How to tell if emu is "skinny"

[Panamom]

I don't buy Ratite pellets for mine,.... picky buggers didn't like it.....They get a mix of horse pellets, dog chow, catfish pellets, sweet feed, layer, bird seed or game bird pellets and treats of greens and broccoli etc.. You shouldn't feel too much rib or bone on them. You can get a foal feeder that has a deep trough to use as a feeder, or use a horse feed bucket set at a height the goats can't reach or make a foal feeder out a horse over fence feeder bucket, PVC pipe, pieces of threaded rod that fits through PVC and some locking nuts.Space the PVC rods enough that a Emu head can get in, but not a goats. I fill one of these 1/2 full for the 4 emu ( about one full horse scoop per emu per day) I have but they have woods and pasture also. I also worm my emu, that is very important. Use Safeguard liquid wormer or horse paste, then in 6 months another type( Valzaban, Ivomec etc..) - rotate like you do horses. Normal emu average weight is about 125 lbs. I also give them horse EE & WE shots plus tetanus & Westnile.

This is great, I just homed an Emu (Esmeralda formerly known as Stormy Daniels) and the owner did say she is underweight. She is bony and ate the crap out of the layerpellet I fed her but doesn't like veggies. which the hens ate the crap out of.

 

[Panamom]

This is great, I just homed an Emu (Esmeralda formerly known as Stormy Daniels) and the owner did say she is underweight. She is bony and ate the crap out of the layerpellet I fed her but doesn't like veggies. which the hens ate the crap out of.

So question, she does go for cat food, which is high in protein. Is that a reasonable feed for her?

 

[Panamom]

So question, she does go for cat food, which is high in protein. Is that a reasonable feed for her?

I mean with other stuff. I have ordered ratite, I hear they don't like it but I might make it so she does. Applesauce.!

 

[Panamom]

That is helpful. I ordered ratite and she eats it, also ate layer feed, which I hear is bad for them (?). Also, doesn't eat any fruits, veggies, yogurt...i worry. gonna try boiled eggs.

 

[shamorunner]

That is helpful. I ordered ratite and she eats it, also ate layer feed, which I hear is bad for them (?). Also, doesn't eat any fruits, veggies, yogurt...i worry. gonna try boiled eggs.

I just have rheas, I do stand by hard boiled or scrambled eggs, especially if a bird isn't eating as much or is sickly as there is good nutrition without as much sugars like you would see in some forages or feeds that can cause sour crop if the diet is changed heavily and suddenly

 

[Panamom]

I just have rheas, I do stand by hard boiled or scrambled eggs, especially if a bird isn't eating as much or is sickly as there is good nutrition without as much sugars like you would see in some forages or feeds that can cause sour crop if the diet is changed heavily and suddenly

 

[Panamom]

Oh “just have rheas”. No or little sarcasm. Much difference in attitude and behavior but not so much in food maybe

 

[Panamom]

Always appreciate information about these dinosaurs we are caring for