How does ostrich move

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Usually the drab-colored main hen takes incubation duty during the day; the black-plumed male takes over and incubates at night. Newly hatched chicks are about the size of barnyard chickens, but they grow at a rate of 1 foot 30 centimeters per month, and by 6 months of age they are nearly as large as their parents.

A few days after the chicks hatch, they leave the nest to travel with their parents. The adults shelter them under their wings to protect them from sun and rain.

When chicks are threatened, the male ostrich reacts with alarm, his neck outstretched and mouth open. When family groups of ostriches meet, they may challenge each other with short chases, and then the winning adult pair takes all the chicks with them.

Some of these "nurseries" can end up with chicks and only a couple of adults to mind them. Records show the ancient Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian empires all actively groomed, farmed, and traded ostrich plumes. Throughout the ages, ostrich feathers have been worn by royalty, adorned the helmets of medieval knights, and festooned the elaborate hairdos of ladies. In the late 18th century, the hat industry brought the fashion for all types of feathers to its zenith and turned the hunting of birds for their feathers into a major global enterprise.

Ostrich plumes were particularly prized. South Africa turned to the commercial farming of ostriches for their feathers. It quickly became a profitable industry; so valuable were ostrich plumes that in the early 20th century, they ranked fourth on the list of South African exports after gold, diamonds, and wool.

By , more than 1 million ostriches lived on commercial farms throughout the world. Then, overnight, the bottom dropped out of the feather market due, surprisingly, to the invention of the car. Early cars had no roof or windshield, and women passengers found their feathers stripped from hats and blown away. Ostrich farming continues today on a smaller scale primarily to supply the feather duster industry.

Farm-raised ostriches are also harvested for eggs, supple leather, and gourmet meat that is lower in cholesterol than beef. Today, although not threatened, the ostrich requires strict protection and farming to conserve the remaining populations.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been working with the red-necked ostrich in Niger and providing technical expertise and funding to develop and manage a breeding program for the birds to establish secure and self-sustaining populations in that country.

By supporting San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, you are our ally in saving and protecting wildlife worldwide. Weight: Female, to pounds 90 to kilograms ; male, to pounds to kilograms. Weighing in at more than 3 pounds 1, grams , the ostrich egg is the largest egg—in fact, the largest single cell—found on our planet today.

They generally live in the vicinity of grazing animals such as wildebeest, antelopes and zebras, and together they form a great partnership — the grazers stir up insects and rodents for the ostriches to eat, and the ostriches help alert the grazers to dangers such as approaching lions. Ostriches live in groups, called herds , generally made up of around 12 individuals. Males compete with one another for control of several females or hens , and the winner becomes the leader of the herd.

Each group also has a dominant hen, she will only mate with the alpha male, but he may mate with other females in the herd as well. During breeding season, the alpha male makes a nest in the ground and attempts to attract females by, believe it or not, dancing!

His impressive moves include dropping to the ground, shaking his wings and tail, and swaying his head and neck from side to side.

After mating, the hens lay their eggs in the nest. The alpha male and dominant female then look after the nest, taking it in turns to incubate the eggs. After about 40 days, the new chicks hatch, all feathered and ready to walk!

Within days, they leave the nest to follow their parents, who protect them from the hot sun or rain by keeping them huddled under their body or outstretched wings. By the time the young ostriches are 18 months old, they are fully grown and have become record-breaking birds, just like their parents.

Impressive, eh? While you wait for it to be checked and approved why not to add a pre-selected message and a cool badge. That's a good study but I learnt that they scatter their eggs during the period of laying, they have no sense of coordination, how true is this about the Ostrich?

Ostriches are awesome. But I can't believe that they can grow cm that's about as tall as the tallest man ever!!!!! Ask a parent or guardian to check it out first and remember to stay safe online. See all. Ostrich facts! Ostriches can grow to 2. Ostriches huge eyes which are bigger than their brains! Ostriches can reach speeds of over 70km per hour With their tall height and excellent eyesight, these amazing creatures are great at spotting potential predators from far away.

Ostrich chicks hatch from their eggs Ostriches live in groups, called herds , generally made up of around 12 individuals. What did you make of our ostrich facts?