Creepy emu problem

[ducksliketoswim]

So I was in charge of cleaning the emu exibit at a local zoo a couple days ago and found out why everyone hates cleaning the emu exibit, it turns out the male emus try to mate with everyone that goes into there exibits. Its extremely creepy, they start crawling up behind you and making a loud booming noise. Is there anyway to stop them of this behavior? I would assume getting them a mate, would that make them aggressive toward people if they had a mate? Is there any other way?

 

[yinepu]

The loud booming noise is usually made by the ladies.. not the male emus

Maybe wear a different cologne?

By "crawling up behind you".. do you mean they are sitting with their behinds on the ground and scooting forward?.. or just walking up in stealthy emu mode?

 

[ducksliketoswim]

They are sitting with their behinds on the ground and scooting forward, is that a mating behavior? I didnt know it was the females that made noise, do females crawl like that as well?

 

[yinepu]

They are sitting with their behinds on the ground and scooting forward, is that a mating behavior? I didnt know it was the females that made noise, do females crawl like that as well?

yeah that's mating behavior.. sounds like the girls want you to be their very best friend.

The good news is that only lasts for a few months...

Has the zoo expressed any interest in finding a mate or two?
I have no idea how big the enclosure is or how many emus are already in there.. so adding another emu to the mix could be a bad idea especially if space is limited and it already has too many females.

 

[ducksliketoswim]

Quote: LOL

 

[yinepu]

In "normal" mating behavior (and the owners of breeding pairs may correct me on this) the female normally sits down and the male scoots up behind her.. but the booming you describe is usually a girl thing.. Now assuming there are no male emus around I could see the girls flirting with people.. and when that doesn't get them anywhere they move on to sitting down and trying to get closer as you try to walk away by scooting as close as they can get just so you will get the idea that they are in the mood for love!

 

[ducksliketoswim]

yeah that's mating behavior.. sounds like the girls want you to be their very best friend.

The good news is that only lasts for a few months...

Has the zoo expressed any interest in finding a mate or two?
I have no idea how big the enclosure is or how many emus are already in there.. so adding another emu to the mix could be a bad idea especially if space is limited and it already has too many females.

lol I guess my new best friend is an emu named melon

, But just to be clear, when exactly should this bevavior stop?
And I havent asked them if they were planning on getting more or not yet, I just wanted some advice to prepare myself for next time I have to clean their exibit.

 

[gryeyes]

Y'know, I have always thought it was amusing when hens squat for me, and when my dominant roo brings me little presents to woo me.

But this one beats all. <I><*giggling*></I>

 

[yinepu]

lol I guess my new best friend is an emu named melon

, But just to be clear, when exactly should this bevavior stop?
And I havent asked them if they were planning on getting more or not yet, I just wanted some advice to prepare myself for next time I have to clean their exibit.

Well, emus are in breeding mode here in the states from November on through spring. It depends on the location and the particular birds. For example I know of one woman here in Texas who hasn't gotten any eggs at all yet this season.. and I saw an ad the other day for someone else also in Texas who has chicks that were hatched out the day after Christmas.
My emus aren't quite old enough for breeding yet. they will be this fall though!

Hopefully someone in California can chime in with their emu's breeding season info.
The last eggs I got last year were laid the end of March (local eggs). And they were the last eggs that the birds laid for that season.. so our breeding season here went from early November to the end of March
I think people were still offering eggs on eBay through part of April. But I can't swear to that.

 

[kacklinkelly]

The title captured my attention and the following responses just made me laugh out loud.
Animals are so amusing. I was remembering how our female cat used to become so
"interested"

in my husband before we had her spayed. Followed him all around
the house and rubbed up against his legs at every opportunity. Not to mention the
MEOWING. He thought that was pretty creepy too.

Let's be careful out there!