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Emu

Dromaius novaehollandiae · also called Australian emu, Emu bird

Australia's giant flightless ratite, farmed for oil, meat, and leather and kept by experienced keepers on acreage. Powerful, fast, and long-lived, emus need sturdy fencing, space, and respect — not a beginner's bird.

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Quick facts

Size	Very large flightless ratite: ~1.6-1.9 m tall, 30-55 kg. Long-legged, fast runners (up to ~50 km/h).
Lifespan	10–30 years
Social needs	group
Native region	Australia (mainland; arid to temperate regions)
Origin	Old World
Climate	🌍 Varied
Family	Dromaiidae
Genus	Dromaius

Part of the Ratites

Large flightless birds — emus, ostriches, rheas, and cassowaries — kept on acreage and farmed for oil, meat, leather, and feathers. Powerful, fast, and long-lived, they demand sturdy fencing, space, experience, and respect.

More ratites coming soon.

Habitat & space requirements

From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.

Photo coming soon

Minimum

Small fenced paddock (one pair)

≈ 0.5 acre per pair, 6 ft perimeter fence

Emus are 5–6 ft ratites that sprint and kick — they need fenced pasture, not a coop. A bare minimum for a single pair is roughly half an acre of grass with a 6 ft tall woven-wire perimeter and a 3-sided shelter offering windbreak, shade, and dry roost area. Provide a deep ground-level water trough big enough to dip the head, plus grit, calcium, and a ratite-formulated pellet — wire-cage housing is never acceptable.

Photo coming soon

Recommended

Multi-acre ratite pasture

1–2 acres per pair, 6 ft fence + shelter

A 1–2 acre paddock per breeding pair with mixed grass, dust-bath patches, and shade trees allows natural foraging and running. Use 6 ft mesh (no barbed wire — they will skin themselves on it) with rounded corners to prevent panic-pile-ups. Include a 10 × 10 ft three-sided shelter, large troughs, and separate hospital pen so birds can be caught without injury.

Ideal

Free-range emu range

3+ acres per pair, rotational grazing

Several acres of rotated grass pasture with woodlot shade, dust wallows, deep clean water, and ample sprint lanes deliver the best welfare for this long-legged species. Multi-pair groups need yet more land plus visual barriers between rivals during breeding. A walk-in stall barn with rubber matting and a chute lets keepers handle these powerful birds safely without restraint stress.

Dave Spicer / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Life & growth stages

How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.

Photo coming soon

Egg

Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.

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Hatchling / Chick

Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.

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Juvenile / Fledgling

Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.

Adult

Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.

Habitat & enclosure

Emus are **large, fast ratites** that require **acreage and tall, strong fencing** (~**1.8 m / 6 ft high**, sturdy woven wire — they run hard and can injure themselves on flimsy or barbed fencing). Give each bird/pair generous **paddock space** for running, plus a **three-sided shelter or barn** for shade and weather protection. Fencing must be smooth-sided and visible to prevent crash injuries; avoid sharp corners where a panicked bird can pile up. They are **hardy in a wide range of climates** (native to arid and temperate Australia) but need shade and water in heat and a dry windbreak in cold/wet weather. Chicks need secure, warm, draft-free brooder housing.

Substrate

Provide **well-drained natural ground/pasture** for running, with **non-slip footing in shelters and brooders** — slick floors cause crippling leg deformities, especially in growing birds. Brooder substrate should be **non-slip** (rubber matting or textured surfaces, not smooth or deep loose bedding that hides legs). Keep shelters dry. Remove hazards and sharp objects from paddocks, since emus swallow odd items.

Equipment & setup

Essentials: **tall, strong, smooth woven-wire fencing** (~1.8 m), large **shade/weather shelter**, **tip-proof feeders and waterers**, and **ratite feed**. Chicks need a **secure brooder** with gentle heat, **non-slip flooring**, and ratite starter — they grow extremely fast. **Handling/restraint equipment and trained help** are needed for health checks, given the birds' size and power. There's no flight to contain, but the fencing must withstand a sprinting 40+ kg bird and prevent crash injuries.

Diet

Feed a **commercial ratite (emu/ostrich) ration** formulated for their stage (starter → grower → maintenance/breeder); these balance the **protein, calcium, and the specific amino acids** ratites need for healthy bone and feather growth. Supplement with **greens, vegetables, and some fruit**, plus access to grazing. Provide **grit** and clean **water** at all times in a sturdy, tip-proof container. **Avoid feeding only grains or scraps** — ratite chicks are very prone to **leg deformities** from improper nutrition and over-fast growth. Avocado and moldy feed are dangerous.

Behavior & temperament

Emus are **curious, social ratites** that do best with **companions** (a pair or small group) and acreage to run. They can be **calm and even friendly if raised gently from chicks**, but they are **large, powerful, and unpredictable** — a kick from those strong legs (forward and down, with sharp claws) can seriously injure a person, and breeding males can be defensive. They are inquisitive and will peck at shiny objects, buttons, and zippers. In a fascinating role reversal, the **male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks**. Never corner or startle an emu; give them space and read their body language. They are not pets to handle casually.

Health

Main concerns are **leg and bone deformities** (from improper chick nutrition, over-fast growth, or slippery footing — provide ratite feed and good footing), **impactions and crash/fence injuries**, **parasites**, and **foot problems**. Chicks are delicate and prone to **splayed legs and yolk-sac issues** early on. They are generally hardy as adults. **Capture and handling carry injury risk to both bird and keeper** — proper restraint technique is essential. Find a **vet experienced with ratites/large exotics before acquiring** birds; most avian and farm vets have limited ratite experience. They can carry **avian influenza**; biosecurity applies.

Tips, DIY & hacks

Emus are an **advanced, livestock-scale commitment** — they live for decades, get very large and powerful, and need **acreage, strong tall fencing, and a ratite-savvy vet** lined up in advance. **Raise chicks gently** for a calmer adult, but always respect that an emu can **kick hard and forward** — never corner, startle, or turn your back on a defensive bird, and supervise around children. Use **proper ratite feed** and **non-slip footing** to prevent the leg deformities that plague poorly-reared chicks. Remember the **male does the incubating and chick-rearing**. **Check laws first** — many US states and counties regulate emus as **exotic livestock or require permits/inspection**, and zoning often prohibits them on small lots.

Sources

University of Florida IFAS — Ratite (Emu/Ostrich) Production (university)
American Emu Association — Emu husbandry resources (care guide)
Merck Veterinary Manual — Ratites (husbandry & disease) (care guide)
Wikipedia: Emu (wiki)