Ostrich

OSTRICH PENS AND SHELTER

Different Types of Ostrich Pen

  • Chick pens: Young chicks should be placed in facilities that will accommodate them until they are 4-5 months of age. Movement of young chicks should be avoided as much as possible, in order to reduce stress.
  • Grow out pens: For grow-out pens with large numbers of birds, or when housing larger groups of breeders (say 10 to 20), the pen size would have to be increased accordingly.
  • Breeder pens: A minimum pen size of 60 feet x 15 feet to 100 feet x 300 feet (50 feet x 250 feet, average) is sufficient for a pair or trio. Some use pie shapes with 20 feet wide at building to 80 feet wide at the rear, with length up to Feet. Then arrowing of pens towards the barn door also provides a funnel-shaped area that helps when trying to move birds indoors. For breeder pens, make corners at 45 degrees to allow the hen to easily escape from the chasing rooster. Also provide 6 feet to 12 feet alleys between pens to reduce fighting between males. Otherwise a visual barrier such as a solid wall or shade cloth may be necessary. Breeder pens should be located away from chick pens and grow out facilities, as the sight and sound of young chicks has been known to distract breeder birds enough that they quit laying.

Shelter

  • Adult breeder birds should be provided with a minimum of 60 to 80 square feet per bird in indoor pens. Younger birds need less indoor space per bird - if outdoor exercise room is adequately provided, a general rule-of-thumb of approximately 20 to 30 square feet per chick is used for indoor pens.
  • Provide means for personnel to access feeders and waterers, without them having to enter the pen area. (ie., feeders should be placed just over the pen fence, or built in-line within the fence, or placed outside the fence, with access for birds provided through feeding stanchions.)

Ostrich paddocks

  • Breeding paddock ostriches prefer larger paddocks; however, oversized paddocks can cause birds to become more wild, skittish and harder to control. A good paddock size for a breeding pair is 1 to 3 acres (0.4 - 1.25 hectares).
  • Planting the paddock to alfalfa will allow the birds to have quality forage for grazing. A few trees or shrubs for shade and privacy area dvised. The paddock should be enclosed with 5 feet high wire fence.
  • A hedge or wind breaker is also good between pens to provide more privacy during courtship displays. The pen should have an area about 25 square feet by 6 inches deep of clean sand for the birds to roll in.
  • Ostriches are hardy birds; however, they do require protection from snow, ice, extreme wind, cold rain, and sleet. Paddocks should be designed so birds have to access a shelter (confinement pen) to obtain feed and water.
  • Pens designed in this manner simplify the task of catching and restraining the birds. Also, having feed and water in the shelter protects it from the elements.
  • Feeders and waterers should be positioned so that managers can access them without exposing themselves to overly aggressive ostriches. While not prone to aggressive behaviour, ostriches may become more aggressive during the breeding season.
  • An ostrich breeder pair, or trio, needs 7500-15,000 square feet. Younger birds need less space corresponding to their age and size. For small chicks, some use a rule of thumb of 50 square feet per bird. The birds develop better when they have room and are not overcrowded.

22.10

Fig. 22. 10. Alleyway between two ostrich pens

22.11

Fig. 22. 11. Sun shelter for ostriches

Last modified: Tuesday, 8 May 2012, 4:13 AM