 So
you want to know about Emus ...
Emu Eggs
Emu Eggs are dark green. The female lays an egg every 3
to 5 days. As she lays eggs, the male will cover them
with leaves, grass, straw, or whatever is available
until he is ready to start incubating them. When there
are at least 9 eggs, the male will start sitting on the
nest. The male will incubate the eggs for 50 to 54 days.
He will not eat or drink during this time. When the eggs
hatch, the first thing he will do is eat the eggshell.
This helps to get his system going, and also hides
evidence of the chicks from predators. The chicks will
stay with the rooster until they are grown. On an Emu
ranch, the eggs are usually collected by the rancher and
placed in an incubator, where temperature and humidity
are carefully monitored.
Emu Chicks
Emu chicks are grey with brown, black and tan
stripes and a maze pattern on their heads. As they get
older, they lose their stripes. By the time they are 3
months old, they will be almost black in color.
At 6 months old, their feathers will be a lighter color
with striated feathers, much more like the adults.
| Facts: |
- Emus are native to Australia. Some
scientists speculate that the Emu has
remained essentially unchanged for as
long as 80 million years.
- Emus are members of the ratite
family of birds, along with the ostrich
(native to Africa); the rhea (found in
South America, south of the equator);
the cassowary (from New Guinea and
northeastern Australia); and the kiwi
(found only in New Zealand).
- Ratites have flat breastbones and no
wing muscles, so they cannot fly, but
instead have developed strong legs for
running. An Emu can run 35-40 miles per
hour for short distances.
- Emus have 3 toes; the underside of
each is flat with a broad pad.
- Emus have two main calls, a
throbbing drum (by the female) and a
grunt (by the male). The chicks whistle
and the male will whistle to them.
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Emu feathers are unique because both the primary and
secondary feathers are the same length. Each feather has
two shafts, with barbs, so widely spaced that they do
not interlock to form a firm vane as in most birds;
instead they form a loose, hair-like body covering.
There are four types of Emu feathers: the short, black
neck feathers; the downy-white fluffy chest feathers;
the silvery-brown, black-tipped back feathers; and the
long, bristly tail feathers, which may be as long as 26
inches.
The Emu is 95 percent usable. After the bird is
processed the fat is refined into a safe and stable oil,
used in cosmetic and heath products; the low-fat mild
flavored red meat is sold to health conscious consumers;
the leather is crafted into beautiful goods. The
feathers are used in the automotive and electronic
industries as feather dusters, and by fishermen for
tying flies. The eggs, which are a beautiful textured
dark green, with a turquoise undercoating which shows
through, can be etched or intricately carved, or painted
upon. Faberge jewelry boxes, made from Emu eggs, and
covered with valuable gems, sell for as much as
$1,000.00.
The American emu farmer is committed to sound farming
practices, bringing the consumer quality products to
enhance their lives.
In the wild, emus eat fruits, flowers, insects, seeds
and green vegetation; they love caterpillars. To aid in
their digestive process, they will swallow large stones.
They need water daily.
On American farms, emus are raised on feed formulated to
optimize growth and in spacious pens providing ample
room to grow. Adult emus stand at 5 to 5 1/2 feet, but
can stretch to 7 feet in height, and weigh 110 to 130
pounds.
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