They are native to the plains of Africa and belong to the 'ratites' or running birds. These large birds can run at speeds of 40 mph. Ostriches live in open, dry country, feeding on succulent plants, fruits, grasses and leaves, as well as occasional insects, lizards, birds and mice.
Ostriches usually live in groups, most commonly one male with three females.
The males usually make a nest on the ground and the females lay between 15 and 30 eggs. Males and females incubate the eggs which hatch in 42 days. Ostriches reach full size in six months and can live in the wild for up to 30 years. Ostriches have been farmed for about 100 years in Africa and are still relatively wild. Farming of ostriches started in Britain in 1990.