Emu Egg Hatch-along

[MGG]

So for the babies, I used my hall bath as the brooder for about two weeks. When they outgrew that, I put them up in my barn - I had to put some space heaters in there to keep the temperature steady, but it worked well. I used dog gates and pine shavings for an enclosure with a huge dog crate and larger hanging heater. Once they were bigger I didn't lock them in the dog crate at night. Finally I was able to move them to my neighbor's pasture and open barn with Fred, their dad. We kept the female, Ethel, in my pasture by herself. Once the babies were sold, we moved Fred back over. The adults have a lot of space, a trough of water, and I put a feeder in their three sided run-in. During winter they have fresh straw and they snuggle in there overnight. Otherwise they're pretty hardy and low key. For the record they have been laying eggs since late October but I'm collecting them this year - they are so determined to try to hatch again!

Thanks, this helps a lot! I have a big cardboard box I think I could use for a little while, then I have two puppy playpens I can connect to make one big one. I did that for my dog a couple years ago when I bred her and it worked well. I'm still thinking about adult enclosures. I'm technically in a town but it's really small and no one cares what anyone does. We just don't have a huge acreage like we used to but I'm hoping to buy my own property soon. Could hog or cattle panels work to make a enclosure for them or do you think they're too short?
Wow, cool! How many eggs do they lay a year? Are they fertile? If you have extras for a while I'd love to maybe get a couple more if these ones are no good. I don't know what they cost, the guy just gave me these two but I'd definitely be willing to pay something for a couple. No one seems to raise them out here.

 

[MGG]

So for the babies, I used my hall bath as the brooder for about two weeks. When they outgrew that, I put them up in my barn - I had to put some space heaters in there to keep the temperature steady, but it worked well. I used dog gates and pine shavings for an enclosure with a huge dog crate and larger hanging heater. Once they were bigger I didn't lock them in the dog crate at night. Finally I was able to move them to my neighbor's pasture and open barn with Fred, their dad. We kept the female, Ethel, in my pasture by herself. Once the babies were sold, we moved Fred back over. The adults have a lot of space, a trough of water, and I put a feeder in their three sided run-in. During winter they have fresh straw and they snuggle in there overnight. Otherwise they're pretty hardy and low key. For the record they have been laying eggs since late October but I'm collecting them this year - they are so determined to try to hatch again!

Also I love the pictures, so cute!!! Thanks for sharing them!

 

[FNF]

Thanks, this helps a lot! I have a big cardboard box I think I could use for a little while, then I have two puppy playpens I can connect to make one big one. I did that for my dog a couple years ago when I bred her and it worked well. I'm still thinking about adult enclosures. I'm technically in a town but it's really small and no one cares what anyone does. We just don't have a huge acreage like we used to but I'm hoping to buy my own property soon. Could hog or cattle panels work to make a enclosure for them or do you think they're too short?
Wow, cool! How many eggs do they lay a year? Are they fertile? If you have extras for a while I'd love to maybe get a couple more if these ones are no good. I don't know what they cost, the guy just gave me these two but I'd definitely be willing to pay something for a couple. No one seems to raise them out here.

I'm not sure - generally people say six foot no-climb fence. My fencing is not six feet but it's been fine (we got the adult emus from the people who sold us the property so they were used to it already). The more space the better - they love to run! I've read they'll lay up to 30 or something - last year they stopped at 10 then Fred sat on them. We got a couple after those hatched - I sent them to people who wanted them but they weren't viable. I have lost track of how many I've collected at this point - but it's definitely over 20. If we still have them after your eggs reach the hatch/no hatch point I can send you a couple.

 

[Strawberry74]

So for the babies, I used my hall bath as the brooder for about two weeks. When they outgrew that, I put them up in my barn - I had to put some space heaters in there to keep the temperature steady, but it worked well. I used dog gates and pine shavings for an enclosure with a huge dog crate and larger hanging heater. Once they were bigger I didn't lock them in the dog crate at night. Finally I was able to move them to my neighbor's pasture and open barn with Fred, their dad. We kept the female, Ethel, in my pasture by herself. Once the babies were sold, we moved Fred back over. The adults have a lot of space, a trough of water, and I put a feeder in their three sided run-in. During winter they have fresh straw and they snuggle in there overnight. Otherwise they're pretty hardy and low key. For the record they have been laying eggs since late October but I'm collecting them this year - they are so determined to try to hatch again!

Funny, I use our bathroom as a brooder for emu as well as geese and ducklings. The Emu grow so fast and they become massive poop machines within the first couple weeks and then they got to go outside somewhere with heat!

 

[FNF]

Funny, I use our bathroom as a brooder for emu as well as geese and ducklings. The Emu grow so fast and they become massive poop machines within the first couple weeks and then they got to go outside somewhere with heat!

LOL I KNOW!!!! The first day it's amazing because they don't poop at all and then BAM! I was happy to get them into the barn and even happier when they were outside!

 

[Strawberry74]

I'm not sure - generally people say six foot no-climb fence. My fencing is not six feet but it's been fine (we got the adult emus from the people who sold us the property so they were used to it already). The more space the better - they love to run! I've read they'll lay up to 30 or something - last year they stopped at 10 then Fred sat on them. We got a couple after those hatched - I sent them to people who wanted them but they weren't viable. I have lost track of how many I've collected at this point - but it's definitely over 20. If we still have them after your eggs reach the hatch/no hatch point I can send you a couple.

How tall is your fence and is it woven wire? Would you mind posting some pictures?

 

[Strawberry74]

These two pictures were from January 29th, I just took them as a reference. They were on day 13 here. Not the greatest photos. These eggs are tricky to photograph! The edges always seem to get lost.
Anyway, day 13 egg #1 View attachment 4043261

Day 13 egg #2
View attachment 4043262


Took these just now, today is day 19.
Egg #1
View attachment 4043267


Egg #2
View attachment 4043264View attachment 4043265
I turned the egg around for this one so it's now flipped View attachment 4043266


I tried to get the straightest angle possible and had my phone sitting flat on the table. I realize now I was holding the notebook somewhat crooked though. If they're too confusing I can try and take new ones somewhere else. Do you see a lean though or not really? I feel like I maybe do but I have no clue what's normal for these guys. Definitely more so with #2 I think than #1. #1 is also still losing a lot more moisture than #2.

They both look to have a little lean to them but it could just mean their air cell is growing like you said. I've had some that never lean that are empty and a few that have a slightly that are empty as well. As I said it's just kind of a hopeful indicator for me but no guarantee.

 

[MGG]

I'm not sure - generally people say six foot no-climb fence. My fencing is not six feet but it's been fine (we got the adult emus from the people who sold us the property so they were used to it already). The more space the better - they love to run! I've read they'll lay up to 30 or something - last year they stopped at 10 then Fred sat on them. We got a couple after those hatched - I sent them to people who wanted them but they weren't viable. I have lost track of how many I've collected at this point - but it's definitely over 20. If we still have them after your eggs reach the hatch/no hatch point I can send you a couple.

Haha! Are those yours in the video? That's an awesome pen. We live right next to a cattle rancher, I wonder if he'd let me share his pasture
Too bad they probably couldn't live with little ducks, I have an aviary with a pond and everything but it already has 153 ducks in it and I've heard emus aren't real careful.

I do have tons of fencing stuff though so I'm sure I could make something nice temporarily.
Wow that's quite a few! That would be awesome, thanks so much. Fingers crossed, mine are good though. They take sooo long, I don't know how much more waiting I can endure

 

[MGG]

Funny, I use our bathroom as a brooder for emu as well as geese and ducklings. The Emu grow so fast and they become massive poop machines within the first couple weeks and then they got to go outside somewhere with heat!

We only have one full bath in this house so I don't think the family would love me taking it over much
I have a duck shed though that's only really used in the winter and then later summer for ducklings so I'm sure I could keep them there. It's all insulated too and super easy to heat. All three pens can open up into one big one too. That thing in the middle is an old sink that I use as a duckling tub but I usually just keep it covered if no ducks are in there.

 

[FNF]

How tall is your fence and is it woven wire? Would you mind posting some pictures?

I think it's 48" (the old fence might be taller I'll have to look when I go back out) - the old fence has a strand of barbwire which I wouldn't add but again, the prior owners had it and the emus are used to it so we didn't mess with it. We added another fence to keep our ducks enclosed and it's definitely 48". Both are woven wire. We've had no problems with it probably because they were accustomed to it. I guess if you're putting in a new fence taller is better though.