Caleb and Brittany Denouden, born and raised in small towns in Ontario, were first introduced to ostrich farming while they were volunteering in South Africa. After they got to experience riding ostriches, standing on an ostrich egg, and eating some ostrich steaks, the couple came back to Canada inspired to start their own ostrich farm. Learn more about their story and ostrich farm HERE.

After crossing the Arrow Lakes on the Needles ferry in British Columbia’s West Kootenays, an observant motorist heading west towards Lumby and Vernon might spy a flock of large, long necked birds running energetically around a trim, neatly fenced pasture. Our motorist might think she has just seen a movie set for a sequel to Jurassic Park when in fact she has come across the site of Universal Ostrich Farms, home to approximately 500 ostriches, Canada’s largest flock. Unive

Ostriches have been grown commercially in South Africa since the 19th century. At this time, they were raised principally for their feathers which were much prized in the fashion industry. As fashions changed around 1914, the industry collapsed and only started up again in the 1970s with hides as the major product. In South Africa, ostrich hides are still the major product. Domestic production of ostrich in countries other than South Africa started in the 1970s, together with

What would you do if, after thirty years of raising and caring for animals on your farm, the government suddenly showed up and ordered you to slaughter them? This is the heartbreaking reality for the farmers of Universal Ostrich Farms, located in the remote town of Edgewood, British Columbia. For over three decades, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski have devoted their lives to raising up to 500 ostriches on their farm, which is known for its groundbreaking research on the robu