The Ostrich: Six-Months Old, Six-Feet Tall!

By Leslie Brown, with thanks to Joel Brust and the Indian Point Ostrich Ranch

Ostriches like to strut their stuff, and they can run like the wind. When hatched, they weigh three pounds, and they grow a foot every month. At six-months old, they are six-feet tall!

Among birds, the ostrich is certainly a record breaker. It is the tallest and heaviest of all birds, and is the largest living bird in the world. An ostrich can stand up to 10 feet, which is four feet taller than the average six-foot man. Ostrich chicks grow about 10 inches per month, and as adults, they typically weigh between 250 and 500 pounds.

There are three types of ostriches. The largest is the Redneck, which comes from Tanzania. They have red to pink coloring in their neck and thighs and are typically quite aggressive. Blueneck ostriches are the second largest. They come from Namibia, and have a grayish-blue body, neck, and thighs. They are generally easier to manage then the Redneck ostriches. The African Black ostrich is the smallest, and the easiest to manage. They are a hybrid bird, originating from over 100 years throughout Africa.

All of the male ostriches show beautiful contrasting bright white and black feathers and a white tail. Females and young males are grayish-brown and tan. The head and neck of both male and female ostriches are nearly bare, with a thin layer of down. The skin of the female’s neck and thighs is always a grayish-brown. During breeding season, from April to September, the male ostriches (or roosters) release testosterone, which makes their beak and shins turn a reddish color.

In the wild, ostriches normally spend winter months in pairs or alone. During breeding season and rainless periods, ostriches live in flocks of up to 50 birds, led by the top hen. They often travel together with other grazing animals, such as zebras or antelopes. When they are breeding, the ostrich is most active early and late in the day.

Ostrich eyes are the largest of any land animal. They have two eyelids, an inner and an outer lid. The inner lid is used to protect their eye. Their outer eyelash is used for sleeping. Their eyes are shaded from sunlight, with eyelashes falling from above.

They have acute eyesight and hearing, and can sense predators, such as lions, from far away. When being pursued by a predator, they zigzag up to more than 40 miles per hour, which confuses their predators. This speed makes the ostrich the fastest two-legged animal.

Ostriches are flightless, although their wings are unbelievably strong. They are very hearty birds. Nothing seems to bother them, and they never get sick.

During hot weather, ostriches lift and fan their wings, and during cold weather they cover themselves with their wings. Ostriches typically eat plants, roots, and seeds, but will also eat insects, lizards, or other creatures that are available in their sometimes harsh habitat.

Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs at three pounds. Generally, females will lay an egg every other day, and 40 to 50 are typical in captivity during the six-month breeding season. When courting, ostriches demonstrate an elaborate display of feathers by both sexes. The rooster does an elaborate dance called Cantiling when he is courting a hen.

During the mating season, a male will show his dominance by stretching his head high, fanning his wings, and lifting his tail feathers. Following mating, the dominant male will build a nest by scraping the ground or sand with his feet several times, making a shallow depression. In the wild, the dominant or major hen is the first to lay up to 12 eggs in the center of the nest over a three-week period. The minor hens will then lay their eggs around the major hen's eggs.

In the United States, an ostrich can be purchased for $100 for every month of age, up to five-months old. After that, add $50 per month of age until they reach breeding age at about two-years old. Many ostrich ranches have begun to crossbreed between the various species to get a large, gentle bird that is easier to manage for breeding.

Handling ostriches in captivity is not especially difficult. However, precautions should be taken, similar to handling any type of livestock. A mature ostrich is capable of delivering a kick of up to 300 pounds per square inch. Ostrich kicks can be lethal, especially to a potential predator. In addition, each two-toed foot has a long, sharp nail, which makes their legs formidable weapons. When threatened, some ostriches will charge, while others will run. They can maintain a speed of up to 40 miles per hour for a good 20 minutes. They can use their wings as "rudders" to help them change direction while running. An ostrich's powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride.

Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. This old story probably originated with one of the bird's defensive behaviors. At the approach of trouble, ostriches will try to hide their nest by lying low and pressing their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil, and from a distance it gives the appearance (to humans) that they have buried their heads in the sand. Predators such as lions see only their large back, which takes on the appearance of a big rock.

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