Emus are quite gentle, calm, and docile around humans. When kept as pets, Emus can be trained to be kind and inquisitive. While attacks on humans are rare, emus are sizable birds, capable of eviscerating even large animals. So, caution must be taken when dealing with larger birds as not all emu are friendly. Emus are closely related to ostriches. These birds can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Their feet allow emus to disembowel other animals. There are many complications involved in keeping Emus as pets. An average adult emu can supply 20 to 30 pounds of meat. Relative to ostriches, emus are pretty docile. They are less likely to cause trouble if you get them very young. Besides promoting bonding with you, hatching your emu pet yourself promotes bonding with your other pets. Emus are usually 110 to 150 pounds but they’re docile and can make great pets or livestock. Emus stand up to 6.2 feet in height. They make great pets, egg producers, predator control, and food. Their legs are among the strongest of any animal. Many emu farmers raise and slaughter the animals for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. I have found that emus make the best pets when they are young. Emus are very dangerous if you do not understand them. Emus are big birds but they’re docile. One emu egg is equal to eight to 10 chicken eggs. They are the second largest bird by height, following the ostrich. There has been increasing interest in keeping them as pets due to their docile nature. Indigenous Australians have hunted emus for meat, feathers, and oil. Emu farming was introduced for the same reasons.
Are emus calm or aggressive?
Emus are generally quite calm. But they become highly territorial during the breeding season.
If you encounter an aggressive emu, try to slowly back away from it while keeping an eye on it.
Emus have strong legs enabling them to run at speeds of 30 miles per hour. Their feet are powerful, with sharp claws.
Emus would act aggressively by rising up straight and puffing out their feathers around their neck regions. You can also notice a potentially dangerous emu when it is making hissing sounds.
Emus are most likely to be aggressive when provoked, startled, or their young ones are threatened. Male emus fiercely defend their chicks.
While attacks on humans are rare, emus are capable of harm with their three-toed feet.
Emus should be treated with respect and caution.
Why did emu go extinct?
It was humans hunting emus for food and destroying emus habitat that led to extinction on the island in 1810. But just before extinction, individuals, including adults and chicks, were sent to France. Emu eggs weigh and have volume as 10 to 12 chicken eggs! The eggs are green, shiny, with pits on surface. The Geneva skin is the only one left of this emu. It lived in the interior forest. Extinction was due to hunting and habitat clearance by burning. The subspecies grew to about half mainland emu size. After colonisation began, it became extinct in early 19th century. Three subspecies are recognized, inhabiting northern, southeastern, and southwestern Australia. The emu can sprint at nearly 50 km per hour. The species survived until 1865, and the last captive died in 1873. Emus are polygamous in different ways. Despite local populations being endangered, with Tasmanian emu extinct by 1800s. Threats include eggs predation, roadkills, and habitat fragmentation.
Why do farmers keep emus?
Emus are flightless birds native to Australia. For thousands of years, people harvested emus for meat, oil, skin and feathers. Emu meat has high nutritional value and low fat. The American Heart Association recognizes it as a healthy beef alternative.
Emu eggs are green because pigment molecules are deposited onto the eggshell in the oviduct. The pigment oocyanin likely produces the blue and green colours. A newly hatched emu chick stands 9.8 inches tall. It has downy feathers and open eyes.
People raise emus for meat, oil, leather and feathers. With low fat and cholesterol, emu meat is popular for health-conscious consumers. Emu oil is also sought-out.
Emus are the largest birds in Australia, growing over 6 feet tall. Unable to fly, they can run 30 miles per hour. Chicks fully grow around 12 months but don’t mature sexually until 18-20 months. Wild emus live 5-10 years, but captivity extends their lifespan to 35 years.
Hardy and low maintenance, emus make excellent farm animals. They efficiently convert feed, gaining one pound for every 25 pounds eaten. Their unique traits and usefulness made them a popular business investment model.
An average adult emu provides 20-30 pounds of highly praised meat. Most emu ranches are 5-10 acres.