Ratite farming of emus and ostriches presents distinctive welfare challenges because these large, sensitive birds have behavioural needs and stress responses poorly suited to conventional farm environments.
Ratites present some of the most challenging welfare problems in commercial bird farming. Their extreme stress reactivity means that routine husbandry including handling, vaccination and transport carries significant welfare costs. Unlike domesticated poultry, emus and ostriches retain strong fear responses to humans and confinement. Live feather plucking from ostriches for luxury fashion markets is a practice with no welfare justification. The ratite farming industry has received relatively little welfare research attention compared to poultry, leaving significant gaps in evidence-based husbandry standards for these unusual and sensitive species.