Ostriches are seasonal breeders that lay eggs primarily during the breeding season, which usually lasts from late winter or spring through summer. During this time, an ostrich will lay one egg approximately every second day until enough eggs, typically around 20, have been laid to cover with their bodies. In the wild, an ostrich may lay about 12 to 20 eggs per year, while farmed ostriches can lay from 10 to as many as 60 or even over 100 in exceptional cases. The exact number and frequency depend on the environment, health, and breeding conditions of the bird. Ostriches typically lay eggs for about 40 days during their breeding season, not continuously throughout the year.
Key points:
- Ostriches lay one egg every two days during breeding season.
- Breeding season lasts from late winter to summer (e.g., June to January or February in some domesticated cases).
- Wild ostriches lay about 12-20 eggs per year; farmed can lay many more.
- Eggs are laid until a suitable clutch (around 20 eggs) is formed.
- Breeding season egg laying spans roughly 40 days.
This means ostriches do not lay eggs continuously all year but concentrate egg laying within a specific breeding period annually.
