Ostrich chicks are very susceptible to parasitic infections and easily succumb to lung infections in wet weather. Ostrich farmers watch the weather forecast religiously for this reason, if they see rain is predicted for the next day they take the little chicks out of the lands and put them inside their sheds to stay dry and warm.

Ostrich chicks are also easy prey for predators and therefore need the protection of their parents for the first 4 months or so.  In nature any predator can and will try to kill the chicks from Hyenas, lions and other big cats to jackals and birds of prey.