Ostriches are farmed globally for leather, meat, and feathers. Their welfare needs are significant — these large, fast, complex birds require extensive space and appropriate social conditions.
Ostrich welfare in commercial farming reflects the challenge of farming an animal built for vast open savanna. Their high running speed represents a fundamental expression of their nature that intensive systems cannot accommodate. Stress-related behaviors including feather pecking, aggression, and abnormal repetitive movements indicate inadequate space and environmental complexity. Ostriches require social grouping appropriate to their natural flock structure, adequate space for locomotion, and environmental complexity that allows expression of foraging behavior. The premium leather market creates commercial pressure for production volume that can compromise welfare. Consumer awareness of ostrich farming conditions is low, creating an advocacy gap given the premium prices commanded by ostrich products.