FAQ's
WHAT IS STRUISVOGEL?
Struisvogel is Dutch, meaning ostrich. Afrikaans being similar to Dutch, also can understand this as ostrich. We were first introduced to ostrich farming by the Afrikaans, and our family has Dutch roots, so we thought the name was fitting.
WHERE DO YOU RAISE YOUR OSTRICH?
We raise our ostrich in Prince Edward County, Ontario. We have gathered birds from across North America to start Struisvogel's breeding family. Quality genetics is a priority and tracking the success of our birds is very important to us.
WHEN ARE YOU OPEN?
Summer (approx. Easter weekend to Thanksgiving weekend) — open every day 11–5, closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Winter (approx. after Thanksgiving weekend to the week before Easter) — open Saturdays 11–3.
Full details are on our store hours page.
IS THE MEAT FROZEN OR FRESH?
Our meat is frozen. We all know frozen is better. Our ostrich steaks are individually vacuum packed, sealing that freshness in immediately.
ARE YOUR OSTRICH GRASS FED?
Our ostriches do graze on grass and some alfalfa, but they are not fed exclusively by this. There is a perfectly formulated feed that provides all the nutrients that they need in the form of pellets. Our chicks, growers and breeders all have their own specific feeds that are made here in Ontario.
WHERE DO I BUY YOUR MEAT? DO YOU DELIVER?
Order online any time, or come see us in the store. Your options:
- Pick up at the ranch — free, during store hours.
- Free local delivery — in our delivery area.
- Frozen meat and fresh ostrich eggs — $35 flat, shipped refrigerated by Indie Food. Takes 4 days to 2 weeks depending on location. Ontario only.
- Everything else (leather, gifts, books, apparel, jerky, sauces) — $20 flat rate, anywhere in Canada.
Full details on our shipping policy page.
DO YOU SHIP ALL OVER CANADA?
Non-meat products — leather goods, gifts, books, apparel and shelf-stable items — ship anywhere in Canada for a $20 flat rate.
Frozen meat and fresh eggs are Ontario only. We use a provincially licensed facility to process our ostrich, so we are limited at this point to selling meat within Ontario.
We can ship non-meat products outside of Canada, but we aren't set up to take those orders online yet. Email brittany@struisvogel.ca and we'll sort out the shipping with you.
DO YOU WHOLESALE?
If you are a restaurant, hotel, speciality grocer, sports team, etc. looking to order ostrich meat at wholesale pricing, you are best to connect with our wholesale partner IndieFood. You can order through their website and receive free shipping. Or you can also email brittany@struisvogel.ca if you prefer to order directly through us.
DO YOU DO TOURS ON YOUR RANCH?
Our store is designed with large viewing windows to view our chicks and incubators. When you pick up your meat order, or come browse our meat, we encourage you to enjoy what you can see from our store.
If you'd like to experience more you can take an ostrich walk for an additional fee. An ostrich walk is a self-guided tour where you can learn about our ranch and these incredible birds. You have the opportunity to feed the birds, stand on an egg, etc. Ostrich walks run every day we are open through the summer season, and finish up for the winter. Ostriches love visitors just as much as we do!
We also do class trips and 'behind-the-scenes' exclusive tours. Check out our tours for more information.
ARE YOUR TOURS PET FRIENDLY?
In order to keep our Ranch calm for the ostriches, pets are not allowed on our ostrich walk or any of our tours. Thank you for your understanding.
WHAT DOES OSTRICH MEAT LOOK AND TASTE LIKE? HOW DO I COOK IT?
Ostrich is most comparable to a beef filet mignon. It is more red than beef because of its high iron content. Steaks should be prepared with a high-heat, quick-cooking method. Ostrich meat is most tender when it is medium to medium-rare. The meat is not marbled with fat, therefore it will not shrink while cooking.
Ostrich is red meat and can be swapped into any beef recipe. Our cooking ostrich page has step-by-step instructions and a short video.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER OSTRICH RANCHES IN CANADA?
Not many. But we are confident that the environmental and health benefits of eating ostrich will become more understood here in Canada. Ostrich farming is set to grow and we are thrilled to be a part of it! We encourage and value having other ostrich farms around us — maybe you'll be the next ostrich farmer?!