Need some advice on Emus!

[Zen Wildlife Rescuer]

Hey everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve been on this forum! Feels good to be back. So, I have some questions regarding emus. Basically my mum met one a couple weeks ago when she went to collect some live feed for our pets and rescues, and she fell in love with the 5 month old bird she met. She sent me videos of her and I also fell in love with emus. Now we want to get one. Our yard is massive and big enough to accommodate one, but my mum isn’t so sure about the whole idea for one reason: their ability to kill or injure other creatures. We have 3 rabbits who roam freely in our backyard who we are concerned about, and we have a small/medium dog. So here comes my questions:

Will a hand raised emu become aggressive and potentially kill or injure my other animals or people?

Is it true they become aggressive after 14 months of age?

Can emus coexist peacefully with the rabbits in the backyard?

If they can’t live with rabbits, could she live in the front yard with our dog 24/7?

What pellets do they eat?

Will an emu destroy our garden?

Our walls are over 2 meters high, is that enough?

And finally, we aren’t willing to get more than one, so will she be okay living without other emus?

 

[Pyxis]

Will a hand raised emu become aggressive and potentially kill or injure my other animals or people?

Probably not. You'll want to raise them around all the animals you want them to be with, though. Otherwise they might see them as something to be afraid of or attack when they are older. I make sure all mine are raised around poultry for this reason.

Is it true they become aggressive after 14 months of age?

Not necessarily, no. But sometimes they might get a bit aggressive. During breeding season they are a bit more territorial and it's the females that tend to be more aggressive. Males can become aggressive if they have chicks.

Can emus coexist peacefully with the rabbits in the backyard?

Yes, but again, you'd want to raise them around rabbits so they don't try to stomp them as adults. And there's always a risk they still would.

If they can’t live with rabbits, could she live in the front yard with our dog 24/7?

Sure, if you raise them around dogs, but again, there's always the risk that something will happen. Also the front yard would have to be big enough for them, and have fences over six feet high.

What pellets do they eat?

I think you're not in the US, since you're talking about meters and not feet, haha. Here in the US there are several options like Kalmbach, Poulin Grain, and Mazuri Ratite pellets. Basically, try to find an emu or ratite pellet if possible.

Will an emu destroy our garden?

They love to eat greens and fruit. So, quite possibly.

Our walls are over 2 meters high, is that enough?

Fences over six feet are generally enough to keep them in.

And finally, we aren’t willing to get more than one, so will she be okay living without other emus?

No, sorry. Emus are social and need a friend. If you can only get one, you really shouldn't get them at all.

 

[Zen Wildlife Rescuer]

Okay. It’s a no to emus then! We may be moving in a couple months to an even bigger property. Maybe then we could have an emu pen. But for now we’ll pass. Thank you so much @JacinLarkwell

 

[JacinLarkwell]

@Pyxis probably knows best most of those questions

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hey everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve been on this forum! Feels good to be back. So, I have some questions regarding emus. Basically my mum met one a couple weeks ago when she went to collect some live feed for our pets and rescues, and she fell in love with the 5 month old bird she met. She sent me videos of her and I also fell in love with emus. Now we want to get one. Our yard is massive and big enough to accommodate one, but my mum isn’t so sure about the whole idea for one reason: their ability to kill or injure other creatures. We have 3 rabbits who roam freely in our backyard who we are concerned about, and we have a small/medium dog. So here comes my questions:

Will a hand raised emu become aggressive and potentially kill or injure my other animals or people?

Is it true they become aggressive after 14 months of age?

Can emus coexist peacefully with the rabbits in the backyard?

If they can’t live with rabbits, could she live in the front yard with our dog 24/7?

What pellets do they eat?

Will an emu destroy our garden?

Our walls are over 2 meters high, is that enough?

And finally, we aren’t willing to get more than one, so will she be okay living without other emus?

But from what I know:
Yes, they can be a bit territorial, especially to smaller chickens

No, individuals might become aggressive but not all will go out planning to attack you

I wouldn't risk it

No

They're special pellets made for emus, rheas and ostriches

Yes

I don't think so, but they can't fly, so I'm not sure

I think they would be better with others but know some are raised alone

 

[JacinLarkwell]

This post is older but might help a bit

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-to-emus-and-have-some-questions.1301947/

 

[Bush Chook]

My emu lives with the dogs and they have no interest in hurting him but if he treads on them when they are sleeping one dog takes out a few feathers now and again which is a reflex action. They have been raised with both dogs and they will even lay down together but the neighbours dog gets attacked and stomped along with the wild rabbits if he can catch them. They also eat anything shiny which will kill them . It’s like looking after a 4 year old child in a lolly shop.

 

[Isellsilkies]

They eat emu pellets just order them off a eBay or buy from pet shop and ask for advice

 

[Isellsilkies]

They could destroy garden from scratching in it and try to eat the plants

 

[Isellsilkies]

But from what I know:
Yes, they can be a bit territorial, especially to smaller chickens

No, individuals might become aggressive but not all will go out planning to attack you

I wouldn't risk it

No

They're special pellets made for emus, rheas and ostriches

Yes

I don't think so, but they can't fly, so I'm not sure

I think they would be better with others but know some are raised alone

That is much better than my answers