Farm animals
Moravian Ostrich (chicken)
Gallus gallus f. domestica
Species originDomesticated
Moravian Ostrich (chicken)
- Description
- A medium-heavy domestic chicken breed named for its striking "ostrich" plumage of black-and-white spangled or barred feathers. Roosters weigh around 3 to 3.5 kg and hens around 2.2 to 2.8 kg, giving the birds a sturdy, well-proportioned build.
- Habitat
- This is a domestic breed that does not occur in the wild. It originated in Moravia as part of the Czech tradition of poultry keeping and is raised in farmyards, gardens, and on smaller farms, where it thrives with a free range, grassy areas, and calm surroundings.
- Diet
- Like all chickens it is an omnivore, feeding on grain, green fodder such as alfalfa and nettles, vegetables, fruit, insects, and earthworms. It also needs a source of calcium, for example crushed shells, to produce eggs with a firm shell.
- Reproduction
- A hen lays roughly 140 to 180 eggs per year, and the eggs take about 21 days to hatch.
- Lifespan
- Typically around 6 to 8 years.
- Did you know?
- The Moravian Ostrich is considered part of the cultural heritage of Czech poultry breeding and is a protected, endangered native breed.
Homeland & habitat
Where the moravian ostrich (chicken) lives
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Moravia (Czechia)A domestic chicken breed kept in yards and on small farms; it originates from the Moravia region of Czechia and does not occur in the wild.
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Native rangeIntroduced / also today
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10 facts about the moravian ostrich (chicken)
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