American ostrich: description of nandu and lifestyle, where it lives and breeding

The American rhea looks like an African ostrich. It is a bird with long limbs and an elongated neck. Although she has wings, she cannot fly. Nandu lives in the savannahs of South America, runs great, knows how to protect himself from enemies. Birds have long been domesticated by the locals. American rhea is bred in many countries for tasty but tough meat, large eggs and fat.

Historical information

Nandu from the order of nandu-shaped from time immemorial live in South America in the subtropical and temperate zone. For the first time, these birds were seen and described in their diaries by the Spanish conquerors who sailed to the South American continent back in the 16th century.These representatives of the nandu-shaped were domesticated by the ancient Indians. Large birds were bred for meat, eggs, fat. The Indians decorated their outfits with feathers. The wounds were rubbed with fat. The first emigrants who lived in South America in the 17th and 18th centuries taught these relatives of the African ostrich to guard housing. The Spaniards kept nandu instead of dogs.

Description and characteristics of nandu

Characteristics of nandu-shaped from South America:

• height - 1.33-1.53 m;
• weight - 30-40 kg;
• oval torso, compact;
• neck is long, head is small;
• there are short feathers on the neck and head;
• limbs long, muscular, hips feathered;
• wings tightly pressed to the body, short tail;
• camouflage plumage, pockmarked (white-grey-brown);
• the beak is small, straight, with a rounded end;
• wings are underdeveloped, they have one spur at the ends, there are no tail and flight feathers;
• the paws have 3 fingers connected by a membrane, there are claws at the ends of the fingers.

Lifestyle, behavior and distribution

Representatives of nandu-like live in the savannas, woodlands, plateaus and foothills of South America (in the subtropical and temperate zones). The birds are almost 2 times smaller than the African ostrich. They can be found in Argentina, Brazil, as well as in Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay.

There are two types of nandu: northern, or ordinary (lives in the lowlands, savannas) and Darwin, or southern (lives in the southern part of the country, in the foothills). Currently, these relatives of the African ostrich are bred in the USA, Germany and other European countries, as well as in Russia.

Nandu live in a large herd of birds. During the mating season, they form families. For the sake of breeding, they disperse throughout the pampas. In a family, there are 6-7 females per male. Eggs are laid in spring. Puberty in nandu occurs at 3-4 years of age. Females of the same family lay their eggs in a common nest. The male incubates the clutch. There are 15-40 eggs in the nest, each weighing about 600 grams. Chicks are born in 42-45 days. The male also takes care of the offspring. Chicks weigh about 500 grams. Their body is covered with brownish-white down. By the end of the first year of life, the chicks grow feathers.

Representatives of the nandu-like run fast, reach speeds of up to 60.5 km / h. They are excellent swimmers and can swim across small rivers. Nandu jump well, able to jump over a moat of 3 meters. Birds do not fly due to their large weight. However, they often use their wings to keep their balance while running.

These relatives of African ostriches are active during the day.In extreme heat, they hide in the shade, and look for food in the evening. The whole day of nandu-like passes in search of food or rest. In the savannas, birds live alongside herbivores. These inhabitants of the South American pampas have common enemies; in case of danger, they run away together or defend the territory. The spurs on the wings of the nandu help them in the battle with the enemy.

The voice of these relatives of African ostriches is more like the sound that predators from the cat family make. It seems as if the birds are crying: "Nan-du, nan-du." This sound is made by males during their mating games. In case of danger, the birds hiss, raise their wings, attack the enemy.

Representatives of the Nandu-like order eat everything they find in the pampas. They are omnivores. Their diet consists of plant seeds, greens, leaves, fruits, berries. They eat insects, snakes, small vertebrates, fish, crustaceans. Small pebbles are regularly swallowed to help grind food in the stomach.They can go without water for a long time. However, they are very fond of drinking, often settling near water bodies, where there is a lot of food.

Status of the species and relationship with humans

Wild nandu preserved in the savannas of South America. Herds of birds often raid the fields of farmers, which is why people exterminate them. True, these relatives of ostriches are indifferent to cereals. They, on the contrary, eat field pests (mice, insects), and also love green grass.

The number of American nandu is constantly declining. In 1980, the number of wild birds was 50,000. Hunting for nandu-like threatens the species with extinction. One of the subspecies of rhea (long-beaked) is already listed in the International Red Book (IUCN).

Features of breeding

American nandu are not afraid of humans, are easily tamed and get along with all the inhabitants of the poultry yard. Birds are bred for meat and eggs. Adults or young are purchased from nandu nurseries.

Home maintenance and care

To keep the American rhea, you need a poultry house and a large aviary as a walking area. In the warm season, birds can be outside all day. True, it is recommended to build a canopy on the territory of the walking area so that the rhea can hide from the heat or rain. In the enclosure, you need to equip the feeders and drinkers.

In winter, birds should be indoors up to 3 meters high. These heat-loving inhabitants of the subtropics can catch a cold during the cold season. The poultry house should be maintained at a temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius.

Nandu love to rest on a heap of straw on the floor. The litter should be removed as it gets dirty. In the poultry house where the birds are kept, it should be dry, warm, light. The ventilation system must be equipped in the room.

Feeding

Chicks born weighing 0.5 kg are fed boiled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt. Small birds eat up to 1 kilogram of feed per day. Gradually, the diet of the rhea is enriched with cereals, juicy herbs, and vegetables. At three months, birds need 3 kg of feed per day, and at 12 months - 4-5 kg of feed per day. The maximum adult birds gain weight is 40 kilograms.

Nandu is fed with mixed fodder, meal, bran, cake, grain mixtures, grass, finely chopped vegetables and fruits. The diet of birds should contain s alt, bone meal, chalk, fodder yeast, water.

Reproduction

Nandu are ready to breed at the age of three. Females lay eggs (10-12 each), and males incubate them. Their mating season begins in autumn and ends in winter. Chicks appear after 45 days from the start of incubation. Usually the little chicks hatch from the eggs in the spring.The juvenile survival rate is 80 percent.

Helpful tips for beginners

Nandu feel great in captivity, but when breeding it is recommended to create the same conditions for birds as in the wild. These inhabitants of the savannas love an active lifestyle. Birds must move freely in the aviary. In summer, they can be kept outside all day.

Nandu are unpretentious, eat the same food as chickens, can adapt to living in any climate. True, the breeding of these birds from an economic point of view is less profitable than African ostriches. Nandas eat as much as large birds, and their weight is small (only 30-45 kg). At home, they are used as shepherds for geese and sheep. These birds themselves lead the herd to pasture and bring it home themselves, besides, they drive away dogs and foxes from their wards.

Recommended