the form of hay, and in summer it is offered fresh to pets in combination with high-quality compound feed. The norm for an adult is 1.5 kg.

Alfalfa, grass and compound feed are the three main types of feed that are used when choosing an extensive housing system. With intensive or semi-intensive feeding, in addition to greens, pets receive grain, legumes, feed with a high content of useful minerals and vitamins. How much food to give birds? It all depends on how productive they are. When choosing a food system, one should take into account the age, weight, living conditions and purpose of the poultry.

In summer, ostriches mainly feed on pasture, which is obtained from the pasture. Once a day, they definitely need 1.5 feed, which is placed in the feeder. In order to prevent protein deficiency in the body, the bird is offered soybeans, meal and cake, lupine.

In order for them to be normally absorbed by the body, one cannot do without mineral supplements. In their quality, bone meal, chicken egg shell, chalk, crushed shell rock can act. Well-known bran is also suitable. In order for pets to receive a supply of vitamins, you need to feed them with grass meal, silage, alfalfa hay. This is especially true with the arrival of winter. Thus, vegetables, leaves, grass are suitable from green types of feed, among cereals it is worth choosing soybeans, corn, oats, barley, meal, cake, yeast and bone meal are indispensable as a source of protein, and in the form of hay birds are given soy, silage, alfalfa and herbs.

The form of feeding is important. For example, grain should be fed in the form of turd, proteins should be ground to a state of flour, vegetables and root crops should be offered cut into small pieces. If the main food is placed in one feeder, then gravel and pebbles must be poured into additional ones.

Ostriches begin to feed only a week after their birth. During the first walk, young animals should receive water and food - a mixture of pieces of alfalfa leaves no larger than 1 cm each and protein feed. Instead of alfalfa, it is permissible to use clover. As a source of protein, ostriches need cottage cheese with a boiled egg mixed with it. Chicks who have reached the age of 1 - 3 months are advised to add 12% fiber and 18% protein to the feed. Kids are happy to nibble grass in summer and eat flour with silage in autumn and winter. To be able to eat tough greens, ostriches must receive small pebbles.

Video “How to keep ostriches at home”

From the video you will learn how to keep ostriches at home.

Breeding and raising ostriches is a profitable business that has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years. But for breeders who are just starting to breed these birds, the question of feeding the bird often arises. It seems to many that this exotic bird eats something special and expensive. In fact, caring for ostriches, keeping them and feeding them is not much different from keeping any other birds: ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens.

The diet of ostriches

Ostriches are omnivorous birds, not herbivores, as many people think. They eat both plant and animal foods equally well.

The basis of nutrition consists of grass and leaves, various seeds and roots. However, the favorite delicacy of adult birds is insects and reptiles. There is little difference between what ostriches eat in their natural habitat and at home.

Under natural conditions

Ostriches are inhabitants of the spacious savannas. In open spacious areas, they eat greens and young shoots. Grass is the basis of the diet. The bird can go without water for a long time, therefore, for nesting, it chooses an arid semi-desert, where there is a lower chance of meeting predators. In desert areas, they feed on seeds, roots and branches of shrubs. The lack of fresh grass is compensated by insects, small reptiles and even mice. An adult bird needs about 4 kg of feed per day. This amount of food is necessary for fast and long running and active energy exchange.

In a home environment

At home, feeding this large and strong bird is not difficult, but proper nutrition is essential for the health and well-being of the bird. With sufficient and balanced food, young animals grow well and quickly, and females become more productive. The taste of meat and eggs also depends on what the ostriches eat. There are several bird feeding systems:

1. intensive,
2. semi-intensive,
3. Extensive.

Feeding with an intensive system

The intensive system consists in the lack of pasture and the maintenance of birds in small enclosures. With this system of housing and feeding, it is extremely important to provide the birds with the right amount of hay and green fodder. A daily adult requires about three kilograms of compound feed mixed with finely chopped green fodder. If the bird has not eaten food, the amount is reduced. Green fodder should consist of herbs, spinach leaves, rapeseed and alfalfa. Outside of the breeding season, it is recommended to give corn-based feed mixtures.

With an intensive feeding system, the composition and amount of feed depends on the age of the bird:

Semi-intensive feeding system

The semi-intensive rearing and feeding system involves free grazing in the warm season and feeding with concentrated feed and mixtures.

An important role is played by the creation of conditions close to natural and the ability to find food on their own. Breeding stock in December and January receives an additional kilogram of concentrates, and by March the amount of concentrated feed increases to three kilograms. All concentrates are given only together with chopped green fodder.

Extensive feeding system

An extensive feeding system implies minimal feed costs - in the summer months, the birds find food on their own.

An exception can only be a dry or excessively rainy summer. Concentrated feeds are given to birds only in winter and in small quantities.

Regardless of the chosen feeding system, it is worth remembering that at home, the energy consumption of birds is much lower than in nature, which means they also need less food. On average, an ostrich needs about three kilograms of food per day. The protein balance throughout the year is well replenished with lupins, legumes or cake. Feeding of adult birds occurs once a day - more often in the morning.

In winter, vitamin supplements play an important role - grass flour, silage, vegetables, fruits and root crops. Vegetables and root crops must be thoroughly washed and finely chopped. Ostriches are very fond of cabbage, as well as carrots, apples, pears, fodder beets. Some birds feast on zucchini, lettuce, watermelons and melons. They can also be given crackers and fresh bread. Do not feed ostriches with potatoes and parsley. Substances contained in them lead to problems with digestion and death of young animals.

A separate feeder should always have shell rock, fine gravel or pebbles.

Drinkers should be installed in enclosures and pastures. Ostriches can go without water for a long time, but it is better to organize a good watering place for the birds.

Many breeders prefer to install automatic drinkers - they keep the water fresh and clean.

The diet of ostriches during breeding

During the breeding season, males and females require different diets. Females need more calcium, which is actively involved in the formation of eggs. It is better not to give calcium to males during this period - it reduces reproductive functions. An increase in nutrients in the diet of males threatens with obesity and the inability to fertilize a female. Breeders prefer to feed males and females separately during the period - this reduces the risk of problems with malnutrition of the bird. Males are recommended to be kept in an adjacent enclosure, releasing to the female for several hours for mating. However, you should first make sure that the female is full and remove the remnants of food from the feeder.

Feeding ostriches

Separately, it is worth considering the issue of feeding ostriches. Proper nutrition and housing conditions not only affect their growth and development, but also survival in general.

The first four days of life, the chicks do not need food - nutrition occurs due to the resorption of the yolk sac, which is almost half the weight of the newborn.

Subsequently, it is important to ensure that the feeders of the young animals are constantly filled with food. All food for chicks should be of high quality and fresh, especially wet mash. The mixer is made from concentrated feed with the addition of alfalfa leaves. Alfalfa stalks are best removed - they lead to digestive problems. In addition to the mash, young animals are given a chopped boiled chicken egg.

Ostriches can be put in a separate feeder sand with small pebbles, crushed shells, pieces of lime, as well as finely chopped carrots and apples. In the enclosure where the chicks are kept, you can organize a sand embankment. Young growth not only willingly takes sand baths, but also digs in the sand in search of pebbles, shell rock, pebbles and even insects. Shell rock, limestone and shells not only ensure good digestion, but also play an important role in the process of skeletal formation. Monthly, the ostrich grows by 30-35 cm, so the strength of the skeletal system is extremely important.

If necessary, vitamins can be added to the water. In the first months of life, it is recommended to give B vitamins to young animals at the rate of five grams per chick. Under natural conditions, the chicks peck at the manure of their parents, receiving from it the microorganisms necessary for digestion and development of the immune system. At home, the breeder decides for himself whether or not to give manure to the chicks. Minus - the possibility of infection of young animals with worms. Plus - less digestive problems in the future.

The first walks in good weather can be organized as early as three weeks of age.

And chicks should be transferred to enclosures no earlier than when they reach three months of age. The aviary for young birds should be separated from the pens for adult birds and have shelter from wind, rain and sun. Be sure to have drinkers. In rainy weather, ostriches need additional heating - heaters are installed in poultry houses for this purpose. Wet feathers threaten hypothermia and disease.

With the advent of winter, the number of walking is reduced. In frosty weather, as well as during icy conditions, it is better not to release the chicks. In the cold season, the chicks are fed with forb meadow hay, alfalfa, and concentrates. It is better to separate young animals intended for fattening and slaughter, and breeding young animals. During fattening, birds are advised to give more concentrates and feed, as well as vegetables and root crops.

At ostriches reach fighting weight at the age of 9-11 months with a weight of about 120 kilograms.

Further fattening is unprofitable - although ostriches continue to gain weight, the taste of meat is significantly deteriorating.