Jesse Lee Turner
Chirping
- May 28, 2025
- 56
- 173
- 71
I'm a chicken guy myself but if I saw one of my flock with all that yellow, that would be bilirubin excreted unprocessed by gut. Is all that yellow typical for an emu?
Could be deficiency, metabolic, gut stasis very likely.
From what you said, here's what stands out: Runny poop = Gut upset, maybe infection, parasites, stress, or heat?? Laying down with eyes closed = Lethargy = not normal at sundown for an emu, I'm guessing, that would be against anti-predator instinct for any bird. Panting = Could be overheating, pain, or early shock.
That’s not just a nap. That’s a sign Blu is not regulating right. We catch it early, and we got a fighting chance.
Offer shade or make some, AND a cool wet towel near feet, and cool—not ice cold water to drink.
If panting continues, sponge belly and legs with lukewarm water, not cold. Cold shock is deadly.
Give him electrolyte drink by spoon, dropper, baster or shallow bowl
Recipe:
1 quart water (950ml)
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp sugar or honey
Even a few sips can be a game changer.
If he perks up enough to eat, offer: Scrambled eggs (no seasoning), Soaked chick crumb or emu grower (moist, easier on gut), Plain cooked oatmeal with a dab of molasses for glucose.
Emu called Blu. Jesse starts thinking. Don't give away much online but if in Australia I will do some conversions for you.
Safe Night Setup
***Keep Blu warm but ventilated overnight.
**No drafts, soft bedding, quiet space.
*Let him rest but keep an eye on his breathing and poop.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All that yellow? Liver is in overdrive and gut is in stasis. That yelow portion when he's eating right becomes dark green through brown. Not eating? Blockage or vagus nerve shutdown to processing? Eaten too much of something like calcium or something? Any toxic plants? Too much fat in diet?
I get to thinking again. Any chance Blu happens to be a girl? Cuz these are sure signs of estrogen toxicity in a chicken, I would say same for an emu.
If estrogen toxicity, important to start blood thinner therapy to prevent mini strokes. Estrogen causes blood to run thick. mini strokes can look like slow walking, mouth breathing, not full consciousness, in a bird.
So low dose vitamin E will thin blood (from online Resource Pack):
| Adult Emu |
| Vitamin E = Up to 100–200 IU/day |
| Use if signs of neuro stress or clotting pattern/signs exist |
| Emu chick |
| 1–2 IU/kg body weight |
| So ~25–50 IU/day for a young emu |
Give Blu some B1, thiamine.
Thiamine powers the brain: It's essential for glucose metabolism in neural tissue. Protects against lactic acidosis in brain cells during low oxygen states (like stroke). Deficiency or high demand (stress, overheating, toxemia, parasites) = nerve misfiring or sudden crashes.
Emu chick is around 10 to 15 lbs when I research it so 20 - 50 mg daily. Split dose into 4. so if using 20mg go to 5mg daily x 4 (separate by 4 hours, dose immediately if neuro signs continue).
Adult emus can weigh in at 66 to 132 lbs, (30 to 60kg) so 60–300 mg B1 per day. Neuro signs like eyes closed and laying down go high -- Split doses into 4, step up the next dose (make it early) if emergency intervention needed.
Hey I wish you all the best.
~Jesse
Conversions:
1 quart water = apporximatey 1 liter Australian water (950ml)
