Emus + predators

[casuarius]

From my personal experience, Emu's are stronger in numbers. I've had juvenile Emu's gang up and chase away dogs before. However, Emu's are more bark than bite. I've never had one mean enough that I couldnt stand my ground to, and it wouldnt run the other way. If the right predator comes up, then all they can do is run. Despite the talk of them having such lethal kicks...they really don't. They mostly just run over top of smaller animals they consider a threat, and trample it. They're best defense against predators is out running them. The only Ratites that i've known to literally kill or severely injure anything with a kick are Ostriches and Cassowaries especially. But still, I wouldnt worry about foxes taking down a juvenile Emu. A bobcat...yes

 

[Nicophorus]

Im going to reply to my own thread because I have partly answered it. About 5 days ago we found one of my 3/4ths full grown Emu dead in her pen. Neck tore up and she was dragged a good 10 feet and partly covered with grass/leaves. Thats what bobcats do and fresh bobcat tracks were around the body. I thought that up near the house in a lighted pen, an animal that big would be safe. The 2nd Emu is now being put up in a stall in the barn at sundown (along with all my other animals) and let out again mid morning.

Do NOT underestimate a predator like a Bobcat, I did and i'm down one goat and one Emu now.

The 2nd Emu jumped out of the pen by the way I assume during the attack and was wandering around the greater back yard area in the morning. The one killed was slightly smaller and I suspect it was attacked before, I had to treat her with antibiotics a month or two ago for some smallish wounds she had on her neck. (which is when I then started penning them near the house in a lighted pen......which turned out to be not enough).

Heaven help me if the Bobcat(s) decide to attack things in the day too. The neighbor has lost at least one of their goats that I know about to it in the last month too.

 

[The Sheriff]

So sorry about your loss. I keep mine in a pretty secure enclosure at night. It is a chain link dog kennel enclosed with house siding on three side and has a metal roof as well as a chain link roof. The front part is chain link with a gate with we latch and then secure again with a chain and heavy clip. Also have guard donkeys who sleep outside the goat and emu enclosures. I still worry when I can't get them to go in at night. It happens about 2-3 times a month where they just refuse to go into he enclosure. I am always surprised to see them standing by the gate waiting for treats in the morning. I don't sleep well when they are out. We lost our female goose to a bobcat when we first moved here a year ago. Then we got the donkeys and haven't seen signs of any more big animals on the property. Before we got the donkeys there was fresh coyote scat all over. Neighbors told us this property was the den for a large group of coyotes while it was vacant for two years. Our pond excavator is a bow hunter and he pointed out all the various animal dung on the property. Not a fun thing for a city girl.

Hope you don't lose anymore. Too sad. Mine are like spoiled babies and I would be devastated to lose one.

Mary

 

[kuntrygirl]

I am so very sorry to hear your story. I get so angry and sad when I hear about a predator attacking. I hope that they bobcat doesn't return.

 

[Jay262]

They would be fine in fending off single preadtors for the most part thats not to say there are exemptions im sure a mountain lion would still make a meal out of one. But the thing about coyotoes, wolves and feral dogs is they rarely travel alone so whereas your emu might fend off one by itself its a different story then theres a few of them sadly.

 

[dnkfarm]

Since your on the subject what about emu eggs? Do fox, raccoons etc get them?

 

[coleridgedane]

@Nico... it mostly depends on your local predator community & the protection you've provided. Where are you & what is your current set-up. (Excuse if I missed these specifics.)

 

[chickenzoo]

So sorry about your loss.... Mine stay out in the pasture but I also have five GPs guarding the animals. Mine hate cats and will hiss and try stomping them.... Dogs they do not know typically get the same, but any serious predator would be a threat to them.

 

[Nicophorus]

I think it was the same "problem bobcat" that killed one of my goats and one of my neighbors goats a month and a half ago. I've already gone over that on the goat forums I'm on. http://goatwisdom.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=4759


As I say in my first dealings with this bobcat, I have a donkey and it did not matter, once more this particular bobcat (I assume its the same one..) did not care that I was standing there one night when it slinked across the pasture to get a goat (i've since aquired a rifle and will be spending some after dark outdoor time with it soon).

Anyways, thats why everything started to get locked up at night in my barn (except my Donkey....and my emus till last weeks attack).

I live in central florida, adjacent to property with an old overgrown sink hole on it, i.e. perfect bobcat habitat.

Im going to agree with what someone posted above, after dark ALL BETS ARE OFF. Lock your animals up secure, or "maybe" good guard dogs will do. Don't trust anything else in my opinion or you will take losses. I dont want anymore dogs at the moment so.. everything smaller then my donkey now (includeing my surviving Emu) gets put up at night.

This is why I made this thread, because I knew I lived in a heavily infested bobcat area. Now I know more about them and what they can do then I ever wanted to. Emu are NOT safe from bobcats, not by a long shot.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Having a dog is helpful too but along with the donkeys probably not (donkeys have to be taught the family dog is part of the family not a predator). Dogs mark their territory even females will and that scent is somewhat a deterrent. I live in mountain Lion and bobcat country and my neighbor tells me that even human urine is a good deterrent.

good luck.