Baby Emu won’t eat.

[Jackstar]

Hi , hoping someone may be able to give some advice on how to get a emu chick to feed? I have been given a emu chick to care for that is likely less than a week old. (We are in central Australia in the desert and chicks Mum has likely been hunted) At present I have week old chickens so have a brooder set up, chick crumbles etc. Bubby emu is taking water from a syringe and on occasion trying to peck at crumbles with no success. I have mixed crumbles with yoghurt, water , egg (boiled) and tried syringe feeding but no luck. I have tried placing feed on foil, placing large shiny objects with feed, using food coloring on feed....anything to attract it. I am very worried as it is sleeping most of the time and appears to be getting weaker (I am adding electrolytes to water now). One thing it is starting to do is stand and peck up toward the sky...could it be looking for food hanging down like leaves? I realize it may not start to eat until about day 4 after hatching but I am sure that even if it is only a few days old it should be more active....
Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[sourland]

I'll call for help. @Pyxis can you help here?

 

[Pyxis]

First thing I would do is call a wildlife rescue place in your area to come get it, if possible. It's illegal to take emus out of the wild in Australia and I'd hate to see you get in trouble for it. Though if you are a wildlife rehabber and have the licenses and whatnot, of course ignore this.

In terms of trying to get the little guy to eat, trying offering leafy vegetables. Pieces of collard green are almost always the first things I get my newly hatched chicks to try eating. You could also offer cut up fruits like strawberry, which is always a hit with mine.

Also, offer mini pellets or just pellets in general instead of crumble; emu chicks are bigger and not as coordinated and it's much easier for them to get ahold of pellets than it is for them to get ahold of crumbles.

Lastly, if you can find the chick's dad (since it's the males that hatch and raise them) reuniting the chick with its father would of course be the best possible outcome, if possible

 

[Jackstar]

Thanks yes sorry I meant dad likely has been hunted. We are very, very remote and our local people tend to hunt emu -the chicks then become ‘pets’ to the young ones until they lose interest in them. I care for all sorts of birds and wild animals but first time with an emu chick! Shortly after I posted I had some success with leafy greens as I dangled them above chick - I figured this would mimick the bush / how the bird has been feeding. Phew! Thanks for the info on pellets that makes good sense. Fingers crossed we are making progress.