New owner of Rhea

[DeerFarmer]

I am a New owner Of Rhea.... 7 grey and 1 White I am so excited.
If there is anyone willing to share Info, I would be Greatly appreciative.
I have been reading lots... But word of mouth and current owners are the best to learn from.
I have not found many people online advertising them, nor have I seen many on peoples websites.

 

[StevenW.]

Those are so cool looking! I want one or two!

Most of the people that I have seen that own them live in the UK.

Congrats on owning them!

 

[chickenzoo]

Want to bring 2 to me in FL.................

I've been wanting some so bad. I guess they must lay earlier than my Emu, as they just started up again from summer time.

 

[DeerFarmer]

By the looks of the winter we may have..... I may want to come to Florida!!!

 

[kidcody]

There beautiful! Now I want them!

 

[DeerFarmer]

I love them.... I am still so excited!!

 

[deerman]

A fellow peafowl breeder........has great info on Rheas..i had a few , but Craig has been raising them for many years....think he will be able to help you.

http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/rhea.htm

 

[Highlander]

Awww, I remember when mine were that size, they are rheally cute!

I've had mine for about 18 months so if there is anything I can help you with I will try my best!

 

[chickenzoo]

Highlander, can you tell us about your experience with them. i am interested in knowing their personality and how alike or dislike they are from emu.

 

[Highlander]

Quote:
Mine are quite flighty, I wanted them that way as I originally planned to breed them for meat and didn't want to get too attached but that didn't work out (no processors within 300 miles!) but I know of other people who spend lots of time hand feeding etc and can happily touch them, stroke them etc with no problems. They do get freaked out quite easily, especially with something new but they get used to routine noises. We are out in the country so tractors don't bother them at all now and we are under a RAF flight path so they are used to loud low flying planes but something like a deer or a hare running across the next field sends them into conniptions. They need routine.

They are reasonably economical for their size, I go through a 25kg bag of ratite grower every 10 days for my 4 adults plus whatever veg scraps I have on hand. Apparently they go nuts for beansprouts and bananas but I haven't tried that!

They definitely need good strong fencing because they will test it regularly by throwing themselves at it (especially when deer and hare are running around!) and if it is not taut then they will roll over the top easily. My fence is a little over 5ft high stock fencing with an extra line of wire on top, I would actually prefer it to be a little higher but so far so good. They are super jumpers so nothing can be left along the fence line or they will jump on top of it and over they go. They are very weather hardy and will take whatever mother nature throws at them. I have a pic from last winter of them wading through the snow up to their bellies. I have a field shelter for them but they never use it.

All in all I find them very easy to care for and adaptable. I love looking out my window and seeing them roaming the field and their early morning display team show (all of them running at full speed towards each other, wings out zig zagging and changing direction on a dime) is quite something!

Hope that helps!