How to feed an ostrich: how many times a day does he eat and diet at home

Ostriches are considered the largest birds. Their weight can reach 150 kilograms, and height - 250 centimeters. Today, birds are not only found in the wild, but also actively grown in private households or on large farms. The main purpose of breeding is to obtain he althy meat, which has excellent taste. At the same time, many farmers are interested in: what should be fed to the ostrich?

What do ostriches eat

Feathers eat not only plant food, but also small insects. Vegetables, shells, cereals can supplement the menu of these large birds.

In nature

Under natural conditions, these birds live in the African savannah. There is a lot of greenery and foliage growing there. It is these products that form the basis of ostrich nutrition. Birds are able to do without water for a long time. Therefore, they often live in desert places. There they feed on roots, branches, seeds. In addition to plant foods, birds can eat reptiles, small insects, and even rodents.

To replenish the body with energy, an ostrich must eat about 4 kilograms of food per day.

At the farm

The diet of birds that are grown on a farm or in a private household largely coincides with the diet of free ostriches. However, domestic birds have some differences. On farms, they are given much less space than in the savannah. This leads to a decrease in motor activity. Therefore, the need for birds to feed is reduced. The basis of the diet of domestic ostriches is greenery, foliage, grass.

Making up a diet at home

Feeding ostriches is easy enough. At the same time, it is important to provide them with a balanced diet that contains a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. A quality diet has a positive effect on the growth of birds and their reproductive functions.

With intensive breeding method

The basis of an intensive system is the lack of pasture feeding. Ostriches are raised in enclosures. With this type of keeping, birds need a sufficient amount of dried grass and greens.

Adult requires 3 kilograms of compound feed per day. It should be mixed with herbs, which are used in crushed form. If the ostrich does not eat all the food, its volume is reduced. The green part of the diet should include spinach, various herbs, alfalfa.It is also permissible to give rapeseed to birds.

Maize is allowed outside the breeding season. Ready-made power schemes are considered relatively conditional. When developing a diet, the farmer should focus on the site, the characteristics of the content, age, weight. The purpose of keeping the bird is also important.

With extensive breeding method

When growing birds by this method, they must be grazed all the time on a grassy area. At the same time, it is important to build a high-quality fence. Ostriches are allowed to graze with sheep, goats or cows. This type of rearing of birds is considered the most profitable, since they are able to get their own food. With a lot of rainfall or drought, the birds need to be fed. The need for concentrated feed occurs only in winter. Moreover, such food is used in small quantities.

Because ostriches do not expend much energy, they need a maximum of 3 kilograms of feed.This is less than required by birds that live in nature. To replenish the protein balance, it is worth using cake, lupine, and legumes. In winter, birds should be given grass flour, vegetables, fruits, silage, root crops. Ostriches also love fresh or dried bread. Shell rock, gravel or pebbles can be poured into a separate container.

Semi-intensive content

With this type of feeding, ostriches need to be grazed in warm weather and fed with concentrated formulas. Of no small importance is the creation of special conditions for birds in which they can independently obtain food for themselves.

During the first 2 months, 1 kilogram of concentrates should be introduced into the diet. By spring, the amount is increased to 3 kilograms. Any concentrated mixture should be combined with herbs.

How much does a bird eat per day

The amount of food depends on the energy value of the feed, age, physical activity of the birds. When compiling the diet, it is required to take into account the following ratio: the mass of feed should be about 3% of the body weight of the bird. On average, young birds are given 0.75 kilograms of food, adults - 2.5 kilograms.

What feeders and drinkers are needed for ostriches

You can't throw food on the ground. Therefore, you need to build feeders. They can be made from special devices or improvised containers. It is especially convenient to use hanging feeders.

This design can be easily hung on a pole or tree. With its location, it is worth considering the growth of birds. Feeders for adult birds usually need to be hung at a distance of 1-2 meters from the ground. This option is convenient if there are other animals in the paddock. In this case, only ostriches will be able to use feeders located at a height.

You can also make a feeder out of a car tire. It holds 3-4 kilograms of feed. To do this, it is enough to cut the tire into 2 parts. To keep the product clean longer, several holes need to be made in its bottom. This will help draw water out of the feed.

It is not recommended to make feeders from metal objects. They will be covered with a lot of rust, which will harm the ostriches. In addition, sharp metal objects can cause injury.

What not to give?

Ostriches are considered omnivores. However, there is food that is forbidden to give to birds. Unwanted products include:

• parsley;
• rye;
• potatoes.

Besides this, there are foods that need to be limited. These include bran, flour, cabbage. Feeding ostriches has a number of features.When compiling a diet, it is important to take into account the age of the bird and its physical activity. This will help you choose a balanced diet that will saturate the body of birds with vitamins and minerals.

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