You will need money, as well as roughly 3 acres of land, to start ostrich farming in Nigeria the proper ostrich species to supply, as well as housing for your birds. According to records, the ostrich is one of the biggest birds in the world and has been domesticated for its meat.
Various derivatives, including eggs, meat, and skins. Take a seat and
follow us as we walk you through the step-by-step process of starting an
ostrich farming business in Nigeria. We will be writing in-depth about this
subject in the near future.
The steps listed below must be taken in order to begin ostrich farming in
Nigeria.
How to Start Ostrich Farming in Nigeria: A Beginner's Guide
1. Get Fund for The Business
Before you can begin raising ostriches, you'll need money to pay for
everything from food to building coops to treating your birds. You must first
secure funding before you can start an ostrich farm. Numerous resources, such
as personal savings, family members, or a bank loan, can be used to raise the
necessary funds for this project.
2. Get the right Training to Raise Ostrich
Because of their physical characteristics, structural makeup, and other
traits, ostriches are a distinctive breed of bird. With the right instruction,
you'll be able to raise ostriches without having to worry about their mortality
or the possibility that they'll hurt your farm workers. The most prevalent
illnesses and other information you should be aware of will be covered in due
time.
3. Secure a Farmland
Ostriches are enormous birds that need a lot of space to grow and thrive
in the environment you choose to keep them, so in order to start an ostrich
farming business, you will need at least 3 acres of land.
4. Raise Your Ostrich Pen
You only need a fence or barricade to prevent these birds from escaping;
a cage is not necessary. You'll need to construct a shelter so that they have a
secure place to stay and hide from bad weather. Keep these things in mind
before you start construction on your ostrich's home. The birds should not be
fenced in with barbed wire. By dividing a pen into sections and planting
hedges, you can make courtship displays more private. Additionally, keep the
sandbox tidy so the birds can play in it.
5. Buying the Best Ostrich specie
After you have constructed your ostrich pen, you can buy ostriches from a
nearby ostrich farm. We'll go over a number of ostrich species and breeds in
the paragraphs that follow so you can pick the one that's best for you.
6. Feeding Your Birds
Make sure to feed and water your birds properly to achieve the best
results and ensure that they look their best. To satisfy the birds' demands,
you'll need to drink a lot of water. It goes without saying that smaller
animals like ostriches require less food than animals of greater size.
What Does Ostrich Eat?
The majority of the time, ostriches forage and eat plants. Ostriches get
most of their nutrition from plants as their main food source.
Ostriches consume primarily plants in the wild, with 20% of their diet
consisting of grains, salts, and stones, 15% of which is fruit or legumes, 5%
of which is insects or small animals.
The preparation of your ostrich food can be done in Nigeria using this
food formulation.
How to Properly Raise Ostriches in Nigeria
Ostriches reach sexual maturity between the ages of two and three, with
hens reaching sexual maturity six months earlier than their male counterparts. Each
successive year, more eggs are produced. Depending on the breed, ostriches are
only capable of reproducing at particular times of the year.
Maasai ostriches only have one breeding season a year, in contrast to
their Somali counterparts. Each species of bird has a different method for
mating. By hissing and making other noises, male counterparts typically contend
for hens.
This is the solution to your question of what it takes to draw female
chickens. A hen will spread her wings, move her neck in a circle, and kneel
when she is prepared to be mated.
The hen lies on the ground and the male mounts her from behind.
Every day, mating takes place, with the early morning and late-night
hours being the most popular times. For the hens to lay their eggs in, the male
counterparts construct a ground-level nest. The time it takes for eggs to be
deposited on different days can reach 90 days.
For best results, there should be a ratio of one male to three female
(hen) mating pairs. To ensure proper timing, the hens' egg production is
stopped when the males are removed from the brooding area.
How to Handle the Ostrich Eggs
In the nest, ostriches lay their eggs. The hens place their fertilized
eggs inside nests. First to become pregnant and start ovulating will be the
dominant female. A hen can produce anywhere from 15 to 45 eggs per season,
depending on the species.
Despite the fact that an ostrich egg is smaller than all other eggs, it
has the largest single cell when it comes to eggs, the yolk. which weigh
between 1 and 2 kilograms and are typically 15 cm (5.9 in) long and wide.
Little pits etched into the surface of the thick shells' glossy, cream-colored
exterior give them character.
It is a wise precaution to drive the birds to a secure distance while they are being harvested. This is done to prevent retaliation from the bird's female counterpart. The eggs should be retrieved by one person while the other, preferably two people, distracts the birds.
To prevent egg contamination, which could lead to embryo death, egg
collectors should wear hand gloves. You should use a warm, moist towel to clean
soiled eggs.
The eggs must be sprayed with potassium permanganate and formalin for 30 minutes. Eggs can be kept in the fridge for up to ten days at 15 degrees Celsius.
The top of the egg should be marked with a pencil, and the eggs should
then be turned over twice daily to ensure that the yolk stays in the center.
Before beginning the incubation process, place the eggs at room temperature.
Incubation Guide for Ostrich Farmers
Equipment for incubation is frequently only as good as the facility it is kept in. There are no strict guidelines that must be followed for successful incubation. Among them are:
• Facilities should be able to maintain temperatures between 15 and 20
degrees Celsius.
• There should be a fresh air exchange outside at least 20% of the time.
• 45 percent humidity is the ideal level.
• To reduce traffic and the number of employees, as few people as
possible should enter the facility.
• Regular floor and wall cleaning and washing is necessary.
• To help the air in the room circulate, portable fans or other similar
equipment should be used.
Facts About Ostrich Birds in Nigeria
1. Nigerians started to supply the expanding world market with goods like ostrich meat putting in place ostrich farms in 1989.
2. Although the ostrich cannot fly, its long, powerful legs enable it to
sprint at 70 kilometers per hour in a matter of seconds. It can maintain this
speed for up to 30 minutes.
3. It defends itself by using the razor-sharp claw on its enormous toe.
The creature has additional defenses in the form of a small head and a long,
bare neck.
4. The male ostrich has black plumage with white plumes on his wings and
tail, in contrast to the female's grayish-colored feathers.
5. Every other species can survive and even thrive in ASALs, including
the ostrich, which can withstand extreme weather.
6. The most frequent habitats for these birds are wide-open forests and
savanna grasses. They frequently steer clear of plants and foliage with a lot
of foliage.
7. Each ostrich egg weighs between 1 and 2 kilograms and can have up to
45 of them.
8. Male ostriches mature at a height of 6–9 feet, while females grow to a
height of 5–6 feet.
9. Typically, colors are used to distinguish between male and female ostriches. Ostrich females are tan, whereas males are black. There is a predominance of the Maasai and Somali ostrich species Nigeria, and they are distinguishable by the pink or blue tones in their skin.
Common Ostrich Diseases in Nigeria
Ostrich diseases that are frequently found.
• Fowlpox
This is brought on by a variety of avipoxviruses, which are typically
spread by mosquitoes. Histopathology can reveal typical cytoplasmic inclusions,
and the virus can be found in developing chicken eggs. On the bird, it results
in tiny blisters that develop into 5–10 mm brown, crusty spots on the beak
corner, eyelids, and other parts of the head.
• Newcastle Disease
A virus known as a paramyxovirus, which is very prevalent in chickens, is
the one responsible for this. Because the danger levels of various strains
vary, they are divided into three categories: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic
(moderately dangerous), and velogenic (very dangerous). All age groups are at
risk, and the mortality rate can be anywhere between a few and more than 30%.
However, most of the time only one flock or camp is impacted.
• Coronavirus Enteritis
There have been reports of ostrich chicks dying after contracting this
infection. The distal small intestine's crypts and villi were filled with necrotic
cells, and the apical cytoplasms of many enterocytes contained eosinophilic
inclusions.
• Hemorrhagic Crimean-Congo Fever
Despite the fact that ostriches have tested positive for the virus, this
disease only affects humans. This disease, which is endemic to the region, can
only be spread through tick bites. Men who suffer from hemorrhagic fever at
risk of death because of severe bleeding.
Breeds of Ostrich Common in Nigeria
Somali Ostrich (S. Camelus Molybdophanes)
It resembles a Blue Necked but has fewer, more dispersed quills.
Approximately 30 eggs less were laid in the months of March and August. The
body of these creatures is smaller.
Maasai Ostrich (S. Camelus Massaicus)
Although this bird is a Pink Necked, it has more quills. This breed can
produce up to 40 eggs during one laying season.
Southern Ostrich (S. Camelus australus)
The so-called black-necked ostrich. For this species, South Africa is its
main habitat.
Black necked Ostrich (S. Camelus Camelus)
They are more prevalent and smaller in South Africa and Europe.
How Do You Sell Ostrich from Your Farming in Nigeria?
Price increases are a result of the growing demand for ostrich meat.
United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, South Africa, and China are a few of the
nations that have purchased the birds. Because they are rare and large—each weigh
1 point 3 kg—ostrich eggs typically cost around Sh3,500 each. The cost to buy a
chick at one-month old ranges from 40,000 to 60,000.
Advantages of Ostrich Farming in Nigeria
1. Ostrich meat and related products are in greater demand on a global
scale, providing a reliable source of income for farmers.
2. Ostrich meat contains less fat, cholesterol, and calories overall.
3. Because it is made from ostrich fat, ostrich oil can be used to treat
asthma and other chest conditions.
4. You can make clothing, home furnishings, even cushions, duvets, and
chairs, out of bird feathers.
5. In the form of a better and quicker return, investing in ostriches’
benefits farmers.
6. The tourism sector is one way to generate revenue.
Disadvantages of Ostrich Farming in Nigeria
If not properly diverted, ostrich can cause serious harm when collecting
eggs. Additionally, if the fence around your ostrich farm isn't properly
maintained, it could come undone and endanger the lives of people who live
nearby.
How Much Does Ostrich Cost in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, an ostrich typically costs between 400,000 and 600,000.
Does Nigerian Ostrich Farming Yield a Profit?
Yes, with a small initial investment, the ostrich business is very
profitable and lucrative in Nigeria.
How Much Do Ostrich Eggs Cost in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, a single ostrich egg cost between $8000 and $10,000.
What are the Steps to Starting an Ostrich Farm in Nigeria?
You will need money and about 3 acres of land to start an ostrich farm in
Nigeria.
the appropriate ostrich species and ostrich products to supply, as well
as a place to house your birds.
Where to buy ostriches in Ijebu Ode
You can buy Ostrich in the following markets in Ijebu Ode;
• Aluta Market Ijagun
• Jiji
• Olist
• Other nearby markets.
Final Thought
Ostrich farming is a lucrative business that anyone with the resources
and knowledge can launch. Everything you require to begin your own ostrich farm
in Nigeria has been covered.
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