Basic Care

Two week old chick with nice straight legs. Notice how she is on a blanket instead of the slippery bathroom floor.

Two week old chick with nice straight legs. Notice how she is on a blanket instead of the slippery bathroom floor.

Legs

Chicks won't be sent home until they are at least 2 weeks old. We like to monitor their legs to make sure they are growing straight and walking well. They have very long legs, so they will be a little bit shaky on them. It is very important to be aware of their legs and surfaces they walk on until they are around 3 months old.

Splayed leg

Splayed leg is common when chicks first hatch if they don't have proper traction. This is where it looks like they are starting to do the splits (whether sitting or standing). Both feet are still pointing forward with splayed leg. This can be prevented by giving chicks non-slip surfaces (such as rubber mats) when they first hatch. Splayed leg can be treated by taping the legs an inch or two apart for at least 24 hours and putting the chick on a surface that their legs can't slide apart on.

Rotated Leg

This is when one foot turns out slightly and will progress until they walk with one leg turned and foot pointing to the side. Splayed leg can turn into rotated leg if left untreated. Emu chicks can also develop this overnight if they slip the wrong way. It is very important that they aren't allowed to run on ANY slippery surface.

If one of their legs starts to turn out, you can try splinting/taping it, but they will most likely need to be put down. Even if it seems like they can still get around with a splayed leg, as they get older their weight will cripple them. Some people have had some luck with expensive surgeries to repair the torn tendon.

Nutrition

Nutrition is also very important because they grow into large, strong birds. If nutritional requirements aren't made when they are young, they may not be healthy birds as adults. Almost every breeder feeds a little bit different then the next, which makes it a little confusing when you first start out. Emus can thrive off of many different combinations of food as long as the nutrients are in range. In birds, if a problem (example: wry neck) arises within the first week or two of hatching, it is typically due to nutritional problem with the parents because they are still absorbing and living off of the yolk. If problems arise after 2 weeks, they more than likely have to do with nutritional problems of their current feed.

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Feeding Schedule

Day Old Chicks will be started on organic chick starter crumbles - same as you would feed baby chickens. I put a mixture of electrolytes, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals - along with B-vitamins in their water.

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From 2 to 3 Weeks Old I slowly switch from chick starter crumbles to layer crumbles, with no more than 16% protein. The extra calcium is good for their growing skeletal system. They also need less protein than chicken chicks because they do not mature as fast. I continue to add supplements to their water until they are at least a month old.

Around Three Weeks Old I start giving them fresh veggies such as: spinach, cabbage, kale, and shredded carrots. Chop up the leaves so they do not get stuck in their mouths. Eventually they will be able to eat whole leaves without any problems. Always introduce slowly and make sure they have chick grit available to help break it down. They may also pick up small rocks they find when they are outside. Around 3 weeks, I also start adding small alfalfa pellets in with their layer crumbles. I find these by the rabbit food (no more than 16% protein). Alfalfa pellets contain lots of B vitamins and calcium and also fiber to help slow down their growth.

Around 4 Weeks Old, I switch from layer crumbles to layer pellets. Their feed should be mixed 2:1 layer and alfalfa pellets. This is what I use for our maintenance diet.

My Adult birds get a mixture of layer pellets, alfalfa pellets, and fresh veggies. In the colder months they get dry COB (corn, oats, and barley) mixed in for warmth. I mix in black sunflower seeds and a poultry vitamin/mineral/probiotic supplement into our breeders mix to give them added nutrients.

Heat

Chicks need a heat lamp from the day they hatch until they are at least 3 months old. I wait until it stays around 60 degrees F before I take the heat lamp away. If they don't go under it anymore, even at night, then it should be safe to take away.

Fencing

Adult emus require a fence that is at least 6 feet tall. We use no-climb horse fence and wooden posts. They like to run back and forth against one side of the fence instead of running through the middle of their pens. It is better to make a rectangular shaped pen with two longer sides than a square shaped pen with shorter sides. Our minimum pen size for a breeder pair is 80 ft X 40 ft. It is important that the top of the fence is stretched tight. Emus can easily use their body weight to flop over a loose fence.

Electric and barbed wire fences do not work well for emus.

Shelter

Emus tolerate cold very well. Most prefer to sleep out in the open and can be hard to convince to sleep enclosed in a shed or barn. Nevada winters are very mild compared to Midwest and East Coast winters. We put up very simple, inexpensive shelters so they have somewhere to bed down out of the wind. Make sure they have a large nest of straw they can bed down in and this is all they need in our area. We nestled their pallet shelters in-between sage brush so it would look more natural and hopefully be more inviting to them!

emu shelter2.jpg

emu shelter1.jpg

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Water

Emus love water! It is important that emus always have fresh water. They drink a lot. When it is hot outside, they should have a large baby pool or trough they can lay in. Emus are actually great swimmers if you have a pond. They also enjoy having a sprinkler turned on that they can play in or being sprayed with a hose.

Learn More

This page covers a few important topics about caring for emus. There is a lot more you will need to learn about. Please feel free to ask me any questions!

Here are some books that will give you more in-depth information about care:

  1. The Emu Farmer's Handbook Volume 1 (Minnaar)

  2. The Emu Farmer's Handbook Volume 2 (Minnaar)

  3. Emu Today & Tomorrow (Magazine Subscription)

  4. Amazing Amusing Emus: Yesterday's Dinosaurs on Today's Farms (Thwing)

  5. Emu. Emus as Pets. Emu Keeping, Care, Housing, Interaction, Diet, and Health (Rodendale)

The American Emu Association (AEA) has a website with information as well:

www.aea-emu.org