What are the precautions for ostrich farming? A must-read for beginners
Ostrich farming is now becoming more and more widespread, and the economic benefits are very high, but along with high benefits comes the problem of high costs. Although ostrich farming techniques have gradually matured, many novice farmers do not know how to raise them. In fact, there are many issues in the process of raising ostriches, and these issues need attention before farming. So what should be paid attention to when raising ostriches? Let's take a look together below!
1. Breed selection
First of all, choosing breeding birds or breeding eggs will have a direct impact on the number of ostriches later. When purchasing ostriches, the first thing to consider is the breed, and select breeding stock directly according to quality, because breed not only reflects its production capacity, but also reflects the breeding value of the breeding bird in certain aspects. Secondly, the issue of sex must be considered. When selecting breeding stock, more female birds should be chosen, and the best male-to-female ratio is around 3:1. Although the reproductive period of ostriches is very long and can reach 30-40 years, the eggs laid by ostriches in the first year and in old age have very low performance, so it is generally most suitable to choose breeds aged 1-2.5 months. Selection should also be based on the ostrich's appearance and physical characteristics.
2. Brooding site
The ostrich house should not only establish a rest area, exercise area, sleeping area, etc., but also establish a dedicated brooding site. In addition to meeting the requirements of the other three areas, the brooding house and the rearing house should also have ceramic floor tiles laid on the floor. This is because ceramic floor tiles have a series of advantages such as good moisture absorption, moisture-proofing and heat insulation, and can ensure the ground stays dry and not damp. They also make cleaning and disinfection inside the house convenient, and are especially slip-resistant, which can effectively reduce foot deformities in young ostriches caused by slipping. Try to make the exercise yard as large as possible so that the young birds have enough space to move around and train their leg strength.
3. Bird house disinfection
Disinfection of the bird house is essential, especially the young bird house, because disinfecting the bird house can greatly reduce the incidence of infectious diseases. To ensure good growth of the young birds, however, during disinfection the staff must make full preparations, disinfect their hands with benzalkonium bromide solution, and wear sterile clothing and shoes. During disinfection, soak the green feed with potassium permanganate. The troughs and water troughs used to feed the young birds must be rotated and replaced, and after use they must also be cleaned and disinfected. The manure in the bird house should be cleaned up promptly, at least three times a day, once each in the morning, noon and evening.
4. Scientific feeding
Although ostriches have strong resistance and a low disease rate, this is only true for adult ostriches. During the brooding period, if there is no correct feeding method, ostriches will easily contract diseases and their survival rate will decrease. Therefore, when feeding, a scientific feeding method should be adopted according to the living habits of ostriches. About 5 days after the young birds hatch, egg yolk can be used to provide nutrition. After three days, water and feed can be provided to the young birds. The green feed used to start the young birds eating must be chopped up. If it is too dry, it can be appropriately mixed with water and then mixed with an appropriate amount of concentrate. When feeding, feed frequently and in small amounts, especially in hot and rainy weather.
The above are the issues to pay attention to when farming ostriches. The environment of the bird house is the most important. Many people do very well in other aspects, but overlook the environment of the bird house. This leads to the death of most ostriches or even a complete loss of production. Ostriches themselves originate in Africa, a high-temperature and dry environment. If it is too humid, it is not conducive to the growth of ostriches. There is also one more point to note: when feeding green feed, it is not advisable to feed sweet potato leaves, because sweet potato leaves generate wind and stop qi, which is not conducive to the growth of some ostriches with weak constitutions.