Raising Ostriches – African Blue Neck

Keeping African Blue Neck Ostriches. Basics on raising ostriches for harvesting of meat.

Blue neck Ostriches are huge flightless birds native to the arid interior of the African continent.

Aggressive Males

A new male introduced to a paddock will be insecure and somewhat manageable for a few days, but beyond that he takes charge. A male ostrich percieves males of any species as a compeitor for his hens. They are highly aggressive and will even kick through a fence to get at perceived competitors and intruders on their domain. Ostrich hens are much more docile.

Ostriches are generally kept for commercial harvesting of meat and/or feathers, as well as for their marvellous heavy leather. African blue neck ostriches are prized for their meat, while the superior feather producer is the Cape Black ostrich.

Land and Food requirements for Ostriches

Ostriches are environmentally friendly and can be kept in far higher numbers per hectare than cattle (about 10 per acre is recommended.) An ostrich can accelerate from 0-60kms an hour in three strides and change direction at phenomenal speed. They need to run and will grow if they’re happy, so ideally they should be kept in long narrow paddocks.

They are grass eaters and will drink five litres of water each on a hot day but in winter, almost nothing. They pass the seed heads they eat with their high calcium waste so the fertilising and growth cycle continues naturally. Commercial ostrich-keepers supplement with a maize and vitamin mix, approximately a kilo per bird per day, but the natural ostrich environment is dry and nutrient poor, so supplements are kept to a minimum.

Ostriches Don’t Bury Their Heads in Sand

The popular myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they don’t want to see something, has not a hint of truth about it. However, when ostriches make a nest they lie on the ground and sweep materials up in a curve with their heads and necks to create a 1.5 metre nest. From a distance it looks as though they’re sticking their heads in the ground.

Ostrich Eggs

Each hen lays about 80 white eggs per season (one every other day). They average 1500gms each, and up to two kilos. At twelve weeks an ostrich chick weighs 35-45kgs. If they’re raised for meat, the optimum age for slaughter is 18 months with a 110kg bird providing 45kgs of good meat.

How to Catch an Ostrich

They’re caught by dropping a hood over their heads which effectively immobilises them, but other ostriches in the paddock often panic – they wonder why the hooded bird now looks different and will begin to run around, stricken. They’re less than piercingly intelligent as a rule.

Transporting Ostriches

Transporting ostriches is a specialised process. They bruise very easily and if being slaughtered for meat, must be undamaged. Even purpose-built, carpeted and cushioned transports do not seem to be able to solve the problem of bruised birds. The transport also needs to be closed up because if they can see out, they’ll try to get out and their efforts cause them to damage themselves.

 

Today there is huge demand for ostrich meat, feathers, and leather worldwide but trade is controlled by South Africa, although green skins are exported to a worldwide pool.

Copyright Theresa Sjoquist

Please Note: I am a writer. I have no feathers, eggs, meat, or bones and I apologise, but I do not know where to get such items from. This article was published in 2010.