Did you know male and female emu make different sounds?

The sound made by males is similar to a pig’s grunt while females make booming sounds like a bass drum that can be heard a mile away. 

In nature, it takes a male emu 60 days to hatch the eggs! That's right, it is the male that sits, hatches, and cares for the chicks. During this time he doesn't move, even to eat or drink. He stays with the young for two years, defending them and teaching them how to find food. 

Emu feathers are like no other! Individual emu feathers have a loose and simple design. Just like hairs, feathers grow from follicles. Most birds have one feather per follicle, but the emu grows a double-shafted feather from each follicle. Barbs found on a typical bird feather are closely knit, but an emu feather’s barbs are widely spaced and don't have the usual hooks that attach to the other barbs. Instead, each barb hangs loosely and gives emu feathers a hairlike appearance. Emu feathers are less water-resistant than other birds' feathers. Its tail feathers are not so soft. Instead, they are stiff, and the bird can rattle them to scare off predators, such as dingoes. When shaken they sound similar to a maraca!

Rocks that have been in the digestive system of an animal are called gastroliths, which means "stomach stones." Any kind of rock can become a gastrolith, all it has to do is be swallowed by something. Emu need rocks regularly to help break down their food. If they are in a sandy or all-grassy area without rocks you can buy bags of small river pebbles to supplement. Some rocks break down completely before they pass them but generally, you will find little piles like the one pictured.

Emu eggs are unique in color, size, shape, texture, and weight. New layers may lay smaller eggs at first, then as they age their eggs may increase in size. Some emu just always lay larger eggs. After some time you will probably be able to identify who laid the egg just by looking at it. With good observation and excellent bookkeeping you can help determine exactly who is laying based on the frequency, location of the egg found, weight and physical characteristics. This can be very helpful since emu do like to share nests. Emu eggs on average are 13x9 cm and 400-700 grams. In our experience, smaller eggs have just as much chance of hatching as larger eggs do. 

Emu In The Sky constellation, created by the dark clouds of the Milky Way and spaces between stars has been observed by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Depending on the time of year, Emu in the Sky is oriented to either appear sitting or running. According to Indigenous legend, emus were more than just birds. They were creator spirits that soared through the skies above, looking over the land. These birds were incredibly helpful, so it makes sense that Emu in the Sky helped Indigenous people predict what was happening in the world around them. 

Vent sexing can be tricky depending on what age you check. IQ Bird Testing is quick and easy and you don't have to risk injury. Just send off the shell membrane, feather, or a small amount of blood. 

Rooster Booster (RB) has several products. Make sure you are getting the RB pelleted vitamin and mineral supplement not the RB Poultry Cell or RB Liquid B12 with Vit K. RB Vitamins & Electrolytes w/ lactobacillus is great stuff but only used for times that dehydration is suspected (it is high in salt and potassium, and not intended for everyday use).