Hoodoo the Emu like U Du........

Are you ready for this one? Introducing the latest additions at Wrensong! Now if I could just come up with some names for them.....any suggestions? There is a boy and a girl. :) And yes, I was given a emu "health class" to be able to tell one from the other. Let's just surmise it to say they don't enjoy exposing the area that shows what they are....








Another wild hair followed to fruition, I contacted a wonderful woman named Julie. Julie just happened to have a pen full of emu babies and welcomed me down to her farm to learn more about emus. (thank you to Julie for the emu chick pics)





















I met all of her adults, with names like Guy and Dollie, Uno, Lightning, Pinky, Jill and Baby. Some liked interaction with people, like get the backs of their necks stroked to where they were closing their eyes in gratitude. Others, I think would just as soon you remove yourself to another planet. Emus are not like any other bird/poultry as far as their care. Granted they ARE a Ratite but I thought they would be like a large chicken only with a bit more personality!



If any of you are thinking you might like to add a few emus to your family I definitely suggest studying up. They can be great pets given the right start (lots of handling and not being by adult birds) and getting the knowledge from a reputable emu breeder is worth more than any amount of money. I just happened to luck into one of the best!



Julie raises emu for their oil, and it's therapeutic value. She has arthritis and says it really makes a difference. She has decided to retire from raising them as it's getting to be to hard physically caring for them. I was very fortunate to get her last two babies she will be raising. I'm also fortunate that she thought I was worthy of having her last two babies as pets. She is very picky, wants her emus to have the best of care, and a forever home when it comes to pets. So many like other livestock wind up in auctions being purchased by people who don't know how to properly feed and care for emus.

I actually hired our fencing company that has installed all our post/pole and non-climb to install the "emu paddock" and coerced my sig. other Guerdon and one of his friends to build a shelter, which they did in the pouring down rain. THAT wasn't MY fault, I tried to talk him into doing it earlier but he waited until two days before I was picking them up. We still have to add some plywood to the lower section but at least they have a dry place to lay and it gives them shade when we do have our couple of days of summer. One of the things about emus, is they can get scared of unusual things, especially things that are taller than they are. Julie said some of her adults were really flustered about the equipment that was installing roofing on neighboring houses. Well, all that came to mind for me was the poultry, no, none of them are taller than the emu chicks.....hey! how 'bout that llama and donkey!

They didn't get TOO excited when Rena (the llama) decided to check them out, and actually seemed fairly calm about her looking at them after awhile.


Jasmine, the donkey, on the other hand isn't quite sure what to make of the emus (I'm sure the feeling is mutual) and she has kept her distance.
These baby emu are just the sweetest, they get all excited when they see you coming and enjoy having the backs of the necks, the chests and backs stroked. It does make it hard to not get blurry pictures though as they want to be as close to your as possible!
I'll finish this post with a couple final photos of the youngsters......