Examining the distinctive welfare challenges of farmed ostriches — the world's largest bird — including their space requirements, social needs, and the welfare implications of farming practices.
Ostrich farming exists largely outside mainstream animal welfare discourse despite involving millions of animals with complex social, spatial, and behavioral needs. The species-specific challenges are substantial: birds evolved for vast open spaces and flock living cannot realistically fulfill their behavioral needs in typical farming settings. The feather plucking practice, which removes feathers from live birds for decorative use, causes demonstrable acute stress and pain and represents a practice that would be prohibited if applied to most other birds. Ostrich welfare requires specialized attention from welfare researchers, auditors, and certifying bodies who understand ratite-specific needs rather than applying poultry welfare standards to fundamentally different animals.