Where am I from? 

I am from Australia. My family was very important in the countries history. We are even the National bird. I am the largest bird in Australia and the second largest bird in the world.

Who are my relatives?

Other types of Ratite are in my family, such as the Ostrich, Rheas and Cassowary.        

How am I born?  

I develop inside a huge green colored egg with a very thick and hard shell.  I am incubated for 56 days.   When I hatch from my egg I have stripes that help me hide from predators in the grass.  I leave the nest within a few days of hatching.  I am a little over 9 ½  inches tall at this time.

How long does it take me to grow up and how long do I live?

My dad incubates the eggs and stays with us until we are 18 months old. He protects us and shows us how to find food. We are full grown at 12 to 14 months old and will stand around 6 ½  feet tall.

What kind of family life do I have?

Emus are mostly solitary. They sometimes form large flocks, mainly to look for food sources. My parents will pair up during the summer months to breed.  Dad incubates the eggs once Mom lays them in the nest.  He takes his job very serious and does not eat or drink while he is sitting on the nest. Once the female has laid her eggs and the male is brooding the female mates with other males.

What do I eat and when do I eat? 

I eat a variety of seeds and insects native to Australia. In captivity I am given seeds and grains. I also like crickets, grasshoppers and caterpillars.  I will graze all day, but I like you to feed me first thing in the morning.

Who are my predators? 

In the wild, when we are young we are hunted by foxes, feral dogs and wild pigs. As adults we have problems with loss of habitat and collisions with cars. 

What is the history of my relationship to man?
Emus have been used for leather, meat and oil for centuries by the aboriginal people of Australia.   Today emus are raised for the same reason.

Comments:

The male Emu has more blue color on the face and neck.  The female makes a sound like a drum when she talks. The booming comes from an inflatable neck sac.  Lucky one of our Emus here at the Ranch is imprinted with humans.  She gets very protective of us and won’t let other Emus near when we are in the enclosure.