Emu in a fenced pasture?

[NCIndiaBlue]

I was trying to corral my Emu's this weekend, someone was going to buy them. One of my them got out of their pen in the process (while destroying 2 of my Peafowl pen's - that I spent 8 hours rebuilding) and ran off into my fenced pasture that covers almost 70 acres. I have searched for her, but no luck. I really don't want the other Emu because I have lots of other fowl that the Emu's seem to enjoy trampling to death if they fly into their pen. I am thinking about letting my remaining Emu lose into the pasture, since I cannot catch them. There is tons of grass, ponds, creeks and woods. Has anybody done this and had any luck? It might be a crazy idea, I just don't know what else to do.

 

[chickenzoo]

I would think the other would come back, since they like their own company. My only concern about letting them lose would be if your property were entirely fenced and sturdy enough to keep them in. You could have a real lawsuit on your hands if one got out and hurt someone, ran into a road, killed someones animals etc..... Even if someone saw them they might just shoot them. I would get some friends on horse back and go searching for it. Perhaps tape some Emu noises from your emu and play them on a recorder and see if it appears........ Or get some corral panels and make a box stall for the remaining emu in the pasture, to see if you could get the other one to come back.....Best Wishes

 

[ChanceRider]

Quote:
I have pretty much the same thoughts as chickenzoo. Also, depending upon what predators you have, just turning them loose offers them little or no protection. I have a friend who used to pasture his emus on about 100 acres... he lost some of his birds to predators.

Do you have a breeding pair? I would think the female might return to her mate if he were confined where she could see/hear him.

Good luck!

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

Quote:
I have pretty much the same thoughts as chickenzoo. Also, depending upon what predators you have, just turning them loose offers them little or no protection. I have a friend who used to pasture his emus on about 100 acres... he lost some of his birds to predators.

Do you have a breeding pair? I would think the female might return to her mate if he were confined where she could see/hear him.

Good luck!

I agree with both of you. They haven't started breeding yet, but they are a pair that should start laying this fall. We don't really have any predators here that could cause them harm. I would say the biggest animal would be a fox.. and they would kill a fox in 2 seconds.

I figured she would have returned by now, she escaped right at dusk though, so I hope she knows where to go.

 

[ChanceRider]

You're so lucky that you don't have predators that can take the emus! Here in CA we have to contend with so many different predators. My friend wasn't sure if it was coyotes hunting in a pack or a mountain lion that got his birds... we've had both on our property but so far they've only taken deer.

Hope your emu returns!

 

[chickenzoo]

You have a lot of property, she might just be frisky with her new found freedom and once she gets lonely she may start looking to return. You can always hang really shiny stuff out in the pasture were you could see her to try an attract her, LOL. That always gets my emu's attention, he he. Best Wishes