The welfare needs of farmed ostriches, including the challenges of managing the world's largest bird in agricultural settings.
Farmed ostriches are often managed with less welfare consideration than equivalent-scale livestock operations, partly because of limited research and partly because of the novelty of the industry. These are highly active, social birds with strong flight responses and natural behavioral repertoires centered on open-range movement and complex social interaction. Confinement at high density suppresses these behaviors and causes redirected aggression in the form of feather-pecking and serious fighting injuries. Welfare progress in ostrich farming requires minimum space standards, social housing in appropriate group sizes, outdoor access, and humane slaughter regulations tailored to the specific challenges this species presents.