Emu Feeding Portions?

[Irine]

I would like your advise... I have 4 Emus(adults) should I free feed them or should I control their portions? How much feed is appropriate? Thanks

 

[chickenzoo]

Free feeding is best. I fill up a horse feeder ( see your other post ) 1/2 way and let them eat what they want. I've not heard of an emu over eating.......

 

[Irine]

Quote:
Thanks, I just have to find a way to block it from my goats and sheep, my Emus are very nice to them and let them eat their food

 

[dnkfarm]

I had to put mine high out of reach of the goats. Without anything that the goats could put their front hooves on. But I have nigerians/pygmys so they cannot reach as far as the bigger goats. I used a bucket w/lid and cut a hole out and hung it in the center of the emu house. I also hung one from a tree limb.

 

[chickenzoo]

i explained one type I use in your emu feeder post. Another one is that I can buy these big mineral tubs at my feed mill ( looks like a paint bucket but expanded to 2 ft across or so.) that have lockable lids. I cut holes in the sides for the emus head and mount them atopt sucken thick posts in the ground.

 

[foulman007]

I watched the 3 of mine eat a 50 lb bag in 3 hours. but the guy I got them from never fed them free choice. and I still cant.

 

[Irine]

Quote:
OMG

I feed them twice a day, the people that had them before me feed them one time a day. BUt I always feel that they are still hungry, so I try to bring out some fruits ( apples, grapes even carrots)

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
DANG ! You have PIGS instead of EMU ! Mine go to their feeder, eat some then wander off, come back later... eat some, wander off. Everyone I know with them feeds free choice ( I'm talking about filling up a horse feeding bucket for the day )

 

[Highlander]

The lady I bought my rheas from didn't recommend free choice feeding to me either so I don't, but they do always seem hungry. But they seem happy and healthy so whatever works! Love the fence post feeder idea though!

 

[Nicophorus]

What I'm doing with my two is, they spend from late morning to late afternoon in their pen with enough feed for them to go through in that time, about half to 1/3rd of a horse bucket. Then they spend from sundown to mid morning on a acre to forage on. Seems to work out, half the time when I let them out of their pen in the late afternoon there is still feed in their bucket.

I did have a question about Emu "on pasture" does anyone free range theirs on pasture? For example, most of the year my goats get zero supplemental feeding, can Emus do this?