+91.95504.57799
adityaemufarm@gmail.com
Praveen Donepudi
Emu Features & Behaviour
Emu birds are native to Australia, these soft-feathered and flightless birds are mostly farmed for their meat, oil and leather. Emu meat is considered to be low on fat and cholesterol. Its fat is used to produce oil for cosmetics, dietary supplements and therapeutic products. The feathers and eggs of emus are used for arts and crafts purposes and emu leather is used in combination with other leathers to make items like wallets and shoes.
Whether being farmed in Australia, the United States, China or India, emus can survive in a variety of climates. One of the biggest advantages of farming this bird is its excellent feed conversion ratio. An emu can reach up to 2 meters in height and around 65 kg in weight, and yet its annual feed intake does not exceed more than 600 kg. Besides this, emus have a hatchability rate of more than 80% and a chick mortality rate of less than 10%. They are even immune to bird flu.
Another advantage is the fact that it requires very minimal investment in facilities and land area. Research shows that around 68% of the investment has to be made in purchase of breeding stock. The rest of the investments go on the farm and hatchery. Feeding cost per breeding pair per annum was estimated to be Rs. 3,600.
Emu stand from 5 to 6 feet in height and can weigh up to 55kg when mature. Emus normally attain their full height within 12 months. Emus have been known to live in excess of 30 years.
Females often start laying eggs when they are 2-3 years old. When fully mature productive females may lay in excess of 60 eggs a year but the average is 25-30. The normally dark green eggs are laid every 3 days (on average) during the winter and early spring months. Eggs average about 500-700 grams (1.1 to 1.5 lbs), but it is not unheard of to have eggs less than 300 grams (.6 lbs) or larger than 1000 (2.2 lbs). When fertile, it takes about 2 months to hatch an emu egg.
Reproduction
Sexual maturity is reached after 2 to 3 years but breeding in captivity can occur as young as 20 months. Females are dominant over males and initiate courtship. The male builds the nest into which the female will lay 5 to 15 large, blue-green eggs at 2to 4 day intervals. Each egg weighs 600gms to 800gms. Incubation of the eggs is done by the male and typically starts after the last egg is laid so that all the eggs hatch close together about 56 days later. The female takes no part in incubation or in the rearing of the chicks. The male will continue to protect and feed the chicks for 5 to 7 months and at times longer. In the meantime, the female may have moved on and mated with another male, again leaving incubation and chick care to this second mate. This type of mating system, with the female taking successive mates, is called successive or sequential polyandry.
Sexual maturity is reached after 2 to 3 years but breeding in captivity can occur as young as 20 months. Females are dominant over males and initiate courtship. The male builds the nest into which the female will lay 5 to 15 large, blue-green eggs at 2to 4 day intervals. Each egg weighs 600gms to 800gms. Incubation of the eggs is done by the male and typically starts after the last egg is laid so that all the eggs hatch close together about 56 days later. The female takes no part in incubation or in the rearing of the chicks. The male will continue to protect and feed the chicks for 5 to 7 months and at times longer. In the meantime, the female may have moved on and mated with another male, again leaving incubation and chick care to this second mate. This type of mating system, with the female taking successive mates, is called successive or sequential polyandry.
Behavior
Emus are terrestrial and nomadic and are able to walk long distances at 4 miles per hour. They can reach 50km per hour when running. They live either alone, in pairs or sometimes in groups of up to 25 birds. Their wanderings are intended to follow rains as they need to drink at least once a day. When food and water are readily available, Emus will be sedentary. They are not very vocal birds but will make loud booming noises.
Emus are terrestrial and nomadic and are able to walk long distances at 4 miles per hour. They can reach 50km per hour when running. They live either alone, in pairs or sometimes in groups of up to 25 birds. Their wanderings are intended to follow rains as they need to drink at least once a day. When food and water are readily available, Emus will be sedentary. They are not very vocal birds but will make loud booming noises.
Size & Weight
The avereage height of emu birds is 5.25-6.25 feet, where females are compared to be larger and heavier than males. These birds weigh up to 120 pounds(55 Kgs)
The avereage height of emu birds is 5.25-6.25 feet, where females are compared to be larger and heavier than males. These birds weigh up to 120 pounds(55 Kgs)
Feed
Diet In the wild, the emu eats seeds, flowers, young shoots, fruit, berries, as well as insects and larvae. They are generally omnivorous and will swallow stones up to 46 grams (more than an ounce) to help with grinding food in their crops. In the Zoo, they eat specially formulated emu pellets and escarole.
Diet In the wild, the emu eats seeds, flowers, young shoots, fruit, berries, as well as insects and larvae. They are generally omnivorous and will swallow stones up to 46 grams (more than an ounce) to help with grinding food in their crops. In the Zoo, they eat specially formulated emu pellets and escarole.
Don't
- use smooth surfaces because when they run chick could slip and wind up with splayed legs.
- Use a deep watering pan as they get down into the water and drink the same water so they may attack diseases.
- Keep needle,bottles away as they swallow it .
- Put more number of chicks in a room as they get on one another and may die.
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Contact Us
Phone : +91 9550457799, +91 9247868373 Aditya Emu Farm Kondapalli,Vijaywada - 521225, |
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