Emu Questions

[ChickenTumble76]

Hello, i am a first time emu owner. I got mine yesterday and it is almost two weeks old. It has been very sleepy. Is this normal?. Its feces is also very green and liquidy which I wasn’t sure is normal. I started it on rooster booster and medicated chick feed. It has been eating up chopped kale and it’s been eating and drinking. Is there anything I am doing wrong or is this completely normal?

 

[shamorunner]

If you can post pictures, especially if the feces that would be helpful for those who might be able to help. What are the conditions and size of the area it is in as well as the floor/ground? How is its walking? Has there been any other changes in behavior or just sleep?

 

[ChickenTumble76]

If you can post pictures, especially if the feces that would be helpful for those who might be able to help. What are the conditions and size of the area it is in as well as the floor/ground? How is its walking? Has there been any other changes in behavior or just sleep?

Sorry I didn’t reply but anyways he is currently living in a tub but most of the day he is with me since I work from home most of the time. He does still have access to food and water throughout the day. He will randomly walk around and when I go to pick him up and set him down he will run a little bit and walk around. His behavior seems good besides just being sleepy. I got him yesterday so I’m still figuring him out as much as he is figuring me out. I just want the best chance for him and want to make sure he is okay.

 

[briefvisit]

Welcome.

Keep reporting.

Fresh food is good. Make sure its floors are non-slip.

Supreme Emu

 

[ChickenTumble76]

Welcome.

Keep reporting.

Fresh food is good. Make sure its floors are non-slip.

Supreme Emu

So he is doing great!. We figured something was wrong but then we got another to keep him company. We got a female and she is feral!. He is now so much more energetic and eating a lot more. They were both kind of picky with their food so we are slowly introducing them to the feed. Thank you so much for the help!.

 

[briefvisit]

Green poop is unusual. (You need advice from pet/captive emu owners. I am wild-emu guy) But squirty poop is perfectly normal.

And energy levels? In the wild they are on the move from the crack of dawn until last light. They should be barreling around all over the place.

'Feral'?

Supreme Emu, Western Australia

 

[ChickenTumble76]

Green poop is unusual. (You need advice from pet/captive emu owners. I am wild-emu guy) But squirty poop is perfectly normal.

And energy levels? In the wild they are on the move from the crack of dawn until last light. They should be barreling around all over the place.

'Feral'?

Supreme Emu, Western Australia

They are starting to poop normally. When we got them the guy never really gave us any information so a lot of it we are doing on our own. I do have a question though. Since they are chicks we are feeding them a mix of rabbit feed and chick starter (unmedicated). Should we change it or is that good?.

 

[briefvisit]

ChickenTumble, you need advice from folks with emu chicks that they hatched. I am the sole Wild Emu Guy on BYC -- I observe wild emus here in Western Australia.

So I know nothing about the likes of rabbit food and chick starter. Hang out here, and you'll hopefully get insights from more knowledgeable members.

However, I can add comment: variety is good. Fresh is good. If you can, chop fine a little of every fresh fruit and vegetable you have. The rule for emus is simple: if Yummy for Emus, they'll scoff it up.

They love all sorts of fruits -- except citrus -- whether fresh or dried. They like chopped spinach and kale, I hear from U.S. folks.

Here's an interim equation for you: for certainly two or three weeks, they will be well fed if they are getting any sort of medley of store-bought and fresh-chopped and dried fruits and vegs.

If there are grass and flowers on bushes or such like outdoors near them, try them out on that!

Mine are never given junk food of any sort. But they sometimes win at the game of Eat Supreme Emu's Breakfast, and get bits of wholemeal bread and broccholi and pasta and rice -- note the types of grains. They love grains. That is, we know they'll scoff down a very wide range of 'people food.'

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/PTndHhL

This is Eric the Emu, a tame-wild Rothschildi, with Uno Chick. She is scoffing up chopped dates and sultanas, her first-ever human food.

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/IHadYXu

This is Number One forgetting the rule about eating my garden. Emus will strip in minutes large quantities of any flower or such like that they deem Yummy.

And come and hang out on the Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree thread if you care too.

Supreme Emu, Western Australia