Ostrich Behavior.

**TStone** · 14-11-2019, 19:15

An ostrich faking an injury to lure a potential predator, me in this case, away from her newly hatched chicks.

https://i.imgur.com/VJEUlLP.mp4

**tobie** · 14-11-2019, 19:25

What a show! 😂 Thanks for sharing T.

I'm kinda scared of them. When I was a boy, my gran had a male ostrich in a separate fenced camp. That thing must have been posessed and would always charge and attack the fence when you approached.

**TStone** · 14-11-2019, 19:32

Originally Posted by tobie

What a show!  Thanks for sharing T.

I'm kinda scared of them. When I was a boy, my gran had a male ostrich in a separate fenced camp. That thing must have been posessed and would always charge and attack the fence when you approached.

I have been attacked by a domestic ostrich gone wild and ended up shooting him at very close range. Wild ostriches seem to be scared of people, I have never had a problem with one, even when (unknowingly) approaching a nesting bird.

**driepootx** · 14-11-2019, 20:03

Thanks for sharing. Great actress.

**DeVilliers** · 14-11-2019, 20:28

I learned something today. Thanks for sharing.

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**Adoons** · 14-11-2019, 21:13

Wow. Animals are not dumb.

I have Ostriches grazing with the sheep. I believe they help for protection against jackal. (4 and 2 legged kind.) They are tame up to now, but are curious and will approach people on foot in the camp to check them out. My kids are scared like hell of them. Intruders would not know they are tame though. In the dark their deterring effect is even better.

If they get aggressive, well, then we will just rotate them to camps were no human activity needs be like checking on sheep.

**pre 64** · 14-11-2019, 21:38

Nice T. Have seen similar behavior from yellowbill ducks.

**knipmes** · 15-11-2019, 06:15

It is a privilege to live on a farm where you can observe the wonderful behaviour of animal,birds, etc

**tobie** · 15-11-2019, 06:34

Originally Posted by TStone

I have been attacked by a domestic ostrich gone wild and ended up shooting him at very close range. Wild ostriches seem to be scared of people, I have never had a problem with one, even when (unknowingly) approaching a nesting bird.

Did the Ostrich injure you? or did you shoot as it charged?

I've always heard that you should lie on your stomach to prevent disembowelment. I have also seen them become useless once you put a sock over their head. My grandfather did this when he captured/ sold them. When the sock covers their eyes, you can lead them around as you wish.

I forgot to mention that The crazed male Ostrich, was in an electrified camp. When he attacked the fence, you could hear the Electric fence snap, but that 10000 Volts had no effect.

**Davidc** · 15-11-2019, 07:01

In mating season the males legs goes bright red, that’s when they become aggressive. We had two and 90% of the time they were ok, but that 10% when the males hormones went into overdrive it was not pleasant.

We ended up giving them to our neighbors and now they walk in a camp with his springbuck.

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