A high nitrogen fertilizer applied as a topcoat to the pasture early in the spring will help boost plant growth. Make sure you read the instructions on the bag carefully to ensure proper use. It is best to apply the fertilizer in small doses throughout the season to avoid nitrate poisoning in the animals. As well, the legumes in the pasture will contain nodules on their roots that fix nitrogen and make it available to the grasses in the field. When grazing ostriches weed control is not an issue that requires a lot of consideration.
Ostriches relish many of Ontario s native weeds such as dandelions, thistles, and stinging nettles.
They can often be seen in the pasture preferentially eating the weeds. Do not feel that you need to remove the weeds in a pasture unless they are toxic to the birds, you will find that they choose to eat what we call weeds before they eat the pasture plants. Take the pasture and divide it into 5 paddocks that are rectangular. At the end of the paddocks there can be a swinging gate to allow the birds access to a barn for shelter and shade. The paddocks should all join on to an alley that leads to the barn and allows for easy movement of the herd between paddocks and the barn.