Any Ostrich breeders?

[casuarius]

Thanks! Finnaly we have found someone with experience in ostriches!!! so a question for you is do you think the fence like the one I have pictured on my first post would be strong enough to hold in ostrich females if I use really thick fence post? Also I posted a link to a hatchery that sells ostrich chicks, I was wounding if it would be possible for you to look at the website and tell me what you think if I should buy from them or not? and what breed if ostrich they have blacks, blues or reds? Also I was wondering if it is possible to sex ostrich chicks?
Scottingutup, like Casuarius said the price for ostriches has gone up, and they will proably continue to go up. So if I can get them now At a lower price then in two years I think I should get them now
Also thanks Tame Emu Guy for all the great links!!! and in sure I can find someone to take the males, and if I had to I could send them to auction.
Thanks everyone for all the help, pictures, links and info!

That fence would be fine for females, especially if they are raised from chicks. Ostriches are very easy going birds, alot like Rheas, but they still can be frightened easily and run into the fence. So you would want to make sure no dogs can get in and chase them...they will run. Males may try to stomp a dog, especially in breeding season. Thats the other thing about males, they are not that bad outside of breeding season, but still risky. And some are just bad year round. The hatchery you are talking about probably have the blacks. They are the most popular being bred, They should be able to tell you what kind they have. Chicks all looks the same, unless they have pictures of adults. I would be happy to look at the website. They can be DNA sexed or vent sexed.

 

[poultry09]

That fence would be fine for females, especially if they are raised from chicks. Ostriches are very easy going birds, alot like Rheas, but they still can be frightened easily and run into the fence. So you would want to make sure no dogs can get in and chase them...they will run. Males may try to stomp a dog, especially in breeding season. Thats the other thing about males, they are not that bad outside of breeding season, but still risky. And some are just bad year round. The hatchery you are talking about probably have the blacks. They are the most popular being bred, They should be able to tell you what kind they have. Chicks all looks the same, unless they have pictures of adults. I would be happy to look at the website. They can be DNA sexed or vent sexed.

Awesome! The deer&rabbit fencing is in my budget and is selling for a great price right now! I would do my best to keep everything out and everything in! So will females defend themselfs or would they just run away from the problem? Cause around here we do have alot of raccons and other small predators, also would I need to worry about cyotes? On the hatcherys website they dont say anything about the breed of ostrich but they do have pictures of adult ostriches, and they only sell them as straight run. If you could look at the website and tell me what you think that would be awesome! Is thier a place that I could send in blood/feathers in to have them DNA sexed? Here is the linkt o there website again http://www.californiahatchery.com/Ostrich_p_143.html

Thank you for your help and sorry asking sooooo many questions

Thanks
Poultry09

 

[yinepu]

Is thier a place that I could send in blood/feathers in to have them DNA sexed?

For the DNA testing I use Zoogen DNA Services: http://zoogendna.com

 

[chickenzoo]

If you are good at vent sexing you can sex emu that way when they are under three months I think. I did mine that way.
WhT ever wire you use...get strong posts.even if they don't try and get out...if they get excited and start running they can hit right into the fence.at full speed. My emu.have.done it a few times while running.......
I also would not use any type of welded wire..... It tends to rip and fall apart easily over time...or with anything that pushes into it.

 

[ES Emus]

try BestThingsFromEggs.com

 

[poultry09]

For the DNA testing I use Zoogen DNA Services: http://zoogendna.com

Thanks! If I do get some ostrich chicks I will look into them for DNA sexing

If you are good at vent sexing you can sex emu that way when they are under three months I think. I did mine that way.
WhT ever wire you use...get strong posts.even if they don't try and get out...if they get excited and start running they can hit right into the fence.at full speed. My emu.have.done it a few times while running.......
I also would not use any type of welded wire..... It tends to rip and fall apart easily over time...or with anything that pushes into it.

I am terrible at vent sexing! I might be able to have my friend do it for me scence she is good at sexing all her goslings, I would think it would be the same concept? I think that the wire is woven not welded and yea the welded wire is trrrible it falls appart in months! I bought some really cheep feed store deer&rabbit welded wire for my chicken fence and it is falling appart faster than I can fix it! I was also wanting to know if it would be possible for any that has Ratties (Emu, Rheas, Ostriches, cassowarys) to post pictures of your fences and housing/shelters you have for them? that woule be awesome!


ES Emus, I believe I have talked to them before and I have them on my list, Thanks for the link!

 

[casuarius]

Awesome! The deer&rabbit fencing is in my budget and is selling for a great price right now! I would do my best to keep everything out and everything in! So will females defend themselfs or would they just run away from the problem? Cause around here we do have alot of raccons and other small predators, also would I need to worry about cyotes? On the hatcherys website they dont say anything about the breed of ostrich but they do have pictures of adult ostriches, and they only sell them as straight run. If you could look at the website and tell me what you think that would be awesome! Is thier a place that I could send in blood/feathers in to have them DNA sexed? Here is the linkt o there website again http://www.californiahatchery.com/Ostrich_p_143.html

Thank you for your help and sorry asking sooooo many questions

Thanks
Poultry09

I would say they're blacks, but the pics are so small its hard to tell. They kinda look like blues also. I always use avianbiotech.com for dna sexing.

 

[poultry09]

I would say they're blacks, but the pics are so small its hard to tell. They kinda look like blues also. I always use avianbiotech.com for dna sexing.

Do you think it is worth buying from them? I will try to e-mail them and ask but I hate e-mailing :/

 

[casuarius]

Do you think it is worth buying from them? I will try to e-mail them and ask but I hate e-mailing :/

Well the price isnt bad at all. Have you searched your local craigslist? Ive found them for sale here on there before. You could look around for someone that breeds them locally, usually a experienced breeder can vent sex them for you on the spot.

 

[poultry09]

Well the price isnt bad at all. Have you searched your local craigslist? Ive found them for sale here on there before. You could look around for someone that breeds them locally, usually a experienced breeder can vent sex them for you on the spot.

I have searched Craigslist for years and have never seen an ostrich or even a emu for sale, and I have searched and asked ostrich breeders if they know any close to me and they said that the closest one to me is in northern California. So if that's the case I should just start out with the cheepest and go from there