Thanks for the responses.
Firstly, @casportpony ,
As far as pasture size goes, I'm presently figuring that out. There are three different areas of 1-3 acres each where I can see the emus working, two of which are already perimeter fenced (for deer- large metal fences). We also have a space with shorter fencing, but much of it is brambles and awaits care from the goats, so I have no immediate plans for birds in that area. I own The Emu Farmer's Handbook (Minaar), but it really doesn't detail the fencing needs as much as I'd like. Research of mine on various sites has essentially given me the guideline "give them as much running space as you can".
While this is helpful, I'd like something generally more specific.
This is all very much in the planning phase, but a resource I've been frequently referencing is the following link:
http://www.redoakfarm.com/facilities.htm
It provides the intriguing "wagon wheel" design that I'd like to adapt into a rotational grazing model. (
http://www.redoakfarm.com/wagonwheelpendesign.htm) I'm just looking into two birds, so my operation obviously won't be on this scale, which is why I'm going for flexibility rather than permanence.
@Farmchick,
Thanks for your input, I'll definitely have to consider that. I've heard they're good jumpers, and I know the majority of people seem to use 6' fencing. Again, nothing has been acted on yet, so I'm very open to suggestions like this. In the link above, I know the farm there seems to say cattle panels
can work, though it does say "with wire on the outside"-I assume this refers to chicken wire or something similar. Because the area I have has a strong fence on the outside, a few escapes won't be an issue, but I'd rather not be rounding up birds constantly. I'll have to see if anyone has successfully used cattle panels in the past, perhaps I'll have to default to taller fencing method.
All in all, I'm generally trying to avoid exhaustion of the plant life and soil that might occur if I gave them unlimited access to the area, and rotation would give me a chance to irrigate or replant ground they'd been on in the past. I do this with my smaller poultry, moving them every week using an electronet system, and although I've had escapees there, they're generally inclined to stay in, as their need for foraging is always satisfied. Naturally they're a totally different part of the bird family tree, so I'm aware that emus may behave differently!
Sorry this was so long, and thanks for your time!
