Ostrich farming for leather, feathers, and meat raises specific welfare concerns related to the behavioral needs of these large, semi-wild birds in captive conditions.
Ostrich welfare is challenging because these are birds that evolved in open savanna environments and retain strong flight responses despite generations of farming. Their extreme stress reactivity means that routine management procedures — catching, transporting, feather plucking — cause intense fear and pain. The welfare framework for farmed ostriches requires acknowledging that these animals remain fundamentally semi-wild in their behavioral responses and designing management systems accordingly: minimizing handling frequency, using low-stress handling techniques, requiring analgesia for plucking, and avoiding transport where alternatives exist. The luxury market for ostrich leather and feathers creates demand that drives welfare-compromising production — consumer awareness can shift these incentives.