The Latin word for Ostrich > Struthio Camelus (have you always wanted to know)
Where > East and South Africa
What they feed on > plants, grass, leafs, seeds and fruit
How much they weigh > males up to 150kg, females up to 110kg
Duration of breeding > 42 days
Quantity of eggs > 40 – 50 eggs per year

What do I look like?
Color difference …
Ostriches are the biggest birds in existence. The male can reach a height of almost three meters. The ostrich has a long neck and long strong legs. The neck and head is covered in short hair like feathers.
The body of the male is covered in black feathers and the tip of the tail and wings have white feathers. The female is smaller and brownish grey in color.

Strong legs…
With its strong legs an ostrich can ran 70 km per hour. A single stride can be measured at 3,5 meters. The ostrich also use its feet as weapon. When feeling threatened the ostrich will kick to the front with its strong legs. The feet look more like claws than birds feet. It only has two toes with a sharp claw like nail on the bigger toe.

Where do I live?
Lookout…
The ostrich live in greater parts of Africa. They can be found in the savannas and on vast sandy plains. It is common to find large groups of ostriches roaming the landscape in search of food. Because of an ostrich great height and eye sight, they are often the sentry for other animals. The ostrich see danger coming and alert others with loud noises made in the throat. Not only is that a warning to other ostriches, but a warning to other animals as well to take flight. The ostrich often live in the same area as antelope, giraffe and zebra’s.

What do I feed on?
Omnivore …
The ostrich feed on a variety of food. Its menu consist mainly of grass, roots, seed and leafs. It will feed on insects and small vertebrates. Depending on which area the ostrich live. The ostrich can go without water for some time and that is why it can survive in dry climates. The water that is needed to sustain it can be taken in through the food.
On The Curaçao Ostrich Farm the birds, not only get a special ostrich feed but alfalfa, cultivated on the farm as well.

Eating of stones…
Ostriches do swallow stones as well. More than often on purpose. The small stones do the same task as our molars. We chew our food with molars but ostriches don’t have any teeth. The small stones grind the roughage in the stomach and it is easier digested.

What do I do?
Walk instead of flying…
The ostrich belong to the family of ratites. They did not get this name for no reason. As time has past they have forgotten how to fly. Ostriches do look like birds. But instead of strong wings they have strong legs. Their body weight is far too heavy to fly. And the feathers differ from those of flying birds. Other ratites to be found are the rhea, cassowary and the emus.

Flirting and dancing…
A male ostrich often have more than one female. Amongst these females one will be the head hen and the others hens will take secondary place. To find an appropriate partner, the male will do a mating dance in which the females participate in. This interaction gets referred to as ‘courting’. Once a partner has been selected, pairing takes place.

How do I live?
More females, more eggs…
All the females belonging to a male lay their eggs in one nest. The nest is a hole in the sand. The male do most of the breeding during day and night time. During the hottest time of the day the head female take over from the male. Her own eggs get moved to the middle . The eggs of the secondary hens will surround her own. Eggs in the middle of the nest have the best chance oh hatching, since it is the warmest.

An ostrich egg is enormous. The contents of one ostrich egg is equal to 25 chicken eggs. The eggshell is so thick and resistant that it may take days for some chicks to break through it. After 42 days of incubation the chicks hatch. The growth of a chick is about one centimeter a day.

All together…
An ostrich group often consist of a large gathering of families, pairs and single birds of all ages. Like being in a crèche young chicks of different families will graze together. All young chicks get raised by different ostrich parents.

In nurseries, not as much in the wild…
Ostrich feathers were very much sought after in the past. It was used as an accessory for ladies hats. And during that time many ostrich farms were started. And they still exist. The birds are being bred, for their skins that get processed into leather, the feathers are used for accessories and the meat gets sold. More and more people have tasted ostrich meat. It is becoming more common. You will find ostrich farms in South Africa, the United States of America, in the Netherlands and on Curaçao and Aruba.

Are you looking for images? Click here here for pictures of ostriches.