Frequently Asked Questions

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Emus have a life expectancy of about 10-20 years in the wild and 35+ years in captivity. The oldest emu in the world was claimed to be 58 in 2020.  

Emu eggs are not hard to hatch but they do require special incubating conditions compared to other eggs. Optimal temperature and humidity must be respected and followed along with adequate ventilation. Most early embryonic death is due to mishandling of eggs, temperature spikes or inadequate airflow. Improper incubating conditions (humidity in particular) can cause chick malpositioning, abnormalities and leg problems like splay, slipped tendons and rotational disorders. 

There is always a risk in hatching eggs of any kind. Even in the wild, under perfect incubating conditions, every single egg may not remain viable. That is simply Mother Nature and what makes hatching eggs such an incredible and rewarding experience. 

Emu eggs cannot be candled. We keep a higher male-to-female ratio, and based on observed breeding and past high fertility with successful hatches of healthy chicks, we believe our eggs to be fertile, but there is never a guarantee of viability or the outcome of what your hatch will be.

You can choose to weigh your hatching eggs to make sure they are losing weight appropriately. An emu egg should lose 13%-17% of its weight over the entire incubation period. If you notice that your egg weight loss is too much then you may need to increase humidity; or vice versa. If the weight loss measures are erratic then it may be because your humidity level has been fluctuating. Smoother eggs may lose less weight than more dimpled eggs, which are more porous. You can apply tape to help those eggs that might be losing too quickly. Unfortunately, weight loss is not an indicator of viability because even "quitters" will lose weight. But, by weighing eggs and hatching at the required temp and humidity to lose the appropriate amount of weight you are giving it the best chance to hatch a healthy chick. If optimal conditions are not provided, including proper turning and adequate ventilation, there is a much greater chance for chick malpositioning, abnormalities, deformities and leg problems like splay, slipped tendons or rotational disorders.

We have never fed Ratite feed because it has been recognized for having higher fiber, iron, copper and zinc than emus require (because it was originally formulated for ostriches). If you choose to feed Ratite feed, it is important to add an extruded alfalfa-based rabbit pellet to aid in their digestion.

Emu are livestock, you do not need a special license to own them in Arkansas.

We could write a book on this but to keep it simple, emu are just special! They are hardy and easy keepers. Emus are curious, quirky, unique, and docile. Not only have they completely stolen our hearts but they are a species that offer many benefits to their environment! They help spread seeds, promote the germination of new plants, and keep large amounts of pesky insects away. 

Getting your chick home safely is the first very important step in your chicks care. Chicks can be anywhere from (around) 1 lb and 10" tall at hatch. They grow fast and can be 1.5-2.5 lbs and around 15-20" tall at 3 weeks old. Make sure you have something tall enough so they can stand if they want to and of course, don't forget the floor needs to be non-slip. Wire cages can be dangerous if they stick their necks or legs through. An enclosed med-large animal carrier is best with a non-slip rug, carpet, or mat cut to fit the bottom. Cardboard boxes (tall enough) with proper ventilation and flooring work just fine as well. Food/water while en route is not recommended if only traveling for a few hours.

We can tell our emu apart by their personalities and how they look but it can be tricky if you have several or haven't had them long. If you know your chicks' gender you can easily put a leg band on them when they are really little. But, as we've mentioned before emu chicks grow extremely fast and it's very important that you not let it get too tight. Another way of marking on an adolescent or adult would be safe Cattle paint. You can lift them where their feathers are lighter in color and apply paint there. This will deter others from pecking at colored feathers as well. Just reapply as needed.
 

Our emus eat between 1-2 lbs a day, depending on the season.