Cassowaries

[casuarius]

Thanks for the replies, my friend is in Florida, so his birds have a nice foliage filled pen year round. Up here in NC everything dies in the winter, but I keep them in the woods and it grows up and covers over quickly. They really arent has bad as they are made out to be all over the internet. The worst time is in mating season. I have a vid clip on youtube of the Single Wattled if you guys wanna check it out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aTauI8BkBE

And these are my two pairs of double wattles.
http://s391.photobucket.com/albums/oo360/casuarius/?action=view&current=DSCF3262.mp4
http://s391.photobucket.com/albums/oo360/casuarius/?action=view&current=DSCN5320.mp4

and a chick...
http://s391.photobucket.com/albums/oo360/casuarius/?action=view&current=chickvid.mp4

 

[redhen]

Those things fascinate me and freak me out at the same time....
I dont wanna meet one in a dark alley....
Just saying..

 

[ChooksChick]

Is the single a young bird? It has the cutest little wattle nub!

 

[casuarius]

Quote:
He's around 20 yrs old. So I suppose thats young for a Cassowary, they can live 60-80 yrs recorded, maybe longer. I'll die before I ever find out haha.

 

[abluechipstock]

don't they disenbowel people LOL! i remember steve irwin got ran out of a cassowary pen, they are awesome looking birds

 

[alabamachick]

I think we need to link this to the earlier thread about dinosaurs...

Amazing looking birds!

 

[chickenzoo]

Don't tell me they are in Florida.... that's even more tempting.....

 

[casuarius]

Quote:
Haha, I really miss Steve Irwin. They don't disembowel people, but certainly have the potential if you give them a reason. I think only one confirmed death by a cassowary has ever been recorded. They certainly have the deadliest equipment of any bird. I've never been hurt by them in all the 12 yrs i've kept them, just gotta be smart with them and respect them :-D. They're like fish...not a "pet" pet lol.

 

[call ducks]

I must say, they are an intriguing bird. it seems that they are very smart, smarter the Ostriches. Are they smart? i would love one but mom & Dad would freak. Also what do you feed them? I believe they come from a tropical climate right? So would you feed them fruits?

 

[flyweed]

don't think I'd own one:

Cassowaries and ostriches are the only birds world-wide that have caused human deaths by physical attack. Incidents occur every year in Queensland, most at Mission Beach (110 km south of Cairns) and Lake Barrine (39 km south-west of Cairns), but previously also at Mount Whitfield in Cairns. The incidence of cassowary attacks in Queensland is reviewed. Data were obtained for 221 cassowary attacks, of which 150 were against humans, 75% of these by cassowaries fed previously by people. The feeding of cassowaries appears to change their natural behaviour, making them bold and aggressive. Victims were chased or charged in 71% of the incidents, and kicked in 15%. Less frequent actions included pushing, pecking, jumping on, butting with the head and snatching food