General details abt emu

Emu are native to the continent of Australia. They live fairly nomadic lives, except those that are raised on farms to supply the various product markets.

Emu stand from 5 to 6 feet in height and can weigh up to 60kg 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.

Males do the majority of the hatching and rearing of the chicks, as the females tend to live very nomadic lives. Females often are the more aggressive of the species, which is why it is most common to see emus kept in pairs, although trios (1 male and 2 females) are not uncommon when the females have been raised

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.

Behavior
Emus are terrestrial and nomadic and are able to walk long distances at 4 miles per hour. They can reach 30 miles 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
An emu's height averages 5.25-6.25 feet, with females larger and heavier than males.

Weight
These birds weigh up to 120 pounds(55 Kgs)

Diet
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.