When it comes to raising emus, fencing may be your biggest expense Emus are big birds—usually 110 to 150 pounds! —but they’re docile and can make great pets or livestock. To keep them, you’ll need tall wire fences with openings that the emus can’t get their heads stuck in, such as no-climb horse fencing.
Is it profitable to raise emu?
There are substantial profits that can be made in raising and selling emus as breeding pairs , given the large volume of emu ranches that are starting each year. A proven emu breeding pair can be sold at $8,000 to $30,000 depending on the historical number of fertile eggs the pair has produced each mating season.
Are emus good farm animals?
Although it’s classified as poultry, emu is similar in taste and texture to lean beef. However, the fat and cholesterol content of
emu meat
is comparable to poultry, and as a result, the American Heart Association recognizes emu meat as a healthy alternative.
How much does an emu cost?
Purchasing the yearling emus has advantages over
young chicks
in form of estimation of adult size, conformation, and insurability. An emu yearling pair costs around $11,000 to $19,000 for sexed pairs This costs around $5,500 to $9,500 per yearling of emu for a
single bird
.
How much land does an emu need?
Because emus love to jump and run (they tend to be silly at all stages of life), the more space to roam, the better. Many breeders house pairs in 1000
square feet
of space per pair of emu An acre of land can house about 10 pairs with room to roam.
Do you need a licence for an emu?
animal lovers
with a penchant for exotic pets can now keep sloths, raccoons or even emus after the Government relaxed the regulations on owning wild animals. A total of 33 new species can now be owned without a licence after a review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act deemed them not to be a risk to the public.
Do emus get along with chickens?
Usually, chickens and emus can get along if they are raised together or slowly introduced to each other If they are not introduced correctly, however, the much larger emus may see the chickens as a threat and attack them. Chickens and sheep typically get along.
Can emus live in cold weather?
These birds can withstand our winters , but you must provide a dry shelter that keeps the birds out of the wind and moisture.
Are emu eggs good eating?
“They are also great as a quick nutritious meal or snack “One emu egg is equal to about eight to 10 chicken eggs, so you wouldn’t eat a whole emu egg all to yourself, but it may be useful to feed a crowd.”.
Can you free range emu?
In addition to strong fences, you need to give emus plenty of space and freedom to run as well as protection from cold weather and heat An outdoor run should be at least 30 x 100 feet per pair of emus, although fencing as much land as you can afford is the best way to go.
How long do emus live for?
In the wild emus live 5-10 years , but in captivity they may live 35 years.
What should I feed my emu?
Adult emu feed formulas contain some 14-17% protein, often non-medicated poultry pellets. Diets can be enriched with everything from leafy green vegetables to fruits, seeds, grains such as oats, mealworms and dried crickets, meat scraps or any other healthy food that the emus take to.
Are emus nice pets?
While Emus can make lovely pets , they do have specific needs that will require a great deal of your time and patience. They can be quite affectionate and gentle birds, but they might be rather moody and aggressive if provoked.
Can you own an emu as a pet?
Emus are legal in California.
How much does an emu eat per day?
An adult emu will eat an average of 1 1/2 pounds of ground or pelleted feed per day. They will eat less if they are allowed to “graze” all day long with feed available to them at all times. It is not advised to keep emus with other poultry.
Are emus noisy?
Emus make very low-pitched non-vocal sounds including deep rolling grunts and thumping or booming notes which can be audible at up to two kilometres. They can occasionally be heard calling at night.
How often do emu lay eggs?
Emu lay eggs in the winter months, usually between November and March. Eggs are laid every 3 or 4 days, with an average of 30 eggs laid per season Some may produce up to 50 eggs per season. The incubation period for emu eggs is 46 to 56 days with an average of 50 days.
Can I buy emu eggs?
It is safest to buy eggs from established emu breeders, and breeders who are recommended, or have been checked out by reputable websites and social media pages Ask the seller questions about their emu, and emu keeping to test their knowledge.
What does emu meat taste like?
Its flesh is a nutritionist’s dream, it’s lean, low in cholesterol and high in iron and vitamin C. Emu connoisseurs attest the bird tastes like a fine filet mignon.
How long do emus live in captivity?
In the wild emus live 5-10 years, but in captivity they may live 35 years.
What do you farm emus for?
The flightless fowl grows to up to 6.2 feet tall and can weigh in at 120 pounds. One emu yields about 25 pounds of meat and two gallons of oil, used as a skin salve and in some industrial products It produces large, green eggs that artists covet, and makes an omelette the size of one made with a dozen chicken eggs.
How do you stop an emu from attacking you?
Emus are easier to get rid of Emus do not attack humans with beaks and claws right away. They chase first, if you do not get frightened, and keep casually walking away They would stop chasing. That’s how simply you can avoid an attack.
What do emus eat in captivity?
Emus ingest large pebbles up to 1.6 ounces (45 grams) to help their gizzards grind up food. They also often eat charcoal. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the emu is fed ratite pellets and occasionally greens such as kale and romaine.
How long does it take for an emu to grow?
Emus are full-grown at 12 to 14 months but don’t reach sexual maturity until about 2 years of age.
What kind of fencing do you need for emus?
EXISTING OR SHORTER FENCES A closely spaced woven wire fence (2-inch by 4-inch) at least 5 feet high will contain the birds. An electrified wire installed on the top inside of this type of fence will prevent ostriches and emus from jumping over.
Do emus need to be kept in pairs?
The only two that are a bit wild are Marco and Polo but when they are together, they are more comfortable around people. One way to get them used to you is to constantly have them eat out of your hands. When raising emus, you must have at least two They are very sociable creatures and need a buddy.
What shelter do emus need?
Some emu don’t like being inside and would much prefer to shelter under trees However, if there are no trees in their field, it would be worth providing some kind of shelter for them, which would also be a good option if you’d like the fathers to sit.
Do emus make good guard dogs?
According to Gruber, emus have sharp, strong feet that will claw coyotes to death COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – One animal rescuer in Columbus County is using alpacas and emus to protect her other animals from coyotes and suggests anyone with livestock to do the same.
How much is a fertile emu egg?
Emu Hatching Egg – $35.00 : MoonlightValleyFarm.com – Store.
Is emu meat eaten?
Absolutely! In addition to being healthy, emu meat tastes like a delicious cross between beef and chicken. It’s an awesome meat to substitute for beef or chicken in just about any recipe – even exotic jerky!.
Can 2 male emus live together?
In emus, the females will choose their mates and will fight other females over the mates. Male emus may also fight, but we’ve found many of our females to choose more than one male and the extra males get along fine with each other.
Are emus intelligent?
The emu has the reputation of being one of the least intelligent birds among a few emu experts, including a Canadian scientist and a former emu breeder. They aren’t as bright as crows but are more so than turkeys, and yet they can be easily fooled.
How do you care for an emu?
Provide necessary food, water and care to protect the health and well being of animals Provide pens and housing of quality and size to keep the emus safe, while allowing them adequate exercise. Provide disease prevention practices to protect the health of their birds – including access to veterinary care.
Can I buy a emu?
Standard Brown Emu Chicks Emu chicks for sale. All chicks are sold un-sexed (straight run) $150 for standard brown. Emu chicks are very sociable and need a companion, so minimum purchase of 2 chicks, unless you have other emu chicks.
What fruit do emus eat?
Emus love fruit, especially during the long hot summer months. A whole watermelon doesn’t last long with our flock! Emus like all kinds of fruits: apples, kiwis, grapes, melons, berries of all kinds Try them all to find our your Emu’s favorite.
How many chicken eggs is an emu egg equal to?
But, as one emu egg is the equivalent to eight chicken eggs , she said they were better shared.
Can you hard boil an emu egg?
Should you happen across some emu eggs, you can cook them in the same way as hens’ eggs, bearing in mind that the yolk is much paler, so the resulting dish will be the same. If you want to hard-boil one, you will need to be patient, as it will take about 1 hour 45 minutes for a medium-sized egg.
How long do emu eggs last?
Emu eggs can be stored for up to 3 wk with minimal decreases in hatchability. 3. Storage of emu eggs for more than 3 wk causes a significant decrease in hatchability.
Sources
https://sugarmapleemu.com/page.cfm?pageid=12