Rockporter’s Emu Chat

[Rockporters]

So exciting to see you with those emus! So looking forward to having them...

All this stuff is good to know. Thank you for sharing I’ll upload some pictures once ours come home.

Yes videos prease.

I’m looking forward to yours arriving! Can’t wait to see pics and hear about the adventures. What day do you get them?

We are enjoying them. I moved them to a “run” in the living room. More learned lessons...

Carpet, even indoor/outdoor, is a dilemma while the weather is cold. We can’t have hoses hooked up yet, and certainly nothing is going to dry outside. So.. what to use under them? I put puppy pads over their fake grass carpet. It is okay, but they move them around, and... poop on the carpet. Today, I’m going to look for bigger pads.

The transition from small cage to run has been trying. The (suspected) girl is loud and unhappy being able to see life going on outside their run.

They obsessively rush the fencing. They can almost fit through the bars, and they are convinced that running at it faster, head on, will be the trick to getting through it.

Here is what has worked well so far:

A small dog cage for the first week, not a large one. They could practice standing up, but not have enough space to flop around a lot and hurt themselves. It was easier to get the temp right for them too. You can set the heat lamp right on top of the cage, too, because it is just the right distance.

A heating pad at the front of the cage, heat lamp at the back. Their tummy is supposed to be kept warm, and this also gives them warmth if they move away from the lamp.

When they are moved to a bigger area, they still like to have a small cage to sleep in. We’re leaving the door open to it, and they prefer to be in it for daytime naps and nighttime sleeping.

They love orange and red things. They ignore kale and spinach. Shredded carrots have been a lifesaver for teaching them to eat.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I’m looking forward to yours arriving! Can’t wait to see pics and hear about the adventures. What day do you get them?

We are enjoying them. I moved them to a “run” in the living room. More learned lessons...

Carpet, even indoor/outdoor, is a dilemma while the weather is cold. We can’t have hoses hooked up yet, and certainly nothing is going to dry outside. So.. what to use under them? I put puppy pads over their fake grass carpet. It is okay, but they move them around, and... poop on the carpet. Today, I’m going to look for bigger pads.

The transition from small cage to run has been trying. The (suspected) girl is loud and unhappy being able to see life going on outside their run.

They obsessively rush the fencing. They can almost fit through the bars, and they are convinced that running at it faster, head on, will be the trick to getting through it.

Here is what has worked well so far:

A small dog cage for the first week, not a large one. They could practice standing up, but not have enough space to flop around a lot and hurt themselves. It was easier to get the temp right for them too. You can set the heat lamp right on top of the cage, too, because it is just the right distance.

A heating pad at the front of the cage, heat lamp at the back. Their tummy is supposed to be kept warm, and this also gives them warmth if they move away from the lamp.

When they are moved to a bigger area, they still like to have a small cage to sleep in. We’re leaving the door open to it, and they prefer to be in it for daytime naps and nighttime sleeping.

They love orange and red things. They ignore kale and spinach. Shredded carrots have been a lifesaver for teaching them to eat.

So many things I don’t have to figure out for myself! Very helpful. We pick them up next Friday. I’m hoping the lady says we can get them sooner lol have only been waiting about 4 months

Our old house would have been perfect for them. The entire middle floor was hardwood and vinyl tile. But no yard. The new house is a lot smaller, half carpet, but big pasture areas.

Are you going to be building an emu house? I may start building once they get here. Have to build a duck house this weekend.

 

[Emu pimp]

Sounds fun.

 

[Rockporters]

So many things I don’t have to figure out for myself! Very helpful. We pick them up next Friday. I’m hoping the lady says we can get them sooner lol have only been waiting about 4 months

Our old house would have been perfect for them. The entire middle floor was hardwood and vinyl tile. But no yard. The new house is a lot smaller, half carpet, but big pasture areas.

Are you going to be building an emu house? I may start building once they get here. Have to build a duck house this weekend.

So, the BF decided to also get goats. They arrive next week. They get our current attention for buildings. We have to make some sort of shack for them because I draw the line at having goats in the house LOL.

There will be an Emu house eventually. I have to confess, they aren’t going to last long in our living room. In fact, they may not even last the weekend. I managed to turn them into spoil brats already. They want constant attention and freedom. They want to see us, the dogs, anything that isn’t their cage/run. They are only a week old, and I’ve already ruined them. LOL

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

So, the BF decided to also get goats. They arrive next week. They get our current attention for buildings. We have to make some sort of shack for them because I draw the line at having goats in the house LOL.

There will be an Emu house eventually. I have to confess, they aren’t going to last long in our living room. In fact, they may not even last the weekend. I managed to turn them into spoil brats already. They want constant attention and freedom. They want to see us, the dogs, anything that isn’t their cage/run. They are only a week old, and I’ve already ruined them. LOL

Come on! No goats in the house? Lol, good choice. I bet their poops are easier to clean than birds green slime though.

The lady has ours in her living room right now, so she’s sharing your pain! My other half said no more chickens brooding in the house, but he didnt say ducks or emu So we shall see.

We have a barn, but I don’t like how far away it is. Could you imagine having your little dinosaur babies an acre away?! Also plan on keeping them in the acre chicken area. Fence is higher and sturdier.

I’m curious what your next set up ends up being... there are so many ways to keep them. I’ll need to do some more reading on their heating requirements and such for the outdoors. I have a sneaky suspicion he’s going to kick them out sooner than I think.

 

[Rockporters]

The difference between boys and girls.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

The difference between boys and girls.

View attachment 2074845

Omg! Lol

Is it similar to the “man flu”?

 

[Rockporters]

Omg! Lol

Is it similar to the “man flu”?

Almost exactly! I put the diaper on the girl. She hated it, but she decided to power on and deal with it. I put the diaper on the boy. He turned to goo and fell to the ground. He refused to get up or walk. He basically played dead.. until he started flinging himself around... and then went back to acting limp and dead. You would have thought it was going to be the end of him. Drama King! LOL

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Where did you get these lovely diapers?! Might have to break out this here ancient sewing machine for the miniature dinosaur diapers...

We’re off to play with the birds outside. The little ducklings and chicks don’t view life the same. So brooding them together isn’t working the greatest. Building a duck house from pallets and a collapsible bed frame. This will be interesting.

 

[Rockporters]

Where did you get these lovely diapers?! Might have to break out this here ancient sewing machine for the miniature dinosaur diapers..

We’re off to play with the birds outside. The little ducklings and chicks don’t view life the same. So brooding them together isn’t working the greatest. Building a duck house from pallets and a collapsible bed frame. This will be interesting.

Ooh take pics when done! I don’t have ducks, but I am always looking for easy ways to build shelters.

The diapers, I made them on a whim yesterday. They are imperfect, but the one for the girl is working well. The boy’s is a little big, and well, you saw how he reacted to wearing anything. I put a piece of paper towel in hers as a liner, then I folded it up and tossed it in the trash afterwards. Worked really well. Yours will already be pooping (the first 3 days are bliss LOL), so you’ll want to manage it somehow. It’s like chickens, no perfect solution for indoors.