Emu BehaviourEmu habits change throughout the year and no two emu are the same in personality and characteristics when you look closely. They are naturally inquisitive, friendly, social animals.
In the wild they tend to be loners unless when near food and water sources, or coming together for breeding season, when the males will be hanging around the females a couple of months before they lay. The females and males make different sounds when they are coming to the age of sexual maturity, at between 18 to 24 months. The females make a deep low drumming sound, and the boys will grunt like a pig, although young, maturing females will grunt before they get their drum. Both sexes hiss if warning, fighting or defending themselves. |
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The female will drum for several reasons; sometimes to warn other females away from her male, or to summon him to her side. The female may also simultaneously hold her head back and down. Her stance will be regal and alert, and she may puff out her chest and strut around 'displaying'. The boys can adopt this stance too when trying to attract a female. Both sexes can also adopt this stance as a warning, and if threatened may give a mighty kick to their opponents.
The video below shows a female emu drumming, it may not play as deep sounding via mobile phones. |
A female drumming and strutting
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Emu temperament can vary from bird to bird. The females tend to be slightly more anxious, more so with each other. The males are generally very docile, most will get on with each other, but not always! Sometimes males really don't like each other and may chase other males away. But given enough space, with places to hide, they'll not bother each other or fight, but rather just stay out of each others way.
Through the spring and summer months all emu tend to get on and will hang out in a mob together. Through late autumn and early winter, which is coming up and into breeding season, the fun can start. Emu that perhaps seemed to be coexisting well together may suddenly change and squabble over partners. Some females may take on more than one male, though it is unlikely for one male to have two females. During breeding season they may all go off in small groups of pairs or trios.
Through the spring and summer months all emu tend to get on and will hang out in a mob together. Through late autumn and early winter, which is coming up and into breeding season, the fun can start. Emu that perhaps seemed to be coexisting well together may suddenly change and squabble over partners. Some females may take on more than one male, though it is unlikely for one male to have two females. During breeding season they may all go off in small groups of pairs or trios.
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It is not always easy to make a pair of emu simply by putting two together, especially if there are other emu around, because they may not automatically like one another. One emu may be interested in the partner you give it, but the uninterested emu may have ideas elsewhere. In the wild, emu do not mate for life. A female will lay enough eggs for one nest and go in search of another male. A male will sit on the eggs in a nest he has made in a clearing on the ground, in a hedge or under a tree, and then raise the young for between 5 and 18 months. In captivity males seem to return to their favourite females once they are up off the nest, if they have not managed to hatch or the babies are taken, especially if the female is one they have grown up with. Emu sleep when the sun goes down over the horizon. Resting on their hocks on the floor, they will curl their necks back with their heads facing forwards and may get up every couple of hours in the night for a stretch before settling back down again. They take naps in the day too, always keeping alert to any nearby sounds that might signify danger. |
Male emu
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Emu can withstand extremes of weather, from really hot to cold and snowy, although they tend to take shelter in high winds, especially when it is wet too.
An emu that looks sullen, is not eating, has runny stools, is losing weight or feathers, or has fluids coming from its nostrils, mouth or eyes will need checking for illness. If an emu is on its own looking unhappy and off its food or water, they may be either lonely or stressed by other emu. In captivity emu thrive on the company of other emu and can become unhappy on their own, even with lots of human interaction.
Around spring / early summer you may find feathers around everywhere, this is moulting season, when the feathers loosen then some emu will appreciate some water to wallow in, particularly muddy puddles, it seems to help the more lose feathers out, although it does make them look rather shabby for a while. There is no need to add vitamins if they have the correct diet, but you may feel to add something like Rooster Booster for moulting.
Some people may say that emu make good guardian animals, but not necessarily, they tend to like to chase and stamp on small scuttling creatures such as shrews, rats, mice and weasels. As for keeping foxes away, emu are not to be relied upon as guardian animals, although they have been known to kill coyote and foxes. They tend to chase out of fun rather than protection.
An emu that looks sullen, is not eating, has runny stools, is losing weight or feathers, or has fluids coming from its nostrils, mouth or eyes will need checking for illness. If an emu is on its own looking unhappy and off its food or water, they may be either lonely or stressed by other emu. In captivity emu thrive on the company of other emu and can become unhappy on their own, even with lots of human interaction.
Around spring / early summer you may find feathers around everywhere, this is moulting season, when the feathers loosen then some emu will appreciate some water to wallow in, particularly muddy puddles, it seems to help the more lose feathers out, although it does make them look rather shabby for a while. There is no need to add vitamins if they have the correct diet, but you may feel to add something like Rooster Booster for moulting.
Some people may say that emu make good guardian animals, but not necessarily, they tend to like to chase and stamp on small scuttling creatures such as shrews, rats, mice and weasels. As for keeping foxes away, emu are not to be relied upon as guardian animals, although they have been known to kill coyote and foxes. They tend to chase out of fun rather than protection.
Female emu
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Emu will pace a fence line in captivity, a perimeter where they are likely to encounter humans or activity. Emu graze throughout the day on their feed, leaves, plants, bugs, grass and anything they can find. They will find interest in anything, and always want to investigate and peck something new to them. They are extremely curious and inquisitive. Sometimes you get an emu who seems to prefer humans and during breeding season he will get on his hocks as if he wants to mate with you, this is actually quite normal for emu and nothing to be frightened of. He will generally get over this once breeding season has passed. Likewise, female emu may raise their feathers at the back when you pet them during breeding season, this is the action the female does just before she is mated, to show her male it is time to mate. Females will also generally grow out of this once breeding season is over. Both sexes may use these actions regardless of whether they have a partner or not. |
If you would like to understand emu behaviour when emu are on the nest or raising chicks have a look at the
Raising Chicks On The Nest Page...
https://www.emu.services/raising-chicks-with-both-parents.html
Raising Chicks On The Nest Page...
https://www.emu.services/raising-chicks-with-both-parents.html
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