FACILITIES
CHICKS
Young chicks can be maintained in a variety of suitable facilities. A small portable pen, 12 feet long, 4 feet wide and 2 foot high can be adequate for a number of chicks. The pen is placed on short cut grass and moved daily. Chicks are brought out to the pen after the temperature reaches above 60 F and the sun is shining. Birds can be maintained in this type of facility until the temperature drops or until weather is prohibitive. Include some type of shade and wind break as young birds are sensitive to extreme sun and wind.
Young birds should be brought indoors in the evening and maintained in a heated environment until at least 2 to 3 months of age. Temperature in indoor shelters should be maintained at least 65 F and enough room to allow the birds to exercise should be provided. In areas where weather is more severe, this period may need to be extended.
Do not provide feed at night but available water is acceptable. Feed the young birds as outlined in CARE OF YOUNG BIRDS section, prior to turning them out in the morning.
JUVENILES
Juvenile birds between 3 and 10 months of age can be maintained in a similar, but larger facility as young birds. For convenience, access to the indoor facility should be available directly from the outdoor pens. However, shelter is not needed except in extremely cold areas. The amount of space per bird, for both indoor and outdoor facilities should be increased for this age bird as compared to that available for younger chicks. Outdoor pens can be of any type of substrate but ground cover such as grass, clover, or alfalfa is ideal. Grass should be kept at a closely mowed level, especially when grass begins to dry out or turn to seed, as impactions are more common at this time. Daily mowing may be necessary during some periods of the year.
ADULTS
Pens and facilities for adults vary considerably. Most ranchers maintain adult pairs or trios in facilities that range from five thousand square feet to an acre or more. In general, the more room that can be provided, the better the situation. Common fences and line of sight access to neighboring pairs is often desirable but may not be practicable with overly aggressive males.
Housing or shade is usually provided although not always utilized. If birds are accustomed to being fed and watered in a shed they will be more easily confined when necessary and may build the nest and lay indoors. Alley-ways for movement of birds from pen to pen, access for haling, and provisions for confinement for veterinary care should be considered at the time of construction. Although suprising, most ratites do not require indoor shelter once over 6 months of age and often refuse to use such structures, independent of weather.
Fencing is dependent on personal preference and economics. Chain link is good but may result in problems related to leg and foot injures and is not easily climbed if escape from the pen by egg gatherers is necessary. Tubular "cattle" type fence is suitable and offer some benefits and others types of woven wire fencing are routinely used.
Many ranchers are now utilizing group pens consisting of several males and numerous females in larger acreage. This appears to provide some benefits and is more nearly similar to a natural situation. Early results indicate that increased fertility, more egg numbers, and extended laying periods can be expected in this type of set up. Several acres of enclosed pasture are needed for this type of operation.
Difficulties with a group breeding situation include the inability to determine exactly the resultant chicks parentage.