Feb 11
21
Why Do Some Ostriches Have Ostrich Feathers Missing?
On your ostrich farm, there will be times when the birds are missing their ostrich feathers. There are a number of reasons for this.
Feather Pecking: Sometimes birds will start pecking at the feathers of other birds. There are a number of causes and it maybe a combination of factors that result in the birds in a pen starting to peck. Sometimes it may only be one or two and then there is a copy cat effect.
Contributing causes can be one or more of the following: overcrowding in the pen, boredom, becomes a habit, stress, feather mites or lice and diet. Poor diet can often be a trigger when combined with one or other of these possible factors. When assessing production problems in ostrich farming, the condition of the bird’s feathers is a key indicator to good health. Birds can pick at feathers to obtain nutrients lacking in the diet.
Breeding Baldness: Breeding hens can show a bald patch on the right side just above the hip. This is a result of the natural process of breeding. It is caused from the position for the male during the breeding. A bald spot from this cause is an excellent sign. Good males with high fertility will usually wear bald spots on hens within a month or two after breeding season starts. This can be a sign as to which birds are mating regularly and those mating less regularly.
External Parasites: When present, parasites such as mites or lice can cause a poor feather coat. These small creatures are hard to see and some can suck the blood from the feathers causing the feathers a short blood supply. Also, these creatures are very irritating to the bird and it is constantly pecking and pulling at feathers trying to remove the “itch”.
Birds can be treated for this condition by using dust or sprays, but ask your Veterinarian for a safe recommendation that is approved in your region.
Gut Bacterial Infection As A Chick: Clostridium infection is currently very common in ostrich chicks. This bacteria excretes a toxic substance which can burn the lining of the intestines and in severe cases can leave the gut severely damaged. This damage can have a lasting effect on the bird’s ability to properly digest and absorb nutrients into the bloodstream. Birds affected in this way will be poor doers for the rest of their life because they are unable to absorb enough nutrients for basic needs. Not only will they have poor feed conversion, their ostrich feathers, if not missing, will be shorter and lacking sheen.
In conclusion paying attention to the quality of the ostrich feathers is not only an indicator of the health status of your birds, they can also be a source of ostrich farming additional revenue.
