emu

Emus are curious and docile. They are about 10 inches tall at birth, with black and white stripes. As 3-month-old chicks,  they turn nearly solid black, changing into a tan,  brown, and black mixture as adults, some with a bluish neck. The feathers are downy, with no stiff vein running through the center.

Female (in front) and male 2 week old emu chicks. The mature emu is 5 to 6 feet tall and normally weighs 90 to 120 pounds. They are flightless and strong runners, reaching ground speeds of up to 40 miles per hour in short bursts and covering about nine feet in stride. Emus adapt well to temperature extremes from in excess of 100 degrees to below zero. No diseases have yet been diagnosed as common to the species. They can exist on a simple diet and require much water, drinking 2 to 4 gallons daily. They also will play in water or mud. The Emu hen can be productive for 25 to 35 years or more and may lay 20 to 50 eggs in a season. A hen may lay as early as 18 months, but normally laying begins at 2 to 3 years old. Pairs normally breed from October to April, usually producing one egg every three days. Incubation time is 48 - 52 days and the percentage of eggs hatched is approximately 70 - 80%. Chick survival rates are excellent. Emus are very hardy. The emerald green egg, which normally hatches in about 48 to 52 days, produces a chick that will walk within hours and run within days. The chicks achieve rapid growth, gaining their height by one year of age. After six months, the birds have shed most of their chick feathers for the fluffy, elegant feathers of the adult. For most climate conditions, the birds need shelter during the first few months, although the birds are very hardy and adaptable.