Ratites

Our Ratites

Drive Through Pricing

Cash or NC check No Debit or Credit Cards Adult Admission (ages 12-59): $15.00 Children Admission (ages 2-11): $11.00 Senior Admission (ages 60+): $11.00 Group Rate (15 or more, ages 2 and up): $11.00 Feed buckets (64oz): $3.00 each School Groups: For every 10 students,
1 teacher gets in free

Wagon Ride Pricing

Cash or NC check No Debit or Credit Cards Call for Reservations Adult Admission and Wagon Ride: $21.00 Child Admission and Wagon Ride: $15.00 Senior Admission and Wagon Ride: $15.00 Group Rate (15 or more, ages 2 and up)
$15.00 Price includes admission

Hours of Operation

Monday-Saturday 9am until one hour before sunset, arrive by 4pm Sunday 12pm until one hour before sunset, arrive by 4pm

Ratite Facts

Ratites are a diverse group of flightless and mostly large and long-legged birds. Australia, Africa and South American all host species of ratites. Ratites have a simplified wing skeletons and musculature. Their legs are very strong and do not have air chambers their tail and flight feathers have become decorative plumes because they are flightless.

Ostrich

Scientific Name: truthio camelus

Range: Central and Southern Africa
Life Span: 30- 40 years
Diet: Omnivore
Height: 6-9 feet
Weight: 200-300 pounds
Egg size: about 3 pounds

The Ostrich is the largest living bird and the second fastest animal in the world. Although it can’t fly, the ostrich can make 12-foot strides and run at a sustained speed of 30 mph for 15 minutes or more. Both young and adult ostriches hide by sitting with their heads and necks stretched out on the ground. This practice may have given rise to the erroneous belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand. The male usually makes the nest, and all females lay their eggs in that location. Both sexes incubate the eggs. The dominant female, with her light colored feathers, will sit on the nest and incubate during the day, while a male bird, with its dark feathers, incubates from late afternoon to early morning. Ostrich eggs are larger than those of any other living creatures. They can be 6 inches long and 5 inches wide, have a shell 5-6 inches thick, and weigh up to 3.5 lbs.

Ostrich

Rhea

Rhea

Scientific Name: Rhea americana

Range: South American (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay)
Life Span: 15 years
Diet: Omnivore
Height: 5.5 feet
Weight: 80-90 pounds
Wingspan: 8 feet

Rheas have three toes instead of two, which is unique to the Ratites family. Like all members of the large flightless bird family, males build the nest, allow multiple females to lay eggs then the male will incubate and raise the chicks.

Emu

Scientific name: Dromaius novaeollandiae

Range: Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and Philippines
Life Span: 10-20 years (captivity) 35 years (wild)
Diet: Omnivore
Height: 5-6 feet
Weight: 70-100 pounds

Emus’ eggs are dark green and will typically be laid in a clutch of eight to ten by the females then incubated and raised by the male. These large flightless birds are known for using their legs in defense by kicking predators.

Emu

What others are saying

"Great place to take a field trip or just to go with your family to enjoy. I have visited a couple times on class field trips and the kids and parents are just pleased with the experience.”
Tabitha H
Tripadvisor
“What a great experience! Mikaylah was an awesome tour guide and was very knowledgeable about the ranch and the animals there. I love that she knew them by name! Really enjoyed our experience.”
Beth G
Google Reviews