How to Protect Ostrich Eggs | Animal All-Stars
The ostrich, the largest living bird, can weigh almost 300 pounds. He presides over his harem, and digs several nest holes in the desert soil. But his chief hen, his favorite, gets to choose where she lays her eggs.
once she does, the serious business of egg-laying begins. Ostriches lay the biggest eggs-- a single one can weigh more than three pounds. And she'll lay up to 12 of them. But that's just the start.
The other females in the harem will lay their eggs in her nest, as well. Being the designated egg sitter for the harem doesn't ruffle the chief hen's feathers, because she has a plan. Each gleaming egg, with as much nutrition as about two dozen chicken eggs, is a treasure for a hungry predator. And the chief hen isn't about to sacrifice any of hers. She rolls her eggs to the middle of the nest, and those of the other females to the edge. It's just a matter of time before the jackals come.
The ostrich does everything she can to distract the predator from her nest, but to no avail. And here's the beauty of the ostrich's plan-- she sacrifices a different hen's egg by rolling it away from the nest beforehand-- easy Pickings for the jackals.
For now, they leave the eggs in the middle of the nest in peace. Even the secondary hens win. The main ostriches will raise all the remaining hatchlings as their own.
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