We raised ours up from babies with all our livestock, now they help protect them. I do not trust them with baby chicks, as anything new to their environment is a threat, but I have Seramas that walk in their shadow without problems. I would not put chickens in with those emu that have not grown up with them.....they would probably get stomped. Ours chase any cat that comes in the yard or any other "new" animal. They are fine with people, but they also keep people at bay just by how they look.... no one wants to come in a yard with those big eyes looking over at them... LOL. But they are also funny, comical, like little slow learning kids. They are not the brightest creatures, but they sure are amusing.....
Jazzy with a peacock - who bosses him around
Jazzy at the back door when the dogs let him out...and I was late feeding up
They grow fairly slow IMO, at least as much as their poo stinks as chicks, I was wanting them to grow faster... LOL. We raised ours in the house until they could reach things off the counter, then they went outside in a dog run with igloo house. They are fairly easy to keep, but a high fence is recommended, unless you have a lot of room. We would take them out with us to feed up and get use to the other animals. They are very silly creatures and very innocent about the world. Ours love to interact with us and other people. They follow us everywhere. they will lay down if you touch their backs, they LOVE the water and to roll in the kiddie pools. i'll look for their pics growing up............
The male emu sits and cares for the chicks. In nature they imitate daddy and eat what he eats...... but unless you go around all day picking at the ground they will need to be taught how to eat, and may need some hand feeding for a short time...... i can't remember. Raising them with some turkey poults or baby chicks helps them learn faster I would think... Mine were already eating pretty well on their own when we got them.