Emu Hatch-a-long 2012

[Ellamumu]

I don't know if lily pilly would grow in New England. We have warm to hot summers but very cold winters as well.....

And good news, our second egg pipped externally so Sydney is gonna have a play mate soon. And egg three is still moving. It's day 55 so I'm holding out hope for that one as well.

How about a couple high bush blueberry bushes, those survive great, I have them and my ella loves blueberries!

 

[Kiril749]

Well, happy to announce the birth if our second Emu. Our little Sydney has a little sibling named Rio. My son picked that name because of Cinco de Mayo. Soon Sydney and Rio will be playing, talking and snuggling together. Now for our third and last egg.......still moving on day 55. Cross your fingers.

 

[Grassman 52]

Well - got up to let my dog out and have our third little Emu and the 4th is well on his way out of the shell.

Now for the big question - how do you mark or band the chicks so I can tell them apart - I have the shells drying so I can DNA test for sex.

As of this morning a have little pipe cleaners wrapped on their feet - that's not going to last.

 

[Kiril749]

At

...

Well - got up to let my dog out and have our third little Emu and the 4th is well on his way out of the shell.

Now for the big question - how do you mark or band the chicks so I can tell them apart - I have the shells drying so I can DNA test for sex.

As of this morning a have little pipe cleaners wrapped on their feet - that's not going to last.
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Feed stores sell leg bands of all sizes and colors. I'm going to do the same.

So question, my little ones are inside with a heat lamp and towels. So far their legs are strong and straight. When I move them into the garage I was thinking of keeping the towels down and putting a light layer of shavings to help with clean up. Does that sound ok or is there a better suggestion for bedding?

 

[Kiril749]

Hey, are rhodadenderons and azaleas safe for emu. They're evergreen here in New England.

 

[Grassman 52]

First Batch - One hatched
Second Batch Day 53 - (7) eggs - 2 hatched Last night - 1 in process of hatching - 3 internally Pip'd (chipping) 1 - moving - not internally pip'd
Third Batch Day 47/46 (6) eggs

 

[yinepu]

Here is the lily pilly. It’s early season. The darker ones are ripe. They are larger. The smaller bunch is immature. The bunches will get bigger:






s.e.

my best guess would be Syzygium smithii

http://www.survival.org.au/bf_syzygium.php

 

[yinepu]

Well - got up to let my dog out and have our third little Emu and the 4th is well on his way out of the shell.

Now for the big question - how do you mark or band the chicks so I can tell them apart - I have the shells drying so I can DNA test for sex.

As of this morning a have little pipe cleaners wrapped on their feet - that's not going to last.

I use plastic zip ties (electrical ties) or even strips of colored velcro .. banded around the leg

they can get both off as yearlings.. but by then hopefully you can tell them apart!

 

[yinepu]

Hey, are rhodadenderons and azaleas safe for emu. They're evergreen here in New England.

"mildly toxic" for most livestock that I know of.. so I am assuming emu would be the same

I would think they would avoid them though.. most animals have enough common sense not to munch on toxic plants

 

[Avie]

How about a couple high bush blueberry bushes, those survive great, I have them and my ella loves blueberries!

I looked up Lilly Pilly -- they are growing it in the San Francisco botanical garden.
http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/garden/bloom_06_05.
Quote: This source here said US zones 9 to 11. Too tropical for me!

http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treedetail.lasso?rid=127

As for edible plants in the landscape -- I have gotten a lot of ideas from this website
http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/buyPlants.php?func=showall

We planted Juneberry and Elderberry for our backyard birds. They love them! We have mulberry trees too.
There are some really interesting looking shrubby ones that I was not able to grow because It's too WARM in Maryland! You don't hear that too often. This is an edible honeysuckle. The berries look like blueberries.
http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/shrubs/Honeysucklebush/