Breeding experience of raising ostrich chicks

Brooding is a critical link in ostrich farming. The quality of the nestling is directly related to the growth and development of the ostrich, and even affects the production performance of the ostrich. The breeding of chicks is the most difficult part of ostrich breeding. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively understand the physiological characteristics of nestlings, determine specific measures and methods of feeding management, and create a series of environmental and nutritional conditions conducive to the growth and development of nestlings.

1 . Physiological characteristics of nestlings

(l) temperature nestlings have poor thermoregulation function, their whole body is covered with fluffy feathers, they lack the ability to keep warm, and they are afraid of both cold and heat. Therefore, it is sensitive to temperature. At 4 months of age, the body temperature regulation function gradually tends to be perfect, and it has the ability to adapt to changes in the external environment. Therefore, the brood period should strictly control the brood temperature.

(2) The digestive system of newborn chicks is not sound, and its nutrition comes from the residual yolk in the body. The chicks absorb yolk from the umbilical cord before breaking the shell. The yolk weight reaches 1/3 of the weight of the hatched nestlings. The yolk absorbed in the stomach can provide nutrition for the nestlings for 4 days after hatching, but if no feed is provided for nutrition during this period, the weight of the nestlings will be reduced. Newborn chicks digestive function is not perfect, if let it feed freely, it is easy to suffer from yolk sac inflammation, causing constipation or diarrhea. Therefore, starter foods should be fed to easily digestible feed.

(3) The nestlings are sensitive to the external environment, timid, gregarious and lack of self-defense ability. If encounter outside stimulation then spirit is uneasy, rush to cry more than. Therefore, in the process of raising chicks, it is necessary to create a quiet environment to prevent external stimuli from causing unnecessary losses.

(4) Disease resistance The nestling is delicate, has poor adaptability to the external environment, and has weak resistance to various diseases. If the breeding management is improper, it is easy to get sick. Therefore, the nestlings should be carefully raised and managed to improve their physique and do a good job in various health and epidemic prevention work.

2 . Nurturing of chicks

Ostriches from hatching to 3 months of age are called chicks.

During the first 24- 72 hours after hatching, the chick can provide vital nutrients through protein and fat in its yolk sac. However, after 72 hours, the yolk sac gradually depleted nutrients, and the chicks began to eat. At this time, the ideal feed is to cooperate with nutrient-rich brood feed. It is characterized by high protein content, 18%-20%, moderate energy and easy digestion. When there is a lack of special chick feed, green leaves, juicy grass, cooked and chopped eggs can also be used as starter food. After the chicks reach 6 weeks old, crushed grain plastics, Chinese cabbage, radish and so on can be supplemented in the diet.

The chicks grow and develop quickly, and the newborn ostrich generally weighs 0 . Eight to zero. 9 kg, 1 month old weight up to 4 - 5 kg, 4 - 5 times the birth weight;2 months old for 11 - 15 kg, 3 months old weight up to 25 kg, 25 times the birth weight. The nestlings metabolize vigorously. Therefore, in the diet, in addition to energy, protein, vitamins, trace elements must be met, special attention should be paid to the proportion of calcium, phosphorus supply, in order to meet the needs of young birds for inorganic salts, to prevent leg disease.

(l) After drinking water, there are more yolk residues in the abdomen, and the water content in the yolk accounts for 2 / 3, so 48- 72 hours after hatching will not feel water shortage. With the loss of water from the nestling's respiration and excretion of feces, the weight continues to drop, and water needs to be replenished at this time. Before the nestlings start eating, give them water first, which can promote the intestinal motility of the nestlings, absorb residual yolk, eliminate meconium, increase appetite, and facilitate eating. For the first time drinking water, the water temperature should be around 24 ° C, and B vitamins and glucose can be added to the water to prepare nutrient solution, which has better effect. Once the chicks start drinking water, they should maintain a regular supply of clean water and not cut off water. Change the water at least 2 - 3 times a day. Clean the drinking fountain every time you change the water. Add 0 . 01% potassium permanganate water is good for preventing digestive tract diseases of chicks. Care must be taken not to allow chicks to drink rainwater.

(2) Feeding of nestlings The nestlings that have just hatched are not hungry, nor do they eat food, so they should not be forced to eat. The nutrients provided by the yolk in the nestlings can meet the nutritional needs of 48 - 72 hours. After the basic absorption of yolk nestlings have hunger, trying to feed, too early to eat harmful to digestive organs, on the future growth and development of adverse. Eating too late will consume the physical strength of the chicks, make them lose weight, become weak, and affect their future growth and survival. Feeding should start 2-3 days after hatching and mixed concentrate should be fed. Feed wet, not dry feed, water to mix powder into wet feed, put 1-2 weeks old chicks in the nestlings, guide the nestlings to eat, chicks have natural curiosity and imitation, can quickly learn to eat. Care should be taken to ensure that each chick eats food when feeding. After 1 week of feeding, mixed concentrate can not be mixed with wet feed, because long-term feeding wet feed is easy to cause indigestion of chicks, can be fed to broken pellet feed. Pellet feed should be fed regularly and quantitatively, and should not be eaten freely, otherwise it will induce yolk sac inflammation of nestling, causing constipation or diarrhea. In general, the amount of concentrate feed per day should account for 1 . 5 % -3 . 0%, and then gradually increase with the growth of chicks. Feed the mixed concentrate 3 times a day, and the feeding amount of each time is 1 / 3 of the feeding amount of the whole day. Generally, it is appropriate for the chicks to finish eating within half an hour. In addition to feeding concentrate, chicks also need to feed chopped cabbage leaves, lettuce leaves, alfalfa or clover leaves, carrots and so on. However, special attention should be paid to the fact that the green feed should be washed with clean water before feeding, and the exhibition should be soaked in clean water for 5 to 10 minutes to prevent the green feed from being contaminated with pesticides. After the water is dry, it should be chopped and fed. Can't feed stems, because young birds feed stems easily cause stomach obstruction, can tie fresh alfalfa into bundles, leaf down hanging in the playground or aviary, height and young birds head high, let young birds eat leaves, this will leave stems. Feed green feed must be fresh, withered feed easy to cause indigestion. After resting at night, the chicks can not feed. Green fodder is generally fed 4 to 5 times a day, and the remaining forage fodder in the trough should be cleaned up before each feeding. The feeding amount, feed intake and residual amount in the trough of the nestling should be weighed and recorded. Increase the amount of green feed appropriately to prevent excessive supply of concentrate, excessive growth of chicks, causing leg diseases.