How To Start An Ostrich Farm

Ostriches are large flightless birds that are only found on the African continent. These birds are raised for their hides and plumes on a commercial scale. Their plums and hides are particularly useful in the production of leather garments and accessories.

The ostrich is useful for more than just the things listed above. Ostrich meat is a delicacy all over the world and is regarded as a healthy food option. As a result, they are served in a variety of dishes in many upscale restaurants around the world. In many parts of South Africa, ostrich eggs are cooked and eaten.

As a result, it is not surprising that ostriches are raised in various parts of Africa and, more recently, in America.

However, starting an ostrich farm is not as simple as reaping the benefits of one. Before beginning a business, many decisions must be made. To ensure that starting your own ostrich farm is not a failure waiting to happen, you would need the necessary technical knowledge and guidance.

An Overview of Ostrich Farming

Farming ostriches has always been a South African tradition until recently. It was only recently that ostrich farming became a worldwide practice.

If you’ve always been intrigued by the idea of farming but have been put off by the difficulties that come with cattle or sheep rearing, you might want to try something new.

Pound for pound, ostrich farming isn’t nearly as difficult as cattle farming, and the potential profits aren’t far behind. As a result, you might be better off starting and managing an ostrich farm than a cattle ranch.

When comparing cattle and ostrich rearing, it is important to remember that ostriches take up less space and consume less food than cattle. That is, you can maximize your profits while using fewer resources.

Despite the numerous advantages of ostrich farming that I have mentioned, running an ostrich farm is far from simple. It comes with its own Pandora’s box of difficulties.

The eight factors to consider when starting an ostrich farm are as follows:

1. What Kind of Ostrich Products Do You Want To Sell?

When you raise ostriches, you can sell a variety of products, including:

• Birds of maturity
• Feathers\sLeather
• Chicks from an ostrich
• Ostrich meat and eggs

Which of the items listed above you decide to sell will be determined by the available market for that commodity and the resources at your disposal.

For example, if you want to sell ostrich meat, you’ll need a meat and hide processor. If you do not want to deal with this stress, you can simply sell eggs, feathers, chicks, or mature birds. You’d still make money either way.

2. Sufficient Land for Your Ostrich Farm

Ostriches, while taking up far less space than cattle, still require a lot of space under their feet. A large amount of space is required for an Ostrich’s hygiene and health.

A mature ostrich should be given at least 1 to 3 acres of space, according to FarmAndAnimals.

3. The kind of shelter your ostriches require

You would need to build a shelter for the ostrich herd depending on its size. A three-sided shed is preferred because it can house a large number of birds.

Ostriches can stand up to eight feet tall, so the shed must be at least 12 feet tall. The shed’s purpose is to protect your ostriches from potentially harmful weather elements such as rain and extreme sunlight.

4. Fencing for Ostriches

You would need to build a fence to keep predators out and your ostriches contained.

The best ostrich farming fences are usually made of study material that is at least a foot deep in the soil.

We recommend that you use at least 9 feet of welded wire. This will keep the ostriches from escaping.

You can also add a few strands of barbed wire along the top of the fence to keep predators out.

5. Food source for your ostriches

You’d have to feed your birds commercially prepared ostrich feed. Ostrich feeds are typically in pellet form and contain the essential minerals required for proper ostrich growth.

Make sure your local feed store is easily accessible and not too far away from your ostrich farm.

In addition to Ostrich feed, you should plant grasses and crops that ostriches will enjoy browsing.

The majority of your ostrich’s diet should be commercially prepared feed, with the remaining 20% coming from fresh produce.

6. A Reliable Water Supply

Ostriches, despite their size, can die from the smallest of causes. Ostriches, for example, are prone to drowning by ducking their heads or allowing their heads to fall into small amounts of water.

This is why you must purchase specially designed watering devices to address the aforementioned issue. Wouldn’t you rather not lose a bird to something like that?

7. What Kind of Ostrich Do You Want to Breed?

Three types of ostriches are used in ostrich farming. These are their names:

• Black African ostriches
• Ostriches with a red neck
• Ostriches with a blue neck

Many ostrich farmers prefer the African black ostrich, owing to its temperament. These birds are more docile and easier to handle than the other two.

You don’t want to have too much trouble raising these birds as a beginner, so we recommend starting with the more docile African black ostrich.

What Can I Expect to Earn as an Ostrich Farmer?

The amount of money you can make from rearing ostriches is determined by the amount you spend and the amount you sell the mature bird for.

You will almost certainly spend money on things like:

• Veterinary care Fencing Land acquisition
• Feed for new stock

The amount of money spent on the above varies depending on several factors, such as the cost of land in your area or the cost of veterinary care.

Regardless, a mature ostrich can fetch up to 40,000 USD per sale.

Ostrich eggs cost around $30 on average. You could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per year depending on how much effort you put into farming and how much stock you realize at the end of the day.

How Much Does It Cost To Start An Ostrich Farm?

Again, cost in this context is determined by a number of factors that are frequently beyond your control.

For example, the cost of land in your area could be up to ten times that of someone living in another.

Again, the selection of startup stock is something to consider. If you start with ostrich eggs and incubate and raise them into mature eggs, for example, you will spend less money than if you buy chicks or mature ostriches.

When ostrich chicks are young, it costs between $60 and $70 per month to feed and care for them. As they mature, this amount gradually increases to $100.

So, there you have it, the ultimate guide to starting an ostrich farm has just been written.

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