Advice needed.

[The Sheriff]

If you recall, I have two males emus 7 months old and have been looking for a female. My two boys have been vent sexed by an avian vet who's had emus for 30 years, and DNA sexed TWICE.

JK Farms had two emus for sale and I had them DNA tested and they are both girls. She didn't want to split them up so I decided against taking them. They are about a month younger than mine.

T Greenhut bought them. She lives in northern CA and so do I.

I approached her with the thought that we could trade one emu with each other and then we would both have a pair.

The pros are:

1.) We would each have a pair of almost the same age. That opportunity probably wouldn't come along again. I don't want to try to bring in a full grown, older female. It would be an even trade, no more money involved. I would even make use of some of the hundreds I spent DNA sexing emus all over northern CA!

2.) All four emus would benefit from having the full emu experience of mating and raising babies. One boy, one girl, less fighting.

3.) We could hatch or sell emu eggs if we wanted to.

4.) We each have acres for them to run and play so their living conditions would not be downgraded.

5.) I wouldn't have to watch my two boys dance with each other constantly.

The cons are:

1.) I love my emus and it would be so difficult to part with one. My husband says I project human emotions on my animals. He said that because I said Stuart would miss me. But if I know emus they would probably not remember their buddy or me after a day or two. Right?

Anyway, I would appreciate any input. Hubby and I are seriously leaning towards this option rather than trying to find another female for the two boys. If this is a dumb idea and you know what you are talking about, please let us know. It sounds like a win/win to me. Except for the bawling when the exchange is made.

 

[the Pollo Loco]

sounds like a win win situation!!!

 

[key west chick]

I dont have emus yet, but it sounds like an awesome deal.

 

[chickenzoo]

I was going to do that once,......... but I just couldn't part with one that I raised up.

So I understand. Logically it sounds like a good idea, both you and the emus could benefit from it. You can get babies or sell eggs.
Emu typically only care about the girls during breeding season, any other time my boys enjoyed each others company and still hung out together. This is my experience, others may be different, but if I recall my breeder's emus were about the same. My males are always more friendly then the girls were. Right now I have one pair, a emu male about the same age ( who could care less about the others) and a younger emu I hatched ( still have to get DNA'd ). they all seem to get along ok, except right now Merlin is broody on eggs and chases them off it they get too close.

The more property the better they are. Either way it could work. A female emu does not have to be in the same age bracket as them..... but knowing where your female came from, age and health is good to know too.
Sorry, I can't give an exact answer........

I'll see what others say

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
Ok, so if we had a pair they would hang out together though, right? In the absence of another male emu I would think they would seek out their own species. I was so hoping you would chime in Chickenzoo. Now if only Foulman would put his stamp of approval on it. Also, what would be thebest time of day to introduce the new one?

 

[welasharon]

I don't know nuthin' bout emus....but if I was a boy one I would rather have a girl one than my brother.......just sayin'
and they would be close enough that you could visit. I have the hardest time getting rid of any of my animals. I egotistically think that no one could possibly take as good a care of my animals as I do.....but I have to remind myself there are lots of other nuts like me out there. LOL
sharon

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks from one nut to another.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Emus have a memory as long as a grain of rice...your memory will last forever. You don't do it it will because you will miss him, sorry to say, he won't miss you.

I think all would be happier in the long run with the trade. Like you said, another opportunity like this will not likely come up again.

 

[foulman007]

Everyone always suggests that emus are not to bright. I have a chainlink fence with a gate and a standard U shape latch. and untill I put a lock on it It has been flipped up almost every day when I come home from work. The males and the 4 kids will be on the carport pecking my dive gear and misc. brick-a-brack. after I put the lock on the front gate The back gate latch has been flipped up a few times this month . That gate is sitting on the ground and has to be heafted to get it opened. maybe not too dumb just playing when we are watching and they know we are watchng........

But anyway I dont know how well emu males bond but when the female isnt interested "wink" the boys hang out together. mine are young just about 3 years old now. You have time to get a female introduced . it will be at least a few more years before they will care.
Breeding and nest building and hatching was a great experience for me. My boys not to good at it yet. I let them have the last 8 eggs to hatch they broke 2 or 3 one oozed and got the rest icky. I finished up the last 5 of em with 3 hatching . one died from infection the other 2 were fine.

You asked me to "chime" and I am stalling a bit. But to me it seem that you want to raise some babies. Your gonna need a female for that. They are eaiser to transport when they are young. Mine tend to like whom ever has the feed bucket. yet I think they are ploting something............

 

[chickenzoo]

I agree Foulman, they seem small minded in some ways but in others they can be down right sneaky. Also, some emu are fine with anyone, act the same no matter who has the feed..... but then there are some that are very attached to their human... like Jazzy was to me. When we were moving and I had to keep him and the others at a friends while we found our new place, my friend said he pined for me. He would interact some with them, but when he saw me at the gate it was a different animal. When I lost him it broke me up inside... he was more like a dog then an emu. So, some can be very attached but most are like other animals and adjust were they are. It seems like a good opportunity. You will know where he is, you will know he is being cared for, you can go see him and you might even be able to get babies from him in the future.... It is a hard decision however... I know how special they are.