We purchased our EMU from an exotic farm near Citra Fl. The animals at this farm were used as movie props. Giraffe, Buffalo, Monkeys, Bear, Dear etc. They had many Rea and Emu but only 4 babies had arrived on set. I could not resist. I bought them knowing what the range of challenges would be, or even what the sex was of any.
Well, as it turned out they became the most loving animals in the whole farm. They are curious, funny and easy keepers.
Saddly we lost two (Heckle & Jeckle) in July to the ingestion of Pokeweed aka Pokeberry. Hard lesson.
We have since bought two new Emu from a small farm in Jacksonville. Fred & Ethel. They are fitting in quite well and we hope to have some offspring this year. Hyde and Blue don't know how to act. Literally as they both seemed to have taken these two new arrivals as competition. So we have them separated for the time being until they learn how to behave.
Now that we have what is obviously a female I believe we have now 3 males and a female...Actually I think we have fallen prey to the ...5 sex's of Emu....Male, Female, I think its a Male, I think its a Female, & I'm really not sure what it is!
We shall be watching for the layers & the sitters.
Below is Abby. Something I have learned. These birds have amazing amune systems. Abby was chased by dogs and wounded on her left hip. The skin was damaged to the point of seeing muscle and tendons. We dressed the wound and cleaned it. She was sooo good about it. However after a few days she no longer needed our help and continued to be the personality of the house. Greeting vistors and keeping vigil at the drive. It has been a couple of weeks and she is nearly completely healed.
Update 4/09: Interesting birds. However I have had zero eggs. Ethel continues to Bully Abby nearly everyday. The other guys seem to just roll with it. Ethel and Fred are the two healthiest and strongest. However I am thinking of trying the meat and eliminating the aggressive one from the mix. Maybe with a little peace and quiet there may be eggs. We shall see.
This is myself and Blue He is the only boy. I named him before I knew his sex, but then when I found out that the male Emu has to sit on the eggs I though the name to be most appropriate.
This is Hyde, I do believe now to be a male! He is very spirited and likes to fluff up so to appear larger than he actually is. However he is quite large considering he is the largest in our herd. He stands eye to eye with me weighs aprox 125lbs.
Ethel has taught us that along with lizards, frogs, bugs, & mice she also likes baby piglets! Opps Who would have guessed. We had a new litter of piglets and a couple escaped the Emu pen to vist and got eaten! After having making a hearty meal of a lean pork Ethel seem quite pleased with herself.
Blue chasing Fred. This seems to be the new game as mating season is soon upon them. It is hilarious to watch as one will chase the other around the pen then they change the oposition.
Fred is the old man of the bunch. (aprox. 4 yrs. old) Ethel is his babe, but Hyde and Blue look like they may be interested as well. We shall soon see how this goes as the breeding season is just around the corner.
Hyde posing for a glamor shot.
Ethel gives the starting drum (Sound she makes) and the game begins.
12/13/08
After much study of our birds we came to the conlusion that we had 3 males, and 1 female. Disapointed, and with no luck with eggs, we were considering reducing the flock. After running a ad for sell, a wonderful lady from N. Florida wrote us with a similar situation, only she had females, and no males! So we made a trade. We said goodbye to Hyde, and Hello to Bert....who is now Abby! Incedently Hyde is now Clyde.
Abby has wasted no time in strutting her stuff and booming . Blue seems to be taken with her, and Ethel and Fred are behaving themselves. We have opened up a large structure for them and are hoping to seem some eggs soon!
ABBY
Their feet are much as we would imagine a Raptors foot would be. The talons are very sharp and thick. They also have a small claw at the end of their wings which are small for thier size.
