The Emu Scientific Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
Behavior: Emus are generally very gentle and friendly birds.
Country of Origin: Australia
They are also known to be inquisitive animals, and approach
Lifespan: 25 to 35 years
humans if they see movement of a limb or a piece of clothing. They may follow and observe humans in the wild. They typically
History: The Emu has a prominent place in Australian
get along well with humans and other animals, even in the
Aboriginal mythology, Several of the Sydney rock engravings
breeding season.
depict an Emu.
An Emu spends much of its time preening its plumage with its
The Emu is unofficially considered the national bird of Australia.
beak. Emus sleep during the night, and begin to settle down at
It appears as a shield bearer on the coat of arms of Australia .
sunset. During this time the body is lowered until it is touching
It appears on the Australian 50 cent coin and it is featured on
the ground and its legs are folded. The feathers direct any rain
numerous Australian postage stamps.
downwards along the mound-like body into the ground. The neck
Emus were used as a food source by indigenous Australians and
is brought down very low and the beak turned down so that the
early European settlers. Commercial Emu farming started in Western
whole neck becomes S-shaped and folding onto itself. An Emu
Australia in 1987 Outside Australia, Emus are farmed on a large
sleeps for around seven hours every day.
scale in North America, with about 1 million birds in the US.
Average Weight: 110 pounds -140 pounds
Current Uses: Above all, Emus are friendly, playful, curious
Broody: A breeding pair mates every day or two, and every
creatures that make ideal companions for lovers of large birds.
second or third day the female lays one of an average of 11 very
Their big orange eyes and slightly scatter-brained appearance
large, thick-shelled, dark-green eggs. The eggs are on average
can provide hour of humorous entertainment. Sometimes they
5.3 × 3.5 inches and weigh between 1.5 and 2.0 pounds.
poke other animals and then run away after drawing a reaction, as though they are playing a game. On a commercial level they are farmed for their meat, oil and leather.
The male becomes broody after his mate starts laying, and begins to incubate the eggs before the laying period is complete. During the incubation period, the parents will take turns standing guard
Appearance: Emus are large, soft feathered, flightless birds
over the eggs while the other drinks and feeds. Incubation takes
with a long neck and legs and three toes on each foot. The
56 days, and the male stops incubating the eggs shortly before
plumage varies regionally, matching the surrounding environment
they hatch.
and improving camouflage. The feather structure prevents heat
Housing: Emu’s require a fenced area and should have some
from flowing into the skin, permitting Emus to be active during the midday heat. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. Males and females are hard to distinguish visually, but can be differentiated by the types of sounds they emit by manipulating an inflatable neck sac. Emus have small vestigial wings that they flap when running. This is believed to stabilise the bird. When walking,the Emu takes steps of around 3.3 feet, but at full gallop, a stride can be as long as 9 feet. Its legs
type of shelter. But in the most extremely cold climates, they should have an enclosed shelter with heat. Emu do not require prime farm land. Marginal land not suited for crops can be utilized. Fifty to sixty birds per acre is acceptable. Feeding: Emu are excellent converters. 2.5 pounds of feed to 1 pounds of gain. An adult Emu consumes on average 1.5 - 1.75 pounds of feed per day. Commercial feeds are readily available at a cost of approximately. $140 per year per bird.
are devoid of feathers and underneath its feet are thick,cushioned pads. They have a soft bill, adapted for grazing. The neck of the Emu is pale blue and shows through its sparse feathers. They have brown to grey-brown plumage of shaggy appearance; the shafts and the tips of the feathers are black.
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