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We have never had a mean emu. They each have their own unique personalities with some very affectionate and some more shy and reserved.
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. Acceptable temperature and humidity ranges must be respected and followed along with adequate ventilation. Most early embryonic death is due to temperature spikes or inadequate airflow.
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.
You can choose to weigh your hatching eggs every week or two to make sure they are losing weight predictably. An emu egg should lose 15% of its weight over the entire incubation time. 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. We choose not to weigh because it means handling the eggs a whole lot more outside of the incubator. Ultimately for us, it is a lot of effort with minimal benefits to the process. However, if you are having difficulties hatching and suspect humidity may be the cause it could be a good way to pinpoint the problem and correct it.
Emu are livestock, you do not need a special license to own them in Arkansas.
You will probably get a different answer about this topic from everyone you ask. But, as far as "enough" room you have to consider three things.
1. Is the space long enough that will allow them to run at a high rate of speed and exercise?
2. Are you feeding them an adequate diet and not expecting them to "live off the land"?
3. Do you have adequate fence height and multiple feed, water, shelter, or hide areas that will allow them to get away from one another if they want to?
Most emu keepers would probably agree that 100 ft x 100 ft (1/4 acre) long runs are acceptable for a pair/trio.
We could write a book on this but to keep it simple emu are just SPECIAL!
Emu are curious, quirky, unique, and docile, they are unlike any animal we've ever owned. 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.
If at all possible try to get 2 emu chicks at the same time or within one week apart. A 3-week-old chick is a lot different than a 5-6-week-old chick. They have already deeply bonded with their hatchling buddies and will feel very afraid and lonely being separated from them. If this is just not an option, try to get another small chicken "chick" or turkey poult. You will still need to spend A LOT of time with your chick to help him/her adjust and thrive.
If you only intend on having two and do not want eggs/chicks, get males. They are less likely to fight later on. If you want three emu try to get two males and a female.
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. 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 I'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. On a standard color emu, this can be difficult to see on their outer feathers so you can lift them where their feathers are lighter in color and apply paint there. Just reapply as needed.
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