In Stardew Valley, players can explore, farm, fish, and raise animals, all while discovering secrets hidden throughout Pelican Town and the surrounding areas. Among the many exciting features added in later updates is the ability to find and hatch an ostrich egg, a rare and fascinating mechanic that adds new depth to the farming life. Hatching an ostrich egg is not only a rewarding experience, but also introduces ostriches as unique livestock animals that produce valuable resources. For those aiming to maximize farm productivity or complete their animal collections, understanding how the ostrich egg works is essential.
What Is an Ostrich Egg in Stardew Valley?
A Rare and Valuable Find
An ostrich egg is a special item in Stardew Valley, introduced in the 1.5 update. Unlike chicken or duck eggs, the ostrich egg cannot be acquired from standard livestock. It is significantly larger, more valuable, and leads to one of the most impressive animals you can raise on your farm: the ostrich.
Ostriches are not only fun to have around, but they also lay ostrich eggs that can be turned into mayonnaise or sold for high profit. Each ostrich egg, when processed into mayonnaise, produces 10 jars of mayonnaise at once, making it one of the most efficient sources of artisan goods in the game.
How to Find an Ostrich Egg
Exploring Ginger Island
To begin your journey toward hatching an ostrich egg, you first need access to Ginger Island. This island becomes available once you have completed the Community Center and helped Willy fix up his boat. On the island, you’ll find the Volcano Dungeon and the Field Office both important locations for progressing toward hatching ostriches.
There are several ways to obtain an ostrich egg, including:
- Volcano Dungeon Chests: Occasionally, ostrich eggs appear in treasure chests located within the Volcano Dungeon. These chests are scattered throughout the dungeon’s levels and may contain other valuable loot as well.
- Fossil Collection: Once you complete the full fossil collection for Professor Snail at the Island Field Office, he will reward you with an ostrich egg. This involves finding and donating various fossils discovered on Ginger Island.
- Journal Scrap Clues: Some journal scraps found on the island offer clues to hidden treasures, including buried spots where you might unearth an ostrich egg.
Finding More Ostrich Eggs
After obtaining your first ostrich egg and incubating it, the resulting ostrich will eventually lay additional eggs, allowing you to raise a full barn of ostriches or sell the eggs for profit. This creates a self-sustaining ostrich farming setup once you get started.
Incubating the Ostrich Egg
Unlocking the Ostrich Incubator
Unlike regular eggs, ostrich eggs require a special incubator to hatch. This isn’t available right away. To craft the ostrich incubator, you must first receive the recipe from Professor Snail after completing the fossil collection. Once you have the recipe, you’ll need the following materials:
- 50 Bone Fragments
- 50 Hardwood
- 20 Cinder Shards
The incubator can only be placed inside a barn, and not just any barn it must be a fully upgraded barn (Deluxe Barn) to house ostriches. This upgrade can be purchased from Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop for a significant investment, but it’s well worth it if you’re serious about animal farming.
Hatching Time and Tips
Once placed inside a Deluxe Barn, place your ostrich egg inside the incubator. The hatching process takes 15 in-game days, which is longer than most other animals, so patience is key. However, this wait is compensated by the value and productivity of the ostrich once it hatches.
If you have the Coopmaster profession, it reduces incubation time by half but note that Coopmaster affects coop animals, not barn animals like ostriches, so in this case it won’t apply. You’ll simply need to let the days pass naturally.
Raising Ostriches on Your Farm
Animal Behavior and Benefits
Once your ostrich hatches, it behaves like any other barn animal. You’ll need to care for it by feeding it daily (either with hay or fresh grass) and ensuring it has enough space and love. Like cows and goats, ostriches can be petted and will build affection toward you over time, leading to higher-quality products.
Each adult ostrich lays an ostrich egg every seven days, provided it is well-fed and happy. These eggs are massive, selling for 600g at base quality, and much more if converted to mayonnaise or with artisan and rancher professions. The ostrich egg is also used in certain cooking recipes and can be gifted, though few villagers have a strong reaction to it.
Maximizing Profit
For players seeking efficient gold production, turning ostrich eggs into mayonnaise is ideal. Using a Mayonnaise Machine, you can turn a single ostrich egg into ten jars of mayonnaise. This scales incredibly well, especially if you have multiple ostriches and artisan equipment set up. Pairing this with the Artisan profession increases the value of each jar, making it a top-tier method for passive income.
Decor and Collection
Using Ostrich Eggs Creatively
In addition to their functional uses, ostrich eggs can also be used as decorative items. When placed on furniture or stands, they add a unique touch to your farmhouse aesthetic. Some players enjoy collecting rare items, and ostrich eggs serve as an impressive trophy from your adventures on Ginger Island.
If you’re a completionist, you’ll also want to include ostrich eggs in your shipping collection to fully track all the items you’ve shipped. While not a requirement for the Community Center, ostrich eggs do count toward overall achievement progress.
Hatching an ostrich egg in Stardew Valley is a multi-step journey that rewards exploration, patience, and careful planning. From discovering the egg on Ginger Island to crafting the ostrich incubator and raising your first ostrich, each phase adds a new layer to your farming experience. Not only do ostriches provide valuable resources, but they also represent one of the game’s more advanced and satisfying mechanics.
Whether you’re a veteran player aiming to optimize your income or a newcomer exploring all the game has to offer, unlocking the secrets of the ostrich egg is a milestone worth pursuing. With the right setup and a bit of island adventure, you’ll soon be raising these majestic birds and reaping the benefits of your efforts across your farm in Stardew Valley.