Ostriches for Property Protection?

[Bravo]

Quote:
OMG that is horrible! Do you live on property or in the city? Who steals laying hens??? I am so sorry and I hope you get your hens back.

I'd invest in 2 attack-trained emus or a few BIG dogs.

I own my dogs for companionship first but times like these remind me of the value added in having Dobermans...it really makes people think twice before jumping my fence. Last week our next-door neighbors were burgarlized and the officer suggested they borrow one of our dogs going forward.

 

[chickenzoo]

They don't make much vocalization...some hissing, some grunting...................... but whoever gets surprised by them will be making all kinds of vocalizations....

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

stealing laying hens is just awful i would invest in a LGD
if that happened to me

 

[1crazychick]

I love the pic!! My husband and I were jokingly saying " We need to get an Emu" Just a couple of days ago!!! I want one now...

Can anyone give me more info on rasing???

 

[19hhbelgian]

I'm wondering how big the pile of poop is that would need to be cleaned up??!!

 

[chickenzoo]

Actually their poo is not that big, LOL. You raise them similar to chickens, on chicken starter until they get old enough to eat bigger stuff... mine did not like the special emu chow I ordered... they rather eat a mix of sweet feed, dog food, wild bird seed etc.... Socializing them when little is the most important thing and understanding how attracted to shiny things they really are.

 

[PatS]

Are they the ones that lay the dark turquoise eggs? I had someone give me a blown one to show my kindergarten class -- one egg would make an omelette big enough for a family!

Do they eat grass and weeds, too, like chickens?

 

[chickenzoo]

Yep they lay the green/black eggs....... very pretty. Yes they also graze on grasses etc...

 

[casuarius]

Some male Ostriches get very aggressive, and will come after anyone that goes in with them. The only downside to that is you wouldnt even be able to go in your own fence with them. Emu's are all bark and no bite. Even aggressive ones will charge you, and run the other way if you stand your ground. However everyone that ever visits my place are scared to death of my hand raised emus just by the sight of them...I guess being a giant 6 ft tall bird haha. So yeah I would say emu's would be the best for gaurding against human intruders. Plus they won't attack you as well like a Ostrich would. Of course the absolute best would be Cassowaries, but they are worse than Ostriches, and you would have to dispose of the bodies ; ) lol.

A few pics of my Cassowaries (very rare in the US)

 

[CoopCrazy]

How do you even feed them Cassowaries .. I have heard they are just visciuos... I too would like more info on emus....