Believe it or not, ostrich farming is big business and it
means big money for those who get involved in this somewhat unusual
aspect of farming. The fact is that ostrich meat is considered
something of a delicacy in fine restaurants and ostrich eggs
are prized for their unique taste. Empty ostrich egg shells are
also very popular with artists who paint pictures on the sides
of the shells.
Ostrich farming is of course not for everyone. You have to
enjoy being outdoors a great deal and you have to enjoy taking
care of the birds while at the same time being prepared to kill
them when the time comes to harvest the fruits of your labor.
The work can be hot and dirty and it is mildly dangerous since
ostriches are somewhat aggressive birds when compared with the
more commonplace chickens and turkeys most of us have on our
dinner plates on a regular basis.
Here's a clip from Mike Rowes
"Dirty Jobs" show that will give you an idea of what
it takes to run an ostrich farm:
How Much Can You Make?
Formal salary figures for ostrich farming are not available,
however it is worth noting that a fully grown ostrich can sell
for as much as $40,000. This is because virtually the entire
bird is considered valuable, including the meat, the feathers
and the leather, not to mention the unusually large eggs they
produce.
Ways to Make More | Related Opportunities
| Tips
Ostrich farming is still a niche market which few people go
into. Ostrich meat, while considered a delicacy is a delicacy
on a level similar to that of the blow fish in the United States.
Most people have heard of the stuff but comparatively few have
actually tried it and fewer still actually eat the stuff on a
regular basis. This means that becoming an ostrich farmer means
doing something rather unusual.
On the other hand, because these giant birds (they can grow
to be as much as 350LBs and 9 feet tall) are so unusual, it means
that those who do want your product will generally pay more for
it than they would for more readily available items. Keep in
mind that ostrich farming is rarely a one man (or woman) operation.
It is often something which is engaged in by a whole farming
team who work together to care for the ostriches, harvest the
eggs and feathers and eventually slaughter the birds when they
are ready to be sold for meat.
One way to make extra money from ostrich farming is to allow
school groups to see the ostrich farm. Children are often fascinated
by these giant birds, however you do have to be careful as the
birds can be a bit more aggressive than something like a chicken.
Qualifications / Requirements
You may need to get a farming license to set up your ostrich
farm, however there are no formal training requirements specifically
for raising ostriches. Instead, you need to know generally how
to raise animals and especially birds in order to be successful
at ostrich farming.
First Steps
Start by visiting some ostrich farms and asking if there are
jobs available. Take a job helping out around the farm and learn
the ropes of the business before you jump into creating your
own farm, which can be an expensive adventure.
Resources
Check out these helpful resources to learn more about ostrich
farming:
eHow:
How to Start an Ostrich Farm - A surprisingly well written
examination of the requirements to start ostrich farming, the
references at the bottom are also quite helpful.
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