Please tell me about...

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Ostriches! I've always thought they'd be neat to have around, but I'd like to know the good, the bad and the ugly before I run out and get one lol. So tell me all ya know if ya would. Thanks in advance!

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Theres a farm near me that has Emu's... Their fences are about 10ft tall.

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Thanks! No problem with the fences here, I have some pretty high, strong fences around my farm. But why do the fences have to be so high for ostiches (or emus?) Surely they can't jump that high... or can they?

 

[ranchhand]

I suggest a google search, and talking with a LOT of people who raise them. Average male ostrich is around 8 feet tall and can disembowel a human being in no time if they get irritated. They eat a LOT of food and can clear pretty high fences- 10 feet is the recommended minimum.

Definitely an investment in money, time and labor.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Lol they can jump pretty high. They also get to about 6ft high, and around 200-250lbs I believe.

LOL someone in my area was actually selling Emu chicks about 4 months ago.

 

[chickenzoo]

IMO Emu would be a better choice. Ostriches get like 400-500 lbs and can be more aggressive, emu only 150-200 lbs and not as aggressive, but both can hurt or kill someone even if they do not mean too. I have two emu who i love, and we raised them with our animals since they were chicks. They are very nice and love attention, very very very curious about everything. They also are not the smartest of animals and take awhile to learn and have a high pain tolerance.... or it just takes awhile to register. The most important thing with emu is to remember their claws. I have friendly ones, but one time one of them slipped and fell and was flailing his legs about. He caught be in the stomach and ripped a 4 inch long gash . He didn't mean to do it, but it could have been much worse. They can also jump very high. They can scale a 6 ft horse corral if they really wanted too, but mine stay pretty contained in their pasture. They get excited and can run into things......... remember I said they are not very bright. That said, they are very very funny, do things to make me laugh all the time and just have the biggest brightest eyes. It's like having a friendly feathered dinosaur following you around.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Chickenzoo, do you have photos of your guys?

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Here is a farm that is relatively near where I live. There are some facts listed about them as well as some fun videos of ostrich fishing.

http://www.roostercogburn.com/index.html

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

Hey thanks yall!

 

[schoebel_taylor]

I have an emu and everytime i go in by it, i will scratch its back and it will lay right down and fall asleep. it is so awesome!