Ostrich Chicks Hatch in Bangladesh, a Breakthrough for Breeding Research

For the first time, seven chicks have hatched from ostrich eggs at a private mini zoo in Parbatipur, Dinajpur. One died, but six are healthy. Researchers and livestock experts see it as a new opportunity for ostrich breeding and commercial farming in Bangladesh.

Of the chicks born at the "Dinajpur Mini Zoo and Park", five hatched in an incubator at the laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) and two in the park's own incubator. The six chicks are now about a month and a half old. The news was kept quiet for their safety until the Dinajpur deputy commissioner, Rafiqul Islam, and district livestock officer Dr Md Abdur Rahim visited the park.

Park owner Engineer Rois Uddin Mia Babul said two ostriches were brought from Dhaka about three and a half months ago and laid 24 eggs within a week. With help from HSTU researchers, the eggs were placed in incubators, and seven chicks hatched on 24 May, 45 days later. The birds have since laid eight more eggs, also in incubators.

District livestock officer Dr Abdur Rahim said this is the first time ostrich chicks have hatched at a mini zoo in the country. Chicks hatched in Bangladesh before had not survived more than a week, he said, but these are now six weeks old.

Professor Dr Rashedul Islam, chairman of HSTU's Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, said research on ostrich breeding has been going on for about six years. Earlier attempts failed, but this time healthy chicks were hatched from eggs laid at the park, an important advance.

HSTU began the research in 2020. In 2021, 19 eggs were placed in incubators without success; in 2022, 36 eggs in several stages also failed. In May 2023, 13 eggs were set and, when they did not hatch, six more; one chick hatched but died soon after.

Professor Rashedul Islam said importing one ostrich chick costs 40,000 to 50,000 taka. Producing chicks at home could open the way to commercial ostrich farming and a new source of protein. An ostrich usually lays 60 to 80 eggs a season, and eggs hatch in 42 to 45 days.

The chicks are cared for round the clock by agriculturist Morsheda Begum Lupu, with help from her husband, Engineer Rois Uddin Mia Babul.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.