Need to knows (Emu)

[servpolice]

Hey folks, so I'm planning on getting a 5 month old male emu chick but I just want to know what I need to know about emus.

I've a well secured 9 arce field for the guy when he's older. What to feed him etc now and when he matures.

I live in Ireland too so plenty of grass etc. I've heard males are less shy. I just want to be prepared thanks!

Thanks!

 

[Pyxis]

Congrats!

When you say a secured nine acre field, do you mean you have strong fences that are at least six feet tall? They can go over anything shorter, and electric fence doesn't really work to contain them.

You might also want to consider getting a second one. They are somewhat social animals, so he would enjoy having a friend, or mate if you could find him a girlfriend.

I've read too that males are less shy, but in my experience that hasn't been the case. Actually, of my two older emus, my female is the one who was always more friendly and outgoing, while the male wanted to keep his distance. Of my two younger, the male has been slightly more attached to me, but the female isn't what I would call shy. So it can really be a very individual thing.

As for what to feed him, I'm not sure what you can get in Ireland, but look for any kind of feed made specifically for ratites. Mazuri makes several, if they sell Mazuri there.

 

[servpolice]

Congrats!

When you say a secured nine acre field, do you mean you have strong fences that are at least six feet tall? They can go over anything shorter, and electric fence doesn't really work to contain them.

You might also want to consider getting a second one. They are somewhat social animals, so he would enjoy having a friend, or mate if you could find him a girlfriend.

I've read too that males are less shy, but in my experience that hasn't been the case. Actually, of my two older emus, my female is the one who was always more friendly and outgoing, while the male wanted to keep his distance. Of my two younger, the male has been slightly more attached to me, but the female isn't what I would call shy. So it can really be a very individual thing.

As for what to feed him, I'm not sure what you can get in Ireland, but look for any kind of feed made specifically for ratites. Mazuri makes several, if they sell Mazuri there.

Yes we had a lot of goats before so the field is pretty secured! Only place is where there is a stream between my neighbours and my field. Are emus good climbers?

Yeah I'm looking for a female. Atm it's just my geese and other poultry.

Yeah it's the same with a lot of animals, it all depends on how you raise them if they'll shy or not.

Is one harder to keep than the other? Or are both sees the same?

 

[servpolice]

Also how big is a 5 month old emu chick? The guy showed me photos but they still have strips so I'm guessing they don't have strips any more at 5 months

 

[Pyxis]

Also how big is a 5 month old emu chick? The guy showed me photos but they still have strips so I'm guessing they don't have strips any more at 5 months

They're big About three feet tall at that age. Sorry, my home internet is out but I'll answer your other questions as soon as it's back on!

They might still have some faint stripes. Desi lost his before then, but Ciara was still faintly striped at that age.

 

[BantyChooks]

Congrats!

When you say a secured nine acre field, do you mean you have strong fences that are at least six feet tall? They can go over anything shorter, and electric fence doesn't really work to contain them.

You might also want to consider getting a second one. They are somewhat social animals, so he would enjoy having a friend, or mate if you could find him a girlfriend.

I've read too that males are less shy, but in my experience that hasn't been the case. Actually, of my two older emus, my female is the one who was always more friendly and outgoing, while the male wanted to keep his distance. Of my two younger, the male has been slightly more attached to me, but the female isn't what I would call shy. So it can really be a very individual thing.

As for what to feed him, I'm not sure what you can get in Ireland, but look for any kind of feed made specifically for ratites. Mazuri makes several, if they sell Mazuri there.

Is free ranging them a dumb idea? I knew a lady who let hers wander around her farm. They didn't seem prone to running off, though she may have just been lucky.

 

[briefvisit]

'Is free ranging them a dumb idea?'

One: they'd like a million acres each.
Two: you may need to protect other (small) critters from them.
Three: they must be protected from predators.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

'I've read too that males are less shy, but in my experience that hasn't been the case.'

I agree with Pyxis on this one

 

[servpolice]

They're big About three feet tall at that age. Sorry, my home internet is out but I'll answer your other questions as soon as it's back on!

They might still have some faint stripes. Desi lost his before then, but Ciara was still faintly striped at that age.

Take your time!

Update: I've decided to buy the Emus sibling too. Now I will have a male and female. The guy made a good deal with me so 2 emu chicks it is.

Hopefully they arrive tomorrow!

 

[Pyxis]

Yes we had a lot of goats before so the field is pretty secured! Only place is where there is a stream between my neighbours and my field. Are emus good climbers?

They don't climb the fence, really - they just jump right over it. Ciara jumped clear over a four foot tall fence before she herself was four feet tall. They can also swim and in fact they enjoy it when it's hot - is there still a fence along the stream? If not, you're going to want to put one up.

Is one harder to keep than the other? Or are both sees the same?

In my experience it's no harder to keep a male than a female, though Ciara was always more willing to get into trouble than Desi. See for example my story of her jumping the fence before I had shored it up to be taller. Luckily she didn't go far and followed me right back into the pen, but it could have been bad, lol.

Is free ranging them a dumb idea? I knew a lady who let hers wander around her farm. They didn't seem prone to running off, though she may have just been lucky.

They won't necessarily stick around. They are fairly nomadic animals. Plus, even though they're big, things would still like to eat them, like a pack of coyotes or a mountain lion.

There's an emu that's been loose and wandering for months in SC right now, poor thing.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article232983947.html