WHAT CAN EMUS EAT?

[Corny Caleb]

So I've heard emus aren't picky eaters, (mine are lol). When I was feeding them non medicated chick starter, and was trying to ween them on to Ratite starter, it took them a full TWO weeks to fully accept the feed. Well any way. I just wanted to know if it is safe to feed my emus adult turkey feed, (they are about 3 months old, if that matters.) I have been for a few days, since it's quite a hike for me to go get the Ratite feed. I was thinking the extra protein in it would help. If it's safe, I guess I will continue to feed them turkey feed, until I go and buy a ton of the Ratite chow.

 

[briefvisit]

Hey, C.C. I will read and learn with you. But the birds are still healthy and hungry?

se

 

[Corny Caleb]

Hey, C.C. I will read and learn with you. But the birds are still healthy and hungry?

se

yes, they are very healthy, active, and always chow down whenever I give them their turkey feed.

 

[Haida]

My girls are 4 months old, and are on chicken layer and rabbit feed mixed. They pick out the rabbit feed first, like candy, hahaha. I don't think turkey feed would have enough calcium for all of those growing bones... considering I have to give my turkey hens oyster shells otherwise they inevitably get soft shells every single time! Then as treats, they get cut up apples and seedless grapes galore. Sometimes I give them hardboiled eggs, but they seem more interested in pecking it to death, hahaa. One time I gave them some corn on the cob, but they just wanted to kill it, lol.

That being said, once they are full grown, they might be able to be switched to turkey feed. I hear they can have dog food, goat food, koi fish food, and other such things. Once mine are full grown, they're prolly going to get calf creep feed and maybe layer feed... idk, I still have to research that bit.

Oh and when I started them on rabbit feed, I had to grind it up a little so the pellets weren't so long and I introduced them to it very gradually. Hope this helps! Emus are a blast!

 

[Moody Broody]

They can eat vegie and fruit scraps, if cut up into smaller pieces (no meat). I feed mine chicken feed (red hen brand) as her main food source. You will find they LOVE watermelon, whole grapes, and also bread. They will have a pick at the grass. Don't be worried if your emu eats a stone, because they use it to crush up their food in their belly. Sometimes when I drop the chicken eggs, they smash she eats the leftovers, shell and all.

P.S, they love being sprayed by the garden hose on hot days.

 

[briefvisit]

Ages ago, we discussed encouraging the 'feral' growth of plants in the pastures of pet emus. Even if you still need to chop it up for them -- spinach -- it would be an interesting experiment. Clover?

If there is any spot in their pasture where grass lasts longest into summer -- shade under a tree? -- and springs first after autumn rains, then you might try a seeding experiment.

If you wanna be a cadet ornithologist, formally observe your birds (through binos is best). You will identify clear feeding-patterns. If you can figure out what particular species they favour -- Felicity on her knees eating a million little yellow flowers in spring -- you can try to figure out how to grow more of it.

Just yesterday, I noticed that Number One (tame-wild adult female rothschildi. 6 years old) has lately seemed to be grazing on one particular patch of feed near the house. Gotta check it out.

Ask your Seed Store Guy for wheat 'seconds'. It's just wheat with small grains, but I get 20-kg bags absurdly cheap. Well, wheat is a high-protein treat.

se

 

[ES Emus]

Nutrition

Nutrition-related mortality problems in chicks and young juveniles include malnutrition or starvation, intestinal obstruction, and leg abnormalities. Recommended starter, grower, maintenance, and breeder diets are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Nutritional Guidelines for Emus
Calculated Analysis

Starter

(0 to 9 wks)


Grower

(9 to 42 wks)


Finisher

(42 wks to Mkt Wt)


Breeder

(4 to 5 wks before egg production)

% Protein

20

16

14

21
ME (cal/lb)

1250

1250

1250

1350
% Fat

1.00

1.00

1.00

5.25
% Lysine

1.0

4.7

3.60

1.10
% Methionine

.42

.29

.25

.35
% Methionine + Cystine

.75

.57

.50

.70
% Calcium

1.10

1.00

1.70

2.10
% Non-Phytate Phosphorus

.55

.42

.35

.39
% Total Phosphorus

.79

.66

.58

.61
% Salt

.30

.30

.30

.30​

It is absolutely essential that emus have clean water available at all times. They must receive feedstuffs that provide adequate levels of protein and essential amino acids, and meet vitamin, mineral, and energy requirements.
Waterers should be rinsed daily and scrubbed every 3 days with a mild disinfectant. Inexpensive, water soluble vitamins and electrolytes for poultry should be added (at the recommended level) to the drinking water for the first 1 to 3 weeks. The fat soluble vitamins A, D3, E and K are compounded with a starch or protein emulsifier to enhance dispersion and availability in water. This will ensure and adequate intake of vitamins, particularly A and D3.
The following program is practical and has provided excellent results in rearing emu chicks. Start them on a good quality emu starter ration containing at least 20 percent protein. However, some emu producers withhold feed up to 72 hours in newly hatched chicks to allow for the complete reabsorption of the yolk sack. The quality and health of the chick should be carefully evaluated before withholding feed beyond 48 hours.
The starter ration is formulated to provide all nutrients necessary for optimum growth and health during the first 2 weeks of life, and it should be offered in the crumbled form. All other feeds should be pelleted.
Chicks should receive continuous light and have access to the starter ration at all times during the first 3 weeks. After that, they can be fed all the starter ration they will consume in two short (20-minute) daily feeding periods.
Chicks should not be fed excess protein. Too much protein may cause excessive weight gain, which can contribute to leg weakness, leg abnormalities, and death.
While emus do require more fiber than other birds, high-fiber feeds can cause intestinal obstructions in young chicks and result in "starveout" deaths.
Never feed any feedstuff that is damp, moldy, musty, or suspect in any way. Botulism or mycotoxicosis leading to intestinal problems may occur. Throw away any damp or moldy feed.
The primary feed ingredients of emu feeds should consist of corn, wheat, and alfalfa. Soybean meal should be mixed at no greater than 300 pounds per ton.
At 8 weeks of age, chicks can be placed on a good quality emu grower ration and fed what they will eat in two daily feeding periods. Juveniles can be switched to a maintenance diet at 25 weeks of age until they reach sexual maturity. Breeder rations contain a high calcium level and should not be fed to juveniles. The breeder diet should be fed 2 weeks prior to the expected first egg.
Always change from one type of feed to another slowly. Begin mixing the new diet into the diet which you have been feeding your birds. Initially, mix ¼ new to ¾ present diet. After 4 days, mix the diets ½ to ½. After 8 days, mix the diets ¾ to ¼ of the old diet. After 2 weeks of this process, the new diet should totally replace the feed from which the change was made. It is very important to make a slow transition. If a quick change is made, birds may avoid the feed, or develop diarrhea, or other adverse responses may be noted. A feeding program is only as effective as the management practices that are followed.
Birds should be offered an amount of feed that they will actually consume. Forcing the birds to "clean-up" the feed on a daily basis results in the birds consuming more balanced diet. This keeps the birds from picking through the feed and excluding certain constituents from their diet. A feed that is properly pelleted should not be a problem.
Also, leftover feed will be wasted, get wet and moldy, or drew predators and rodents. None of these alternatives is very good for production. Again, management is very important in accomplishing this recommendation. The grower must monitor the birds' consumption very closely. Do not assume that past consumption will predict consumption of new formulations. If feed remains at night, it should be removed. Feed the following day should be consistent with actual consumption of the previous day. Growing birds may eat more in subsequent days. If the feed runs out during the day, increase the feed input by 5 to 10 percent on the following day and record the results. Weighing feed amounts and keeping good records will help establish feeding programs for future birds.
Forages such as alfalfa, red clover, lespedeza, fescue, or Bermuda grass are desirable for juveniles and adults and will reduce production costs significantly. Some forages may be too tough or high in fiber or too low in protein and energy to provide the nutrient level required for desired growth.
If emus are allowed to forage on natural grasses or grain, try to balance this nutrient intake with the amount of commercial feed that is fed.
Breeding birds on pasture should receive daily supplements of a good quality, high protein emu breeder ration to ensure optimum egg production, fertility, and hatchability. Breeders in dry-lot confinement also should be fed the emu breeder ration.
Emus should not be allowed to become overweight. Excess fat is detrimental to egg production by breeders and to meat quality of birds that are to be slaughtered.


Credit: N.C. Cooperative Extension