Ostrich Facts - Information on Ostriches

Here are some interesting Facts about the Ostrich:

An ostrich hen can lay 40 to 100 eggs each year with an average of 60 eggs per year. These are the largest of all eggs and take around 42 days to hatch.

Their eggs may be the largest eggs on earth but they are the smallest compared to size of the mother and make only 1% of their mother's weight.

Ostrich belongs to the Ratite family which means "flightless bird" and this flightless bird is native to Africa.

Although they can not fly, but an ostrich can run really fast attaining speeds of 45 miles per hour which makes them the fastest bipedal runner on earth.

They do not bury their heads in sand. Its a myth that they do so.

All birds have three or four toes but Ostrich has only two toes. Also, when it kicks it kicks forward.

They are not endangered and are farmed around the globe for their meat. Also they have a great food to weight ratio and thus a preferred specie to be farmed commercially.

Each of its eye is about the size of a billiard ball and the brain is smaller than each eyeball. The weight of their egg is almost equal to the weight of about two dozen chicken eggs.

But this is not all I have to say about their eyes, they have the largest eyes in land mammals and have three eyelids.

A fully grown ostrich has an extremely good immune system.

It does have some history. Queen Arsinoe of ancient Egypt rode ostrich with a saddle. The Ostrich also became the emblem of Themei, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Justice.

Here are some videos on ostriches that I believe are must watch.

Please comment to add your views about these interesting ostrich facts.