Rheas are South American ratites farmed for meat, feathers and leather, with growing commercial interest but minimal welfare regulation.
Rheas require large areas of open grassland to fulfil their behavioural needs. Confinement causes pacing, feather pecking and aggression. Their territorial nature makes group management challenging without injury. Rheas can withstand European climates but require shelter from cold wind and rain. Welfare codes for rheas are largely absent outside South America.