This is why ostrich producers typically report both hatchability and livability of offspring. Omphalitis, or infected yolk sac, is a common disease of hatchlings. It has been treated by surgical removal of the yolk sac followed by antibiotic therapy. Infected yolk sacs are a result of bacteria penetrating the egg shell. It should become a less common problem as egg gathering and sanitation practices improve.
Chicks become listless, stop eating and drinking and die.
The cause is unknown. Impactions occur in birds of all ages. Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Preventive measure include acclimation of chicks to a variety of substrates very early in life and avoiding sudden feed changes or sudden additions of high roughage feedstuffs. Both internal and external parasites affect ostriches.