Calling all emu owners- Need some helpful information!

[haleyh-LHP]

I haven't been on here for about 8 months! Busy, busy! So I just wanted to say hello all, I'm glad to be back!
I haven't forgotten about everyone, I've still been browsin' through the forums, just not logged in

But anyways, I need some helpful information from all you emu folks!

I do believe this is the year I am going to get my emu chick, I've been looking since last year, but I think I have finally found one!
It's about 2 weeks old, thats a good age to start raising one as a pet, right? I want to be as hands on as possible with it because I want it to be friendly when it gets older.

My questions and information I seek from you guys are as follows:
1. Whats typically the nicer gender?
2. If raised hands on with the family and other pets, can I allow it to free roam as an adult?
3. I understand that you are supposed to special order their food from a feed store, what is the name of the food I should inquire about, and will my feed store allow me to obtain it on a weekly basis?
And forthly, what are you're overall experiences with emus? Do you enjoy raising them?

Any other information you think would be helpful would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

-Haley

 

[texascowboy1979]

1. Gender... Not sure, sorry
2. You can not allow it to Free Roam, There are dangers everywhere. You can have it in a pasture with goats and such... but not FREE range.
3. Feed, I use a Mazuri Ostrich Food for all my Rheas and Emus. Not all feed stores carry it or can order It. i have to drive 45 mins to get to the nearest feed store that can get it for me. before you decide to get an Emu, check what stores will be able to provide you will feed. It would suck to get an emu and then not be able to get food for it.
4. Emus, Rhea's and Ostriches Kick But. Emus and Rheas are calmer and easyer to work with.

Enjoy and hope that helps.

 

[chickenzoo]

Males tend to me better pets on average
They can be in a fenced area like a pasture, but not loose in an open area
When raised with other critters they fit in well, but when excited can still run slap over a chicken or duck..... not had any seriously injured, but could happen. On occasion they can get excited and stomp at something small like a duck. They don't seem to do it with the chickens... only ducks around here????
Mine get a mix of sweet feed, horse pellets, chicken feed, bird seed, dog chow, sometimes catfish chow, veggies and some fruits they like.
I enjoy mine a lot. Many people don't understand them :
- they don't know what personal space is...
- They bite at shiny, bright colored objects... no matter what it is, jewelry, watches, glasses, shirt ties,nails, screws,..... not trying to be mean, they just can't help themselves
- will bite at things that look like bugs on your skin - aka, moles, sun spots, cuts, etc..... they think they are helping by debugging you
- if you grab their legs or try and hold on to an emu other than from behind them, they can kick out to the front, sideways and in between... their legs are their survival and they are sensitive to being grabbed, when babys I do a lot of touching their legs and holding them.
- when excited or scared emus don't really think, they just run. They will run straight into or through anything in their way when scared..... tame emus are somewhat better about it, but still reactive. And they can jump like a deer.
- emu have different vocal socialization's that can seem threatening, they have various hisses and grunts that can mean hi, how are ya, what's that or get away from me...... you learn it as you interact with them. They also do funny dances where they jump up, kick out, fall down and roll on the ground, then run and do it all again.
- they enjoy water and will roll in it or swim.

 

[Supreme Emu]

They will eat wheat until they burst.

Move slowly and quietly around them. Talk quietly to them.

Supreme Emu

 

[foulman007]

When I brought home 5 semi-wild emus my wife was certian I had lost my mind!
2 years later every time someone comes to pick up a chick she will hardly let them go. I am thinking she might be running some background checks behind my back. The neat factor and the humor these animals produce is tough to imagine. You will enyoy having them in your like and wonder why you waited to get one or two. Oh, as I type this I have a 4 hour old chick sitting on my lap proof reading. whoot whoot she/he says to all the BYC'ers out there.

 

[chickenzoo]

 

[haleyh-LHP]

Thanks guys for all the helpful information! I've come to the conclusion, I want a pair! Might as well not stop at one, it's taken me this long to come by an opportunity to get one, so I'm going to take advantage of it!

That chick is adorable!
I can't wait to get one!

 

[haleyh-LHP]

I have another question!

I'm hopefully getting one this weekend, my question is do I need to get two? They're 3 weeks old, and the four have been together since birth. I just don't want to get one and have it get depressed and die. Is that possible?
Whats your suggestions?

 

[foulman007]

A single chick will cry out very loudly when its alone. will it die from it I think not.