Good Pets???

[Tame Emu Guy]

Hey, Godsgrl,

Okay, it all sounds pretty well-managed (in my truly minimal experience).

I suppose I do agree with the feeders-only-feed-the-critters policy, but it’s a little sad in respect of your chance to interact with the pair. If nothing else, if you have the time, it would be interesting to ride out with the feeders, just to get a chance to observe the birds. I’d personally be thrilled to get a chance to observe a breeding-pair of ostriches at close range.

We’d be delighted to receive periodic reports from you, Godsgrl. We BYC folk puddle along by piecing our ratite knowledge together. There are several knowledgeable ostrich-breeders in orbit at present, but I don’t think we have anyone in your position.

S.E.

 

[Godsgrl]

I would love to ride out and help feed the ostriches. I'm sure the keepers wouldn't mind me riding along, but I'd probably have to come in on my day off to do that. I haven't asked about it yet. I really enjoy watching the birds as we cruise around in the exhibit. Sometimes, Fred will escort us in. It's a lot of fun, but we are traveling at ostrich speed, which is a lot like a parade. LOL

I will keep in touch, and share my ostrich stories with you all. Like the time the guest completely panicked at the mere sight of an ostrich, (it was still probably 50 feet away from us), and laid down in the trailer hyperventilating. Worse yet, she had been warned beforehand, and knew what she was in for. Shaking head..takes all kinds I guess. Anyway, thanks for the warm welcome.

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Morning, Godsgrl,

You’ll entrance your guests if you learn and memorise some stats on the ratites – that is, the ostriches weren’t the largest.

Also (and you’ll find the material here on BYC), you can explain how very very close the ostriches and emus are to dinosaurs. Emus still have a claw, left over from their dinosaur-era forearms, hidden under their wing. Do ostriches have this? (Do other ratites? Anyone know?)

I’ve always been fascinated by How Big They Used To Be: sabre-toothed tigers, crocodiles, etc.

Check also on ostrich incubation. The pair shares the task. If you bone up on the evolutionary aspects of that (in emus, the male incubates alone. Most unusual.), it should also intrigue your guests.

Supreme Emu
Western Australia

 

[Godsgrl]

Morning, Godsgrl,

You’ll entrance your guests if you learn and memorise some stats on the ratites – that is, the ostriches weren’t the largest.

Also (and you’ll find the material here on BYC), you can explain how very very close the ostriches and emus are to dinosaurs. Emus still have a claw, left over from their dinosaur-era forearms, hidden under their wing. Do ostriches have this? (Do other ratites? Anyone know?)

I’ve always been fascinated by How Big They Used To Be: sabre-toothed tigers, crocodiles, etc.

Check also on ostrich incubation. The pair shares the task. If you bone up on the evolutionary aspects of that (in emus, the male incubates alone. Most unusual.), it should also intrigue your guests.

Supreme Emu
Western Australia

Interesting facts. Dinosaurs aren't really my thing, so I haven't looked into any relation between them and ostriches. Very interesting about the emu claw, I'll have to remember that one, as our main zoo does have emus. I talk a lot about incubation, and egg hatching. We have a blown egg to let the guests handle. I also mention how ostriches send their chicks down to the water hole first, to scope out the predators. Of course behavior is a big one, people always want to know why they are doing a certain action-like spreading their wings out to chase away the elands from food.

Also, I mention how the babies are programmed to hatch when they hear their nest mates peeping from the egg. Get hatched, and get gone with mom and dad. They'll hatch even if they are not completely formed. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Godsgrl,

Ya know . . . considering just how much emu information has transpired to be outright untrue, it might be wise to check the notion that ostriches send their chicks in, at the waterhole, to scope out predators.

Think about it: the parent is highly protective of the chicks. All humans go ‘Awwww’ at stories of how the brave mum/dad defended the babes.

So, it just seems so counter to this principle that the ostriches put their chicks up for grabs like that! If it is indeed true, it is the start of a line of thought about the whys and wherefores of this exception.

S.E.

 

[Godsgrl]

Godsgrl,

Ya know . . . considering just how much emu information has transpired to be outright untrue, it might be wise to check the notion that ostriches send their chicks in, at the waterhole, to scope out predators.

Think about it: the parent is highly protective of the chicks. All humans go ‘Awwww’ at stories of how the brave mum/dad defended the babes.

So, it just seems so counter to this principle that the ostriches put their chicks up for grabs like that! If it is indeed true, it is the start of a line of thought about the whys and wherefores of this exception.

S.E.

Well, as I understand it, the thinking behind it is preserving the parents. If the adults are eaten, there is no one to care for the chicks. But the parents can always lay another clutch of eggs.

 

[chriffer]

I just purchased my first emu chick (3 months old) and I must say the friendship is AMAZING! They are much more endearing than any other bird I've owned. Follows me around like a puppy dog and easily handled and enjoys being pet. With the proper set up and lots of pasture space they are incredible pets. I met the adult emus at the breeder 's farm and definitely know what I got myself into. They're definitely worth the research and investment as a pet. I have her housed next to my chickens and horses for company and she's fitting right in. During the day she's on the pasture next to my horses and I put her in a stall overnight for protection till she's older. Eventually when she is much bigger, I will integrate her with my horses that are on pasture 24/7.

 

[casuarius]

Morning, Godsgrl,

You’ll entrance your guests if you learn and memorise some stats on the ratites – that is, the ostriches weren’t the largest.

Also (and you’ll find the material here on BYC), you can explain how very very close the ostriches and emus are to dinosaurs. Emus still have a claw, left over from their dinosaur-era forearms, hidden under their wing. Do ostriches have this? (Do other ratites? Anyone know?)

I’ve always been fascinated by How Big They Used To Be: sabre-toothed tigers, crocodiles, etc.

Check also on ostrich incubation. The pair shares the task. If you bone up on the evolutionary aspects of that (in emus, the male incubates alone. Most unusual.), it should also intrigue your guests.

Supreme Emu
Western Australia

All ratites have a claw or claws on their wings. A Ostrich and Rhea has 2 small ones the same size as a Emus, while a Cassowary has 5 very long ones that resemble porcupine quills in a way.

 

[casuarius]

The question to this topic was never really answered, so as someone who has experience with 4 species or Ratites (not breeds, breed refers to a animal that has been bred by man to make it become what it has). Emus, Rheas, and Ostriches can be kept together. They will chase one another sometimes, and it may get to the point you might have to separate them. I would never say Ratites make good pets, but they do make very fascinating and interesting pets. They are all dangerous though, and even the tamest Emu should be respected. Once they reach maturity, they change. Emus are still the tamest by far, especially males. Females are dominant and even hand raised females can turn on their keepers. I have a hand raised female that has never attacked my wife and I, but she will try to kick strangers and especially children, NEVER let children in with Emus, tame or not. Female Ostriches are the tamest after Emus. Male Ostriches are the most dangerous Ratite after Cassowaries. There are very rare birds that stay tame, but most of them become violent and territorial, and can easily kill a human with a single kick. There are 3 subspecies commonly kept in captivity: blacks, reds, and blues. Blacks are the smallest and tamest. Reds are the largest and meanest. Rheas are very skittish. I have hand raised many, and have not had very many that would still let you pet them after adulthood. Male Rheas become the most aggressive after male Ostriches, and sometimes can be even meaner. They are the least dangerous of Ratites however because they do not kick, they give very nasty bites though and the tip of their beaks are hooked, they can easily pull a plug out of your flesh. Female Rheas never attack anything generally. Cassowaries win the dangerous title for all birds, and even hand raised Cassowaries turn violent after a yr or so of age. They are lethal kickers, and even practice kicking at trees, each other, etc while growing up, and they do not just jump and kick in the air like a Emu then run the other way. They kick straight out while throwing their weight into you, always making contact. Both males and females are aggressive, but females more than males. I have 4 adults currently, and I cannot freely walk around in their pens with any of them without the risk of being attacked.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
emu claw:

The question to this topic was never really answered, so as someone who has experience with 4 species or Ratites (not breeds, breed refers to a animal that has been bred by man to make it become what it has). Emus, Rheas, and Ostriches can be kept together. They will chase one another sometimes, and it may get to the point you might have to separate them. I would never say Ratites make good pets, but they do make very fascinating and interesting pets. They are all dangerous though, and even the tamest Emu should be respected. Once they reach maturity, they change. Emus are still the tamest by far, especially males. Females are dominant and even hand raised females can turn on their keepers. I have a hand raised female that has never attacked my wife and I, but she will try to kick strangers and especially children, NEVER let children in with Emus, tame or not. Female Ostriches are the tamest after Emus. Male Ostriches are the most dangerous Ratite after Cassowaries. There are very rare birds that stay tame, but most of them become violent and territorial, and can easily kill a human with a single kick. There are 3 subspecies commonly kept in captivity: blacks, reds, and blues. Blacks are the smallest and tamest. Reds are the largest and meanest. Rheas are very skittish. I have hand raised many, and have not had very many that would still let you pet them after adulthood. Male Rheas become the most aggressive after male Ostriches, and sometimes can be even meaner. They are the least dangerous of Ratites however because they do not kick, they give very nasty bites though and the tip of their beaks are hooked, they can easily pull a plug out of your flesh. Female Rheas never attack anything generally. Cassowaries win the dangerous title for all birds, and even hand raised Cassowaries turn violent after a yr or so of age. They are lethal kickers, and even practice kicking at trees, each other, etc while growing up, and they do not just jump and kick in the air like a Emu then run the other way. They kick straight out while throwing their weight into you, always making contact. Both males and females are aggressive, but females more than males. I have 4 adults currently, and I cannot freely walk around in their pens with any of them without the risk of being attacked.

I'm glad you posted this.. i put up a warning a few pages back .. but yours is much better than mine!..