Unique Ukrainian Easter Egg Painting - Jumbo Size

[NTD Ukraine Correspondent]:

"An ostrich farm outside of Kiev is introducing a new twist to traditional Easter egg painting. Ukrainian masters decorate large ostrich eggs in preparation for Easter."

Svetlana turns ostrich eggshells into Easter presents. 

She says it's much more convenient to work with ostrich eggs than chicken eggs. 

The larger "canvas" provides more space for the design and the surface of the egg is similar to that of ceramics.

[Svetlana Lahmacheva, Ostrich Farm Employee]: 

"Ostrich eggs are like lacquering, so a bright picture looks wonderful when you use acrylic paints. And the ostrich egg is also good for egg carving - with a shell thickness of 2 millimeters. It could be cut with an angle grinder. "

On average, the female ostrich produces one egg every two days.  But taking it away from her is no small task.

[Alina Manzyuk, Ostrich Farm Administrator]: 

"Ostriches are very aggressive birds. They protect their territory, and they don't like strangers.  Two people are needed to collect the egg- one distracts the male and the other quietly takes the egg."

In Ukraine, the breeding of ostriches began 10 years ago. 

Interest in ostrich eggs has constantly grown since then.

This year the ostrich farm has sold about one thousand eggs for Easter. 

Generally buyers often use the eggs to make omelets. One egg can replace anywhere from 20 to 30 chicken eggs. 

Ostrich eggs are hypoallergenic, while ostrich meat has no cholesterol.

At the restaurant at the farm you can taste a variety of ostrich dishes. 

[Barbara Gora, Farm Visitor]: 

"It's very similar to veal. Not pork. It's closer to veal with turkey."

Sofia and Emil would like to take a living ostrich home.

[Emil, Farm Visitor]: 

"We can play and teach him to speak."

[Sofia, Farm Visitor]: 

"They're so affectionate."

The Yasnogorodsky ostrich farm has about 200 species of birds. 

Ostriches can live up to a ripe old age of 70 years old.

NTD News, Kiev, Ukraine