Breeding Ostrich Rearing and Management Methods and Technical Key Points

    (1) Feed: Artificially reared breeding ostriches should be supplied with a balanced daily ration according to the nutritional needs of breeding ostriches. Feed is usually formulated according to the breeding ostrich's requirements for calcium and phosphorus (female ostriches have a very high requirement for calcium and phosphorus during the laying period), and breeding ostriches are most prone to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins and trace elements such as iodine, iron and zinc. However, feed high in fat should not be fed too much, because ostriches have no gallbladder and therefore have a poor ability to absorb fat. In particular, the energy supply must not be excessive, to prevent breeding ostriches from becoming obese and gaining weight, which would cause the egg-laying rate to decline or even stop laying.
(2) Rearing and management methods: The rearing and management of breeding ostriches should aim to increase egg production so as to breed more high-quality ostrich chicks. For raising African ostriches, one male can be kept together with several females in mixed housing. The area of the breeding ostrich house should preferably be 10-12 sq m per bird. The area of the ostrich pen should generally be 250-300 sq m per breeding ostrich, and the length-to-width ratio of the pen should generally be 7:3. The feeding and watering utensils used for breeding ostriches should be made of cement into sturdy cement troughs, to prevent the breeding ostriches
from tipping them over while eating or drinking, which could smash the birds' feet or wet the belly of the breeding ostrich and cause illness.
Generally, breeding ostriches should preferably be fed 4 times a day, with the first feeding of the day at 6:30-7:30, and the intervals between feedings should be basically equal. The feeding order is green and coarse feed first, then concentrate, or a mixture of concentrate and green and coarse feed; the feeding amount is about 1.5 kg, and clean drinking water must always be available (in winter, warm water at 25 degrees C). In order to give the breeding ostriches regular exercise, they should be driven to move for at least 1-2 hours each in the morning and afternoon. In addition, the breeding bird house and pen must be cleaned frequently to keep them clean and hygienic, and the droppings in the house and pen should be removed at any time. It is best to disinfect the feeding and watering utensils and the ostrich pen once a week.