Anyone with Emus?

[kit80]

Anyone here got Emus? Looking to share info/advice etc., having a bit of trouble introducing a new 9 week old female to a 2 month old brother and sister at the moment, also new emu is so tame she thinks she is a dog, even scratches head like one and fell asleep on my lap last night, wondering if I should not encourage this as I don't fancy 6 foot emu trying to do the same when she grows up

[hedges88]

kit80 said:

Anyone here got Emus? Looking to share info/advice etc., having a bit of trouble introducing a new 9 week old female to a 2 month old brother and sister at the moment, also new emu is so tame she thinks she is a dog, even scratches head like one and fell asleep on my lap last night, wondering if I should not encourage this as I don't fancy 6 foot emu trying to do the same when she grows up

No direct experience with Emu's, however if it is possible for you to place the 9 week old within viewing/vocal range of the other so that the integration can happen more gently, this seems to work with most birds. If there is a large size difference between them you may want to wait for things to even out a bit to prevent any fights which could be dangerous to the 9 week old

As for the behaviour there is nothing wrong with interacting with her in that way, but as she gets larger you will need to be mindful that a single kick may cause you a broken bone or even internal bleeding, so you may need to start implementing barriers for both of your safety. I do not know whether Emu's can be aggressive during certain situations such as being broody/pregnant/rearing chicks or their equivalent of puberty but I guess that will be something to consider as well

It would be great to see some pictures if you have the time, I would be most interested. As I say I have no experience directly with Emu's but im hoping that my input could be useful in some way, it's just more common sense than anything I guess

[kit80]

Thank you that is very helpful and yes was my first thought with the slower integration. Females Emus can get nasty when laying which is usually at night but I have two adults ones I have been looking after have never shown signs of aggression, they are quite skittish though, but they now let me stroke them and hand feed them and I was even sorting out bits of grass on his face and he didn’t flinch which was lovely. My fears were more this baby acting like a dog when its adult size and running to me for a hug I am only little our sheep dog has me over sometimes. We are also getting ostriches soon which I am fearful for given we need a dangerous animals licence to have them!

I love to share photos! Here are some photos of Bambam the male adult


13971_10152558494420123_302259535_n by sj-stephenson, on Flickr


306251_10152558494725123_588300898_n by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

Leapold the young male (much bigger now)


DSC_0032 by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

Eli – the new one – bad mobile pic last night and personally feel she is small/underweight for 9 weeks


WP_000309 by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

[hedges88]

Many thanks for sharing the pictures, they are all stunningly beautiful

Nothing cuter than Ostrich and EMU Babies, they have such adorable features

On the Ostrich front the BDOA should be able to provide all the information you need - http://www.ostrich.org.uk/farming/begin.html

Your photos indicated a farmland setting so I hope that is appropriate, as a member of the RSPB I also grabbed this link for you which may contain useful information - http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/

[kit80]

Thanks I do think they are lovely animals.

Thanks for ostrich link too

I am not sure I follow you on the RSPB link and if it is appropriate? They live on a 2 acre farm with pens larger than guidelines? All registered/insured and above board? And I am a member of the RSPB too?

[hedges88]

kit80 said:

Thanks I do think they are lovely animals.

Thanks for ostrich link too

I am not sure I follow you on the RSPB link and if it is appropriate? They live on a 2 acre farm with pens larger than guidelines? All registered/insured and above board? And I am a member of the RSPB too?

That's exactly why I gave you the link just for the information that they provide with regards to requirements, I thought there may have been something telling you what you needed for moving on to Ostriches and their requirements

You are right though the RSPB link is probably inappropriate if your talking about moving on to Ostriches, I guess ZSL or any other zoo/attraction would be able to tell you the requirements/rules for keeping them. I don't know if you need DWA licence, but they most certainly could be dangerous in the right circumstances I guess, but then so can the family dog

At the end of the day the difference between an Ostrich and the Emu's you already keep is very little, they lack one toe, but as they can outpace an emu by quite a bit I guess the legs must be much stronger

If I had the space then I'd definitely have some, is there much to be made commercially at all in terms of feathers/eggs or do you just have them as pets so to speak?

Nice to have a fellow RSPB member on the forum!

[kit80]

hedges88 said:

That's exactly why I gave you the link just for the information that they provide with regards to requirements, I thought there may have been something telling you what you needed for moving on to Ostriches and their requirements

You are right though the RSPB link is probably inappropriate if your talking about moving on to Ostriches, I guess ZSL or any other zoo/attraction would be able to tell you the requirements/rules for keeping them. I don't know if you need DWA licence, but they most certainly could be dangerous in the right circumstances I guess, but then so can the family dog

At the end of the day the difference between an Ostrich and the Emu's you already keep is very little, they lack one toe, but as they can outpace an emu by quite a bit I guess the legs must be much stronger

If I had the space then I'd definitely have some, is there much to be made commercially at all in terms of feathers/eggs or do you just have them as pets so to speak?

Nice to have a fellow RSPB member on the forum!

Ah right yes sorry got confused but thanks for the links, there was some useful info.

You do need a DWA licence for ostriches because of their claw and I am in the process of organising that at the moment. I think commercially ostriches are more in the market for meat and eggs, very popular in restaurants and farmers markets etc. The Emus not so much, they are more pets we can make a few pennies off really, the egg shells sell for approx £10 and hatching chick for approx £100 but small market for them. Feather there is a market but not tried it yet, we don't get many fallen ones and I am not plucking them! haha!

I fed them apples at the weekend they went crazy for them! was hilarious to watch as I lined them all up on the fence and went across at full speed eating them.

[hedges88]

Adorable! Bit of a PTA that you have to get a DWA for the Ostriches but well worth it in the end.

Though I hate to admit this I was once savagely attacked by a turkey that took a particular dislike to me, he managed to break my ankle before someone on staff managed to lure him away. Didn't need to DWA licence for that little blighter so it's swings and roundabouts with what they cover and what they don't!

[kit80]

hedges88 said:

Adorable! Bit of a PTA that you have to get a DWA for the Ostriches but well worth it in the end.

Though I hate to admit this I was once savagely attacked by a turkey that took a particular dislike to me, he managed to break my ankle before someone on staff managed to lure him away. Didn't need to DWA licence for that little blighter so it's swings and roundabouts with what they cover and what they don't!

Don't tell me that I have 33 turkeys in another pen getting fat for christmas!

The DWA Licence is alarmingly small! Two pages. It also means I can get a sloth Although I have to justify its purpose to the farm, apparently "cute" is not enough.

Have you done any animal study courses then? I am looking into courses and even potentially agricultural degrees but not a clue where to start.

[hedges88]

kit80 said:

Don't tell me that I have 33 turkeys in another pen getting fat for christmas!

The DWA Licence is alarmingly small! Two pages. It also means I can get a sloth Although I have to justify its purpose to the farm, apparently "cute" is not enough.

Have you done any animal study courses then? I am looking into courses and even potentially agricultural degrees but not a clue where to start.

Im sure that the justification of produce will be more than enough, they are commercially farmed for meat, eggs and feathers after all, even if it is not your intention and you make little or no money from them

My favourite sloth video on YouTube is this one; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1mAGQAw3Oc absolutely adorable creatures!

Yes I studied animal husbandry at Shuttleworth college in Biggleswade, worked as a vet nurse as well but the pay at the time was so poor I worked in IT for 8 years instead. Im currently training to be a pharmacist so not intending to go back to work with animals, even though I enjoy it very much.

Shuttleworth is excellent for animal courses, as are many across the country. You should find it easy to find a suitable location and be able to fit the course around your work and home life. A good friend of mine runs a riding school whilst also gaining equine qualifications, so it is most certainly achievable

[Pesty]

kit80 said:

The DWA Licence is alarmingly small! Two pages. It also means I can get a sloth Although I have to justify its purpose to the farm, apparently "cute" is not enough.

So sir why exactly do you want a sloth

THEY ARE AWESOME

Sounds reasonable, Aprroved

[Gatsods]

hedges88 said:

Though I hate to admit this I was once savagely attacked by a turkey that took a particular dislike to me

• attempts to stifle laughter* ...

[Hooli]

kit80 said:

Thank you that is very helpful and yes was my first thought with the slower integration. Females Emus can get nasty when laying which is usually at night but I have two adults ones I have been looking after have never shown signs of aggression, they are quite skittish though, but they now let me stroke them and hand feed them and I was even sorting out bits of grass on his face and he didn’t flinch which was lovely. My fears were more this baby acting like a dog when its adult size and running to me for a hug I am only little our sheep dog has me over sometimes. We are also getting ostriches soon which I am fearful for given we need a dangerous animals licence to have them!

I love to share photos! Here are some photos of Bambam the male adult


13971_10152558494420123_302259535_n by sj-stephenson, on Flickr


306251_10152558494725123_588300898_n by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

Leapold the young male (much bigger now)


DSC_0032 by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

Eli – the new one – bad mobile pic last night and personally feel she is small/underweight for 9 weeks


WP_000309 by sj-stephenson, on Flickr

Great pics

I see they turn from cuties into what looks like a dinosaur!

[Nightmare]

hedges88 said:

Adorable! Bit of a PTA that you have to get a DWA for the Ostriches but well worth it in the end.

Though I hate to admit this I was once savagely attacked by a turkey that took a particular dislike to me, he managed to break my ankle before someone on staff managed to lure him away. Didn't need to DWA licence for that little blighter so it's swings and roundabouts with what they cover and what they don't!

Ive got to know - how on earth did a turkey manage to break your ankle???!!! i've wracked my (tiny) brain but just cannot think how it could do that!

[Tango13]

Pesty said:

kit80 said:

The DWA Licence is alarmingly small! Two pages. It also means I can get a sloth Although I have to justify its purpose to the farm, apparently "cute" is not enough.

So sir why exactly do you want a sloth

THEY ARE AWESOME

Sounds reasonable, Aprroved

Whilst I fully agree that a sloth would be a totally awesome pet i'm a bit confused as to why you need a DWA licence for them?

You also need a licence for a Red Panda

[OldJohnnyYen]

Those are awesome!

The DWAL has always had me in wonder too, there's a similar creature that folk keep that doesn't need one. Is it rheas?

Edited by OldJohnnyYen on Saturday 7th September 17:30

[hedges88]

Nightmare said:

Ive got to know - how on earth did a turkey manage to break your ankle???!!! i've wracked my (tiny) brain but just cannot think how it could do that!

I was hoping not to have to answer this as it was a very embarrassing scenario, especially as so many people saw. It was a rather large turkey and after it got hold of my ankle with it's beak I pulled my leg away frantically, as I did so a swift smack from it's flabby little wing then smashed a bone in my ankle, If I remember rightly it was the fibula. I didn't realise it at first, but the pain set in about 5 minutes after followed by severe swelling and bruising.

It's not surprising to be honest, most large birds such as water birds, geese, swans, turkeys and ostriches/emus are very capable of breaking bones with a well directed attack from the wings.