The natural habitat of the American ostrich, the largest representative of its species, is South America. It is often confused with the African ostrich because they are very similar. The main differences between the two breeds are the number of toes on the paw and the plumage in the neck area.

The South American ostrich, according to archaeological excavations, was the first bird from its order to appear on Earth. For a long time, scientists could not understand to which zoological family the birds should be classified. There is still no consensus. Some believe that the rhea ostrich is the main representative of ostrich-like animals, others that it acquired ostrich-like features during the course of evolution, and still others classify it as a hidden-tailed species.

Flightless inhabitants of savannahs have been known to people since the 16th century. They were originally domesticated by the Indians, who used them for meat and feathers. In 1884, a description was given to the rhea order, and in 1849, the rhea family appeared, consisting of 2 species: the northern ostrich and the small one. Both are on the verge of extinction due to active hunting.

Description of the breed

The rhea ostrich is considered one of the largest birds in the world due to its large size. His height reaches 270 cm, weight - 175 kg, stride - 4 m. He quickly accelerates to 60 km/h, without slowing down even when cornering.

Characteristics of the appearance of rheas:

• Protruding eyes;
• Sexual dimorphism is expressed by the black body feathers of males;
• Long neck covered with feathers, unlike the African ostrich;
• Small head;
• Oval body;
• Strong legs with 3 toes each.

They live in flocks of up to 30 individuals, and during the mating season they split into pairs. Older individuals prefer a separate lifestyle. They coexist with sheep, deer, and cows.

While the flock is sleeping, one ostrich guards them in order to warn them of danger in time. At night, birds sleep, waking up every 15-20 minutes. They extend their long necks onto the sand or lay their heads on their bodies.

They run actively using their wings, which allows them to accelerate and maintain balance.

They defend themselves from enemies with sharp claws. One strong blow from a paw can kill a lion.

Predators are scared away by strongly stretching their necks, opening their beaks and hissing loudly. The sounds produced are similar to the growling of a large animal. They have strong eyesight and hearing, so they are rarely taken by surprise.

If necessary, they can pretend to be dead to save the young, but if the danger persists, they start running. The male runs ahead of the entire flock, moving along a curve.

The ostrich from South America easily swims across a body of water with a strong current. It loves water, but can go without it for a very long time, getting moisture from plants. He sleeps during the day, especially if the weather is too hot, and wakes up in the evening when it gets cooler.

Interestingly, the Indians invented a special device for hunting fast birds - the bolas. It consisted of belts and fabric.

Habitat

The South American ostrich prefers a subtropical climate. The most populated places of distribution are Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil. Settles in savannas, highlands and lowlands.

It is interesting that the smaller the bird, the higher the altitude above sea level it builds a nest.

In 1998, several American ostriches escaped from a farm in Lübeck because the enclosures were fragile and the fence was too low. As a result, the rheas were freed, easily adapting to new conditions. Nowadays exotic birds can be found even in Germany.

In the natural habitat of ostriches, their numbers are decreasing due to their love of eating grain and grass on farmland. For the owner, this threatens hungry livestock, so he installs a fence with barbed wire. Unsmart ostriches die from this. But there are examples of peaceful coexistence between birds and humans. So in Argentina, farmers noticed that they could be used as shepherds for geese and sheep.

In captivity they require a lot of space. It is important to develop an area for walking, space for enclosures and water supply systems, and areas for walking young animals.

Reproduction

Reproduction begins when the flock breaks up. Males perform a courtship dance, kneeling down, uttering a long cry “na-a-ndu” and straightening their feathers.

It is believed that they received their name precisely because of this peculiarity of reproduction - a kind of mating cry that resembles the sounds of cats.

The birds are polygamous - in a flock during the breeding season, there are 5-7 females per 1 male. The female lays eggs, and after laying the eggs, the males incubate them for 2 months. If they were taken outside the nest, a caring father will bring them back. During the brooding period, the female brings food to the head of the family.

25-30 chicks are born at the same time. They grow quickly and already weigh 500 g at birth. They immediately have strong vision and hearing, and can move independently. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 3 years. Young animals often do not survive even to a year due to poachers.

There are several breeding options at home:

• When parents are kept in open pens or insulated rooms for good egg production. All the eggs are taken from the female and transferred to the incubator. Interestingly, the more often you collect eggs, the more often they will appear. It is optimal to collect twice a day;
• Keep parents in closed enclosures, but allow them to walk all year round. Allow the male to incubate the eggs, but care for the young independently, protecting them from predators. In captivity, it is impossible to ensure that an individual hatches more than 20 eggs.

In both cases, you can give some of the eggs to the bird to hatch, and collect some for the incubator. They are very useful for the human body, they replace 10 chicken eggs. Recommended for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system.

When ostriches prepare for laying on their own, they build nests in depressions and cover them with grass. Freshly laid ostrich eggs are completely sterile, but they lose these properties as they cool.

Bacteria easily penetrate the shell, so they should not be washed, even if they are dirty.

They weigh 600-650 g.

The yolk is located strictly in the center and consists of light and dark layers. Its rich color indicates that the female’s diet contains too much vitamin A. The eggshells are light yellow. Interestingly, the eggs of an immature female are empty.

Nutrition

American ostriches feed on carrion, reptiles, fruits, broad-leaved plants, roots, and small vertebrates. Some claim that ostriches can kill venomous snakes, but this has not been scientifically proven.

Ostriches are useful to raise on a farm, as they eat thistles, which spoil the wool of sheep.

In captivity and in the wild, the diet of birds consists of 80% plant foods. Occasionally they swallow small stones and sand so that food is better digested.

They love to feast on locusts. There were times when they were so full that they could not run. At home, they are fed oats, wheat, and barley. In winter, they provide hay, raw and boiled potato skins, carrots, and beets. The young animals are fed animal feed with a high protein content, curdled milk, cottage cheese, fish, and boiled chicken eggs.

In difficult conditions, the food of birds is reduced to the waste of artiodactyls.

Already known in livestock farming, the rhea ostrich comes from South America. It is a flightless bird whose weight increases rapidly with skillful breeding. Their natural habitat is not Africa, as many people think, but Chile, America, Brazil, South America and even Bolivia. The rhea differs from its African relative by being slightly lighter in weight. He also only has two toes instead of three.

There is no definitive answer as to whether the African and American rheas are closely related. Their identity has not yet been established. Russian farms use rhea, which lives in South America, for breeding. It adapts better to cold and changeable climates.

Visually, the two types of rhea are extremely difficult to distinguish. You should pay attention only to the number of fingers. As you know, a native of South America has only two of them. This type is suitable for Russian farms. Everyone knows another species - the Darwin ostrich, which is even smaller than the rhea. It is rarely used in domestic livestock farming, as it has even smaller sizes.

The main differences between rhea and ostrich

Are there any differences between the common ostriches and rheas? There are very few external differences. But there are important indicators that will definitely be useful for breeders:

The last difference between the rhea and its possible relative is its running speed. The bird is much slower than a regular ostrich, but can accelerate to as much as 60 km/h. In nature, she can not only run fast, but also swim. It is known that rheas in South America even swim across local rivers with ease. He attacks the local farmers' fields with lightning speed. He is compared to locusts.

American ostrich rhea: description of the species

Before you start breeding poultry, even if it’s not local, you should familiarize yourself with its basic indicators and description. For rhea they are:

One flock usually contains no more than three dozen individuals. In its natural environment, this species is on the verge of extinction. Local farmers often contribute to this. Their lands are attacked by ostriches, so the latter are destroyed. Nevertheless, they are now artificially bred in many European countries, in Russia.

The character and behavior of ostriches in life

It is no coincidence that there are less than 50 rheas in one flock. The fact is that the ostrich is one of those individuals that needs space. They are freedom-loving and do not tolerate the presence of several males in a pack at once. Usually their number does not exceed two individuals in a flock.

Interesting to know! Despite this nature of rheas, they can easily get along with other species of birds and domesticated animals. The reason lies in instincts. This species is several hundred years old. By teaming up with others, they were able to survive and protect themselves from predators.

For this reason, rheas are often housed on farms with artiodactyl animals. They get along well with them, no worries arise. And the birds themselves cannot be called hostile. They will even prefer to run away from the enemy than to fight him. This species loves solitude, living in a small flock, and having free space. The rhea also shows incredible care for its offspring. This applies not only to females, but also to males.

Benefits of breeding Nandu

Rheas have been domesticated for a long time. The reason lies in the fact that they easily adapt to almost any conditions. They can be found even in Germany. For example, this is where there are many farms where this bird is bred. In livestock farming it is valued due to:

Therefore, rhea breeding is a profitable business. There are quite a few such farms in Russia. There is virtually no competition. The popularity of the business is gaining momentum, since the bird has a lot of weight and is also unpretentious to its living conditions. Its mortality at the growing stage is minimal.

Offspring

On farms, one flock contains from 5 to 30 individuals. This amount is also typical under natural conditions. Leaving more birds in a flock can lead to constant conflicts between them. The optimal number of males is one or two. Don't worry that it's too little.

One rhea male can fertilize 5-7 females. The calculations should be based on these figures. Important Features:

When does the female start laying eggs? This happens in spring or autumn, and late. This is typical for any climate. Rheas are monitored for their offspring, but farmers themselves should pay attention to the clutch. To do this you need:

The diet and lifestyle of young animals is significantly different from adults. Little ostrich chicks need the following conditions:

• In the first week, you need to equip the rooms with eggs with proper lighting. It is advisable to save it until the chicks are born.
• The air should be moist, not dry (up to 65-70%).
• There is no need to use straw or grass as bedding until the young animals are at least 1 month old.

Important. The rhea ostrich is still not whimsical in breeding. During the season you can get several dozen new individuals at once.

Nutrition for the ostrich rhea

Rheas are not carnivores, so their diet is exclusively herbivorous. There is information that they can hunt small vertebrates, such as frogs.

There is a rumor in South America that birds can even catch frogs with their beaks. Of course, when breeding you need a completely different diet. It must be balanced. The following is a table of suitable foods for rheas.

Table 1. Diet for rhea ostriches

Type of food for rhea	List of products and explanation
Foods of plant origin containing fiber and carbohydrates	Cereals, corn. This is an essential part of the diet.
Vitamins and minerals	Potatoes, beets, carrots. During the winter season, the flock and young animals cannot do without these products. They need to add them to their food every day.
Cellulose	The food in the rhea's stomach is well digested, but sometimes difficulties arise. Therefore, you should add meadow grass to your diet from time to time. It also contains the moisture necessary for the ostrich.
Squirrels	In order for the bird’s weight to increase, you need to give it fish, cottage cheese and even eggs. The ostrich readily accepts fermented milk products as food. These foods are included in the daily diet. Of course, they increase the farmer’s expenses, but the weight of the individuals will increase significantly.
Water	Daily consumption.
Supplements	If required, according to indications.

You should not switch your flock to only one type of food. Their diet should be balanced. Only then will the ostriches reach the required weight.

Nutrition is also the key to the health of young animals. Individuals do not feed from the ground or floor feeders. They only need hanging ones. Up to 4 kg of feed should be poured into one such feeder at a time. The amount of food should be calculated based on the number of individuals, young animals in the flock, and their weight. Also, one should not forget about pure Veda. It should be changed twice a day. A floor feeder is also suitable for water. It is important to create conditions to which rheas are accustomed in natural conditions. This is why feeders with food are hung. This is necessary so that the individual gets it as if plucking it from a bush or tree.

Rhea is an unpretentious bird, but it still requires compliance with the rules of keeping. It is important to walk her, and not just keep her indoors. In winter, this may be difficult. In cold weather, rhea can be walked at temperatures that do not drop below 4 degrees below zero. If it decreases, then the flock needs to be moved indoors.

Content Features:

• In the summer, the flock can be outside behind a fence. For winter it requires a separate warm room. The ostrich does not tolerate drafts, so attention should be paid to thermal insulation.
• Dry straw, less often grass, is used as bedding.
• An enclosure should be made in an open space for the flock. It can be fenced, for example, with a net.
• Small artificial pond. There you need to place a small amount of river sand.

Important. Since the bird loves space, both the aviary and the room must have sufficient area. The ceiling height is at least 2.5-3 meters.

Is it worth raising ostriches in Russia?

In general, the rhea ostrich adapts to any climate, although its natural environment is subtropical. In Russia and Europe, these birds easily get used to a different diet and temperature regime. Favorable conditions should be created for them, and then breeding will become a profitable business. If you neglect simple recommendations, then the young animals in the flock are unlikely to be healthy.

The advantage of such a business is that there are not so many farms in Russia where ostriches are raised. Therefore, you can easily find customers. Among the clients there will be not only those who need rhea meat, but also feathers and fat. All of them are highly valued all over the world, including in Russia.

Ostriches can be raised not only on separate farms, but also together with artiodactyls. Farms are often converted to breed such birds. She can coexist with cows and goats. In order for the flock to feel favorable, it is necessary to provide all the conditions, temperature conditions and premises in winter that are listed above.

Video - Breeding ostriches

Ostriches are still a curiosity on farms. Most ordinary people immediately recognize him from the description, although they have only seen him in the photo. Ostriches are bred for their meat, eggs, feathers and leather. Who is this ostrich with the unusual name “nandu”, how does it differ from domestic birds familiar to the eye?

The rhea ostrich is a representative of the family of flightless birds, quite large - up to 1.5 m tall and weighing 35-40 kg. The ostrich's body is completely covered with soft feathers, shaped like a fern. The color of the plumage is inconspicuous, varying from brownish-gray to sand. Discreet camouflage camouflages birds in the grass. A claw grows on the wings, which the bird uses as a weapon for defense. On strong, muscular legs, rheas have three toes ending in sharp claws. Despite such formidable weapons, the birds would prefer to run away rather than get involved in a fight. Weapons will be used only in cases of great danger.

A distinctive feature is large eyes bordered by thick eyelashes. Albinos sometimes appear in the flock; they are distinguished from the rest by their bright blue eyes and light plumage.

During mating games, the ostrich emits a characteristic cry, which is why it got its name. In a situation of great danger, the “Americans” hiss threateningly, like representatives of cats. The hissing has a terrifying effect on enemies. Ostriches warn of danger with loud, hoarse sounds.

The ability to fly was lost in the process of evolution, but this loss is more than compensated by running. The speed of an adult does not exceed 60 km per hour. While running, the ostrich raises both wings to maintain balance. In addition, flightless runners are excellent swimmers even in rough waters.

How do rheas live and where do they live?

Climate preferences. American ostriches do not like heat, so they prefer to be nocturnal. If the weather is cool, then the flock is active during the day. They seek refuge from the heat at bodies of water.

Diet. Rhea ostriches are not picky eaters. They happily eat small animals and insects. Always ready to eat fish. They will not miss the chance to eat juicy grass, fruits and leaves of plants.

Important. Birds easily tolerate the lack of water, because... learned to extract the required amount of moisture from food.

Family arrangement. The flock consists of several groups, which usually contain 6-7 females and 1 male. The male builds a nest within his territory and attracts females with a cry. It scares away opponents with its claws and loud screams. Females move from nest to nest, mate with the host and leave eggs. One single father accumulates 70-80 large eggs.

The male incubates the eggs for a whole month, carefully protecting the nest from predators in anticipation of the chicks. The chicks reach a height of 60 cm already 2 weeks after hatching. By 6 months, the chicks reach the height of their father, and by 2-3 years the adult plumage grows. During this same period, puberty begins.

Important. Rhea ostriches are capable of laying eggs from spring to late autumn.

Neighborhood with other animals. “Runners” calmly react to the proximity of animals of other species, but they carefully guard the boundaries of their own territory. In the wild, the proximity of birds to artiodactyls is beneficial: the delicate sense of smell and acute hearing of herbivores will allow them to sense a predator in time.

Natural enemies remain:

• puma;
• jaguar;
• wild dogs;
• Human.

Habitats. Initially, ostriches lived in the countries of South America, but over time they developed new territories. In Europe, several birds that escaped from a farm took root, founding a colony, the number of which in 2008 was 100 individuals. Ostriches have become so acclimatized that some farmers associate them with pests and are subject to shooting because... cause damage to pastures.

Representatives of the rhea-shaped order easily get used to humans, therefore they live freely on farms as pets. Ostriches are increasingly being bred on farms in different parts of the world, so they are not in danger of extinction. The demand for meat, eggs, skin and feathers makes rhea breeding a promising area in the food industry.

Nandu: video

The American ostrich is a flightless bird species. The habitat of ostriches is South America, and birds similar to them live in Africa. This visual identity creates a sense of their relationship, which has not yet been proven.

Rhea - ostrich from South America

Characteristics of the species

The rhea ostrich lives in the subtropical climate zone. According to historical monuments and known sources, American ostriches have been known since the sixteenth century. These birds lived in large numbers among the Indians.

The differences between African ostriches and rhea ostriches include:

• Body length. The rhea is twice as large as the African ostrich. The growth of the rhea reaches only one and a half meters in height.
• The rhea is covered with feathers, and the ostrich's neck is devoid of feathers.
• The rhea has three fingers on each paw, while the African has only two.
• They run slower than their African counterparts.

Rheas cannot fly. When running, they use their wings as a means of maintaining balance and as a means of defense (thanks to the sharp claw on them). They are capable of accelerating up to sixty kilometers per hour. Nature has given them the ability to swim well and cross waters with strong currents.

What makes them different from other birds is their call. The sound of an ostrich is very similar to the voice of cats. The bird's voice is used during the breeding season. The name comes from the characteristic sound that is consonant with their name. Birds also use hissing to intimidate the enemy, or to alert their fellow birds about a possible threat.

Rhea ostriches run fast and can swim

The habitat became savannas or mountainous areas. It all depends on the subspecies.

They are also common in the states of Germany. Their population there does not exceed one hundred heads; they were formed there artificially and easily adapted to the local conditions.

The life activity of the rhea is carried out mainly during the day. In extremely hot climates, birds shift their activity to the evening.

Flocks of birds include thirty individuals or less. This species extremely values ​​its personal space and does not tolerate being close to its relatives from another flock. In one flock there is mainly one male, or two. This is directly related to the size of the flock. One male can fertilize seven females. The main feature is that the males independently hatch the eggs and walk the young ostriches. A clutch can contain up to forty eggs, which hatch for up to two months.

Birds live in the same flock with other species of animals, thus they protect themselves and their neighbors from attacks by predators.

The male rhea takes care of the offspring

Peculiarities

The diet of the species includes both plant and grain foods, as well as insects and small creeping creatures. Ostriches compensate for their need for water with food. Their natural feature is the ability to exist for a long time without water.

There is no exact information about the predisposition of rheas to any type of bird. They are classified as ostriches, but this predisposition is questioned by other specialists who study them.

Accurate information is known that rheas originated hundreds of years ago. And it is likely that ostriches are the progenitors of all existing birds.

It is a known fact that the American ostrich was used as food by the Indians. The rhea ostrich is also in demand due to its feathers and skin.

Young rhea

Birds today are domesticated, and there is a threat of extinction of the species. Since the bird is often killed by farmers whose lands suffer from the actions of the rhea. Overhunting of the species poses a threat to the population.

The distinctive features of the species and their mysterious history make the species interesting both for amateurs and for scientists studying the species.

Rheas in the wild live in savannas. In South America they can be found in Chile, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil.

They differ from their African relatives in their smaller size and weight, and the presence of feathers on the neck. The main difference between the rhea is the presence of three toes on its foot, while the “African” has only two toes.

The female American ostrich differs from the male in having a short neck. She is shorter in stature and lighter in plumage color. The male has a clearly visible growth (genital organ).

Breed Features

The peculiarity of the breed is manifested in the following characteristics:

• when running, the bird raises one wing, while maintaining balance;
• weight reaches up to 50 kg, height – up to 1.5 m;
• there are sharp claws on the wings, with the help of which the rhea actively defends itself;
• does not run as fast as the African ostrich, but swims well even in a stormy river;
• makes characteristic sounds, which is why it got its name;
• when danger approaches, they threaten with hissing;
• lives both in dry lands and in mountainous and lowland areas;
• hatches eggs and cares for offspring;
• valued for its dietary meat, eggs and skin.

Ostriches live in flocks of 5-30 individuals. They feel good around domestic cloven-hoofed animals, but they reliably protect their personal space, both from strangers and from their own.

South American birds are active during the daytime and lie down in the shade during hot weather. The leader of the pack is usually one male. One male can fertilize up to 7 females.

- the task is not troublesome. This bird itself is unpretentious and does not require special care.