Emu Chick Mortality

[birdeo]

I have to wonder first how old are your chicks and are they getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine and not getting too chilled ?
Death in emu chicks are not that common very early on unless they have retained yolk sacs, ( this can happen up to 3 weeks of age ) get too cold or are kept in damp, dark & excessively dirty conditions without proper sunshine and exercise. ( I'm not saying this is what is going on with yours, just something to think about )
Emus are not the indiscriminate foragers they have been made out to be overall but they WILL ingest small shiny objects such as glass ( and jewelry ) small nails, screws and so forth .
I would not worry too much about rocks and sticks ( rocks they eat to help with digestion and pass them as a rule just fine ) but would advise you to invest in a roller magnet and check that area over very well with it before turning them loose in it.
Impaction happens more often in ostriches than with emus but not impossible to happen in emus either, just less likely.

 

[ES Emus]

emu chicks (and sometimes adults) will swallow anything that they can get down their throats, The risk of them swallowing things they shouldn't typically lessens at about two months of age, though some never get over it. Swallowing small pebbles and dirt is normal as they use that to grind up their food.

 

[sandhuemufarms]

Year 2013
Eggs in hatcher=2488
Chicks hatched=2127
Died=161
Healthily chicks=1966



Regards. www.SandhuEmuFarms.com

 

[ES Emus]

Year 2013
Eggs in hatcher=2488
Chicks hatched=2127
Died=161
Healthily chicks=1966



Regards. www.SandhuEmuFarms.com

that's about a 92.3% survival rate of hatched birds

 

[sdm111]

My neighbor used to raise them and had to keep the chicks on wire cause they ate everything.

 

[ES Emus]

My neighbor used to raise them and had to keep the chicks on wire cause they ate everything.

raising them on wire also provides a great surface to support the development of straight toes and helps prevent splayed legs also.

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Compared to about 25% in the wild. Wow!!

S.E.

 

[Grassman 52]

Had the chicks out of the chick run in the large pasture today - Great to see them running with my dog and having fun. After a hour of exploring they followed me back to the chick run for pellets and to relax - I was worried about getting them back, but they followed me right in. They are about 5 weeks old now and getting big.

Spent a few hours yesterday - mowed and walked the pasture looking for glass or anything that they could get in trouble with - I am confident that they will be OK.

 

[ES Emus]

Had the chicks out of the chick run in the large pasture today - Great to see them running with my dog and having fun. After a hour of exploring they followed me back to the chick run for pellets and to relax - I was worried about getting them back, but they followed me right in. They are about 5 weeks old now and getting big.

Spent a few hours yesterday - mowed and walked the pasture looking for glass or anything that they could get in trouble with - I am confident that they will be OK.

they look great, make sure they get to run every day...

 

[Ellamumu]

so cute, did you ever find out why they had bald patches?