Ostrich Or Struthio Comment On Craniata Group Bird

About Ostrich 

                  Ostrich Fact
phyllum : Chordata                                                 Kingdom : Animalia
Class : Aves                                                           Scientific Name : Struthio Camelus
Sub Class : Neornithes                                            Diet : Dmnivore      
Division : Gnathostomata                                         Type : Bird
Super Class : Tetrapoda                                         Size : 1.8m - 2.7 m ( 6ft - 9ft )  
Genus : Struthio                                                       Weight : 63 kg - 130 kg
Top Speed - 74 km / H                                           Life Span : 50 - 70 years  
Colour : Brown, Black, White, Grey, White, Pink        
Favourite Food : Grass
                                                                               Wing Span : 1.5m -2m 4.(9ft - 6.5ft )  

This bird has a long neck, powerful legs soft plumage, bare skin on head, neck, and thighs. Male is black with white wing primaries; the tail varies from whitish to gray or cinnamon brown; skin on its head and neck, pink or blue flushing bright red during courtship; brown eyes with large eyelashes. Female is pale brown with pinkish neck and head; wing tips sometimes can be white.

This bird breeds at different times and it varies with latitude. The male makes a number of unlined scrapes on the ground. The female selects one and lays up to 12 yellowish-white eggs, then several other females lay more eggs in the same scrape. The nest can contain up to 40 eggs; they are incubated by the male at night, and by the dominant female by day, for about 42 days. This arrangement where the dominant females help to take care of the eggs is almost unigue. Maybe her own eggs benefit from being part of a larger group. There are so many eggs she will kick out those eggs who are not hers. Exactly how she tells which eggs are her own is not clear. The ostrich egg is the largest of any bird on earth, measuring up to 8 inches (20cm) long.

The biggest and heaviest of all living birds, the ostrich is widely distributed throughout the drier parts of Africa.

It is ideally adapted for life on arid grasslands, where its long legs allow it to gather food from wide ranges. It can lose up to a quarter of its body weight through dehydration, which gives it a big advantage in desert regions where sources of water are few and far between. The ostrich cannot fly, but makes up for this with its powerful legs that allow it to out run most of its enemies.

Ostriches can reach running speeds of up to 45 mph (70km/h). It also can walk forever without getting tired.

Ostriches will form flocks of 10-50 birds and search for food. The large males will defend their territories with a loud, deep call that resembles the roars of lions, and it will inflate the red-flushed skin of their necks in display.

 Not:1  Ostriches cannot fly, but don't feel too sorry for them. The ostrich is the fastest bipedal runner in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour--about twice what the fastest human can achieve. What's more, an ostrich can maintain this speed for up to half an hour. 

Not: 2 Male ostriches are polygamous, but they tend the nest with a single favored mate. This hen lays about a half-dozen eggs in a shallow depression in the sand, which takes her about two weeks. Other hens then add their own eggs to the nest, and once they are finished, the favored mate chases them off. The nest owners then incubate all the eggs: The female sits on them during the day, and the male takes a turn at night.

NOT: 3 Although the ostrich egg is the largest of all eggs, it is the smallest egg in relation to the size of the bird. A three-pound egg is only about 1 percent as heavy as the ostrich hen; by contrast, a kiwi's egg--the largest in comparison to the mother--is 15 to 20 percent of the mother bird's mass. An ostrich egg is equivalent in volume to two dozen chicken eggs.

NOT:4 The ostrich is the largest living bird in the world. An ostrich chick grows one foot taller each month until it is seven or eight months old. Adult ostrich roosters are six to ten feet in height and can weigh as much as 340 pounds. Because of their prodigious size, ostriches were occasionally used for riding or pulling chariots in ancient Egypt; the practice never really took off, because the ostrich has a nasty tempe.

Not: 5  This great bird has only two toes; all other birds have three or four. Ostriches kick forward, not backward, because that's the direction in which their knees bend. Ostriches never need to drink water some of it they make internally, and the rest is derived from the vegetation they eat.

    Physical Attributes

      A male ostrich stands between 6 and 9 feet at maturity, while

      females will range between 5 [1/2] to 6 [1/2] feet tall at

      maturity. Ostrich chicks grow about 10 inches per month for the

      first year and weigh about 100 pounds at 12 months of age.

      Domesticated ostriches reach maturity at 2-to-3 years of age.

      Females mature about 6 months earlier than the males.  Ostriches

      normally live from 30-to-70 years in captivity.

      Even though ostriches are flightless birds, their wings are

      surprisingly strong. Ostriches use their wings for aggressive

      display and courtship rituals. Males have contrasting bright white

      and black plumage. The female's plumage is grey and drab. Their

      lead-blue skin color usually becomes scarlet over the beak, on the

      forehead, and around the eyes during the mating season. The normal

      body temperature range of the ostrich is between 103 and 104 F.

      During hot weather, ostriches lift and fan their wings, while

      during cold weather they cover their thighs with their wings. The

      ostrich is the only bird to have only 2 toes on each foot. Emus,

      rheas and cassowarys, which are also classified as ratites

      (flightless birds), have three toes on each foot. Ostriches are

      fast runners, and their first instinct upon being frightened is to

      run. Ostriches can cover between 16-to-23 feet per stride and

      maintain speeds between 30 and 50 miles per hour for 30 minutes.

      Breeding

      The breeding season for ostriches begins in March and April and can

      last until September. Breeding season length largely depends on

      food availability, bird condition, and weather. Approximately two

      months prior to the beginning of the breeding season birds should

      be separated into breeding pairs. Groups of one male and two female

      birds can also be penned together. Bird condition is important as

      unhealthy and improperly conditioned birds will often be less

      productive egg layers.

      Courtship of ostriches involves elaborate displays by both sexes.

      Shortly after mating, the female will lay between 12-to-15 eggs.

      Generally, females will lay an egg every other day. If the eggs are

      taken from the nest daily, the hen may lay up to 80 eggs, although

      40-to-50 is more typical. An inadequate diet may result in less egg

      production. Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs and weigh

      about 2.75 pounds. The contents of one ostrich egg is equivalent to

      two dozen chicken eggs.

      Breeding Paddock

      Ostriches prefer larger paddocks; however, oversized paddocks can

      cause birds to become more wild, skittish and harder to control. A

      good paddock size for a breeding pair is 1-to-3 acres. Planting the

      paddock to alfalfa will allow the birds to have quality forage for

      grazing. A few trees or shrubs for shade and privacy are advised.

      The paddock should be enclosed with 5-foot high wire fence. There

      should be a double fence between two paddocks, with at least 6 feet

      between fences, to prevent males from injuring themselves fighting.

      Four-to-five strands of 8 gauge smooth wire is sufficient with

      posts spaced 10 feet apart. Never use barbed wire as birds will

      inevitably do serious harm to themselves. A hedge or windbreak is

      also good between pens to provide more privacy during courtship

      displays. The pen should have an area about 25 square feet by 6

      inches deep of clean sand for the birds to roll in.

      Ostriches are hardy birds; however, they do require protection from

      snow, ice, extreme wind, cold rain, and sleet. Paddocks should be

      designed so birds have to access a shelter (confinement pen) to

      obtain feed and water. Pens designed in this manner simplify the

      task of catching and restraining the birds. Also, having feed and

      water in the shelter protects it from the elements. Feeders and

      waterers should be positioned so that managers can access them

      without exposing themselves to overly aggressive ostriches. While

      not prone to aggressive behavior, ostriches may become more

      aggressive during the breeding season.

      Feeders should be open-type measuring about 48 inches long by 14

      inches wide and 4-to-6 inches deep. Feeders should be partitioned

      into equal sections: one containing a ratite breeder ration, one

      containing shelled corn, and one containing oyster shell. A one day

      supply of breeder ration and shelled corn should be placed in the

      feed box. The water pan should be 24-to-30 inches wide and 5-to-8

      inches deep. Ostriches drink by scooping water with their beak.

      Therefore, they need a depth of water sufficient to immerse their

      beak and a long enough distance to move across to adequately drink.

      Feeders and waterers should be mounted at the bird's chest height.

      Incubation

      There are two main methods of incubation for domestic ostrich

      production, natural and artificial. Many African ostrich producers

      prefer natural incubation because they feel chicks hatched with

      artificial incubation are not as healthy. This is probably true,

      since under natural conditions only the strongest chicks survive;

      however, fewer chicks survive under natural incubation. Also,

      allowing ostriches to sit on eggs for up to six weeks can cause

      strain on the birds and deteriorate their condition. Both male and

      female ostriches share sitting responsibilities, usually the male

      at night and the female during the day.

      If the hen is allowed to sit on the eggs, she will normally lay

      about one egg every other day for a total of 12 to 15 eggs. The

      nest will generally be a shallow depression in the ground. It is

      possible to enhance the nest by digging a small hole next to the

      nest, filling it with coarse sand, and building a small bank around

      it.

      Producers in the United States usually practice artificial

      incubation. United State's producers generally feel there is too

      much investment in the birds and eggs for natural incubation.

      Greater egg production should result if eggs are removed from the

      nest each day. If artificial incubation is used, eggs should be

      gathered twice daily, stored with large ends up or on their sides,

      cooled to 65 to 70 F, and placed in the incubator within 2-to-4

      days. If eggs are not incubated within 4 days, hatchability usually

      declines. Eggs should be turned 3 times daily prior to being placed

      in an incubator.

      Only clean, sound eggs should be incubated. Dirt and manure should

      be gently scraped off or removed with sandpaper. Eggs should not be

      wiped with a cloth as this could force bacteria deeper into the

      pores of the egg shell, increasing chances of infection. If eggs

      must be washed, use water containing a sanitizing agent, with water

      temperature maintained 10 F warmer than the eggs. Sanitizing agents

      suitable for use on ostrich eggs include ammonium compounds or

      compounds containing chlorine, iodine or synthetic phenol. Water

      should be changed frequently to prevent spreading of bacteria.

      Improper cleaning is worse than no cleaning at all. Latex gloves

      should be worn when handling eggs to prevent oil on skin from

      penetrating the shell.

      Good quality incubators and hatchers are necessary. Other than

      birds themselves, incubators and hatchers should represent the

      greatest monetary investment. Several companies manufacture ostrich

      incubators and hatchers. Some of the companies are listed:

      Humidaire Incubator Co., New Madison, OH (513/996-3001); Kuhl

      Corporation, Flemington, NJ (201/782-5695); and G.Q.F. Mfg. Co.,

      Box 1552, Dept. OST, Savannah, GA 31498 (192/236-0651).

      Ostrich eggs need to be incubated for 42 days. Unless otherwise

      specified by the manufacturer, the eggs should be incubated at 97.5

      to 98.5 F. Relative humidity should be kept at 35 to 40 percent

      through day 40 (beginning of pipping), after day 40, humidity

      should be kept at 83 to 88 percent.

      Fertile eggs should begin to hatch on the 42nd day. Chicks will

      usually hatch without assistance within 12 hours after they first

      pip (break) the shell. Chicks should not be removed prematurely as

      blood vessels may break, or if not given sufficient time to

      struggle, the yolk sac may not be drawn into the chick's body. If

      a chick has not hatched after 20-to-30 hours and appears weak,

      carefully remove a few pieces of shell. Be sure to remove pieces of

      shell which are cutting the chick's bill.

      After the chicks have hatched, let them dry for 3-to-4 hours in the

      brooder (90 to 95F). After the chicks have dried sufficiently,

      place no more than 3 birds in a 4 foot by 5 foot pen.