Transporting, Loading and handling emu
Transportation of emuAdult emu will need a livestock trailer or horsebox with a fully covered back door. Young emu will fit in the boot of an estate car with a dog guard.
Emu tend to sit down as soon as they get moving, so be sure to have plenty of hay and straw down, a couple of bales worth in a livestock trailer, to make a thick non-slip bed, keeping in mind that emu legs splay easy, so any slippery floors will need to be covered completely. A lot of deep straw will give them a secure bed which they wont roll around on. Chicks and those still young enough to be carried in a container, can go in a dog crate, again with floor coverings such as old carpet, blankets or towels. It is wise to keep them in the dark whilst travelling, keeping them calm, so put a blanket or cover over their crate, allowing for air flow. Handling and loading emu |
Male emu
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The first thing to remember when handling emu is to stand behind when moving them, as they kick forwards and backwards, a backwards kick does not use their thick developed nails, not all emu will kick, but on the off chance that one does, it is better to be behind it. Even the most calm emu can surprise you when they are flustered. Wear thick clothing, avoiding short trousers, in case you get caught out with a kick. Make slow methodical movements. Emu respond better to being moved in a very calm, quiet and peaceful way. Lot's of people, noise, quad bikes etc is likely to agitate them and make them bolt away from you. Patience will be needed.
It is sometimes easy to just walk beside an emu with your arm over it, gently coaxing it in the direction you would like it to go, talking and reassuring it the whole time. Most will happily follow you for food.
Funnelling emu with fencing or large panels is likely to make them very anxious, and there is a chance they will just want to escape any way they can, and end up injuring themselves during such an attempt. So if you are to use any temporary holding pens, or create chutes for them to follow to a trailer then these must be set up in advance of the move to get the emu used to the unfamiliar objects. Any temporary pens and chutes must be well secured in to the ground, and be completely stable. This can be done with fence posts, scaffolding, stock fence with cable ties etc. Temporary panels that can be knocked over are not advised. Tarpaulins are likely to blow around or flap, creating a distress to the emu and tarpaulins will not be strong enough.
If you have to lift an emu, do so from behind, bringing the bird up towards your chest, with your arms underneath its body behind the wings, or holding the wings and letting the legs hang downwards. The emu is likely to start jumping up and down; let it do so, and hold it firmly until it has calmed. Be careful of your legs getting in the way as they will use your leg as a spring board to try and get away.
Never consider lassoing an emu, any number of things can go wrong with the emu by doing this. By putting a lasso on an emu you are also likely to make the emu very anxious which may cause the emu to bolt creating all kind of problems with a rope hanging from the emu. The emus airways are very soft and is likely to be squashed.
Likewise, never tie an emu by it's legs. Harnessing emu is not advised either, any number of accidents can happen doing this.
Be careful when handling chicks and youngsters because rough handling can lead to fractures, bruising and tendon damage. Older chicks are more safely moved by herding them rather than carrying them by having one hand across the sternum and the other hand below the pelvis.
It is sometimes easy to just walk beside an emu with your arm over it, gently coaxing it in the direction you would like it to go, talking and reassuring it the whole time. Most will happily follow you for food.
Funnelling emu with fencing or large panels is likely to make them very anxious, and there is a chance they will just want to escape any way they can, and end up injuring themselves during such an attempt. So if you are to use any temporary holding pens, or create chutes for them to follow to a trailer then these must be set up in advance of the move to get the emu used to the unfamiliar objects. Any temporary pens and chutes must be well secured in to the ground, and be completely stable. This can be done with fence posts, scaffolding, stock fence with cable ties etc. Temporary panels that can be knocked over are not advised. Tarpaulins are likely to blow around or flap, creating a distress to the emu and tarpaulins will not be strong enough.
If you have to lift an emu, do so from behind, bringing the bird up towards your chest, with your arms underneath its body behind the wings, or holding the wings and letting the legs hang downwards. The emu is likely to start jumping up and down; let it do so, and hold it firmly until it has calmed. Be careful of your legs getting in the way as they will use your leg as a spring board to try and get away.
Never consider lassoing an emu, any number of things can go wrong with the emu by doing this. By putting a lasso on an emu you are also likely to make the emu very anxious which may cause the emu to bolt creating all kind of problems with a rope hanging from the emu. The emus airways are very soft and is likely to be squashed.
Likewise, never tie an emu by it's legs. Harnessing emu is not advised either, any number of accidents can happen doing this.
Be careful when handling chicks and youngsters because rough handling can lead to fractures, bruising and tendon damage. Older chicks are more safely moved by herding them rather than carrying them by having one hand across the sternum and the other hand below the pelvis.
Loading emu in to transportThey should never be moved unless you can coax them to new pastures within walking distance. The only time you want them in a trailer is to move them to a new permanent residence. Emu hate going into trailers or horseboxes and loading them can cause injury and lots of stress, for you and your emu. Once an emu has been in a trailer, it will be very wary of ever going near one again.
Back up the vehicle or trailer, keeping the enclosure gated entrance open, ensuring you use the gate so they cant get out between the gate posts or gate and vehicle. Then leave the vehicle there a while, putting some of their favourite food inside. They may just go in for the food, but this is unlikely! However, emu are naturally inquisitive, and if left a while will go and inspect the entrance because it is new and emu are always fascinated with new. Use a very softly softly approach towards them and when they are near enough to the entrance give them a shove or a push on their back end, this will catch them off-guard to give you a few seconds to get the door closed, so be ready and watch out for any backward kicks. Emu who do not like to be too near to humans may be more suspicious than curious, and may need carrying or lifting. Another method - A holding pen by the gate may be useful before the move day, with temporary, firmly secured panels / fencing leading up to the trailer entrance. The emu/s can be made comfortable in the holding pen a couple of days before the move to get them close to the gate. When they are settled in the pen back up the trailer to the gate / chute where the holding pen is, leave the trailer there a while for them to get used to it. Make sure that when the gate is opened and the ramp of the trailer bought down, that there is secure fencing up to the trailer door, so the emu can't escape around the sides. |
Male emu
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If you are transporting more than one emu then it is advised to not use a partition between them, they may try and knock it down to get to each other. If however the emu are angsty with each other then a partition should be used.
Transporting emu by night can be beneficial if you have a very long drive as they will sleep through the journey.
Here is an interesting study about the transporting of emu and the stress they go through physically.
Transporting emu by night can be beneficial if you have a very long drive as they will sleep through the journey.
Here is an interesting study about the transporting of emu and the stress they go through physically.
Transporting requirements
The Trailer floor needs to be non-slip. You can use rubber horse matting, carpet or a deep bed of straw or hay. Trailers don't need to be very big and emu can travel together. However, when loading more than one emu in to a trailer a partition will be useful, or perhaps essential since an emus first instinct when loaded will be to look to escape and it is really difficult loading the second emu while the first one is trying to get out.
Be sure not to use trailers that don't have a gap at the top of the back door (or anywhere else) as emu will jump to try and get out, they may succeed, or they may harm themselves. Small air vents are fine, they will put their head through any gaps.
It is not a good idea to have chicks travel with adults. Chicks can be put in boxes with carpet or straw flooring. Or larger chicks can be carried in large dog crates, again with non-slip floor covering.
Emu will lay down once the vehicle is in motion.
Be sure not to use trailers that don't have a gap at the top of the back door (or anywhere else) as emu will jump to try and get out, they may succeed, or they may harm themselves. Small air vents are fine, they will put their head through any gaps.
It is not a good idea to have chicks travel with adults. Chicks can be put in boxes with carpet or straw flooring. Or larger chicks can be carried in large dog crates, again with non-slip floor covering.
Emu will lay down once the vehicle is in motion.
Moving emu abroad
You may need vet certification to show the birds (classed as ratites), are free from diseases, such as Bird Flu and Newcastle Disease, depending on where they are leaving from and going to. It may also be a requirement of your country that birds are not moved in times of bird disease outbreaks.
You will need the relevant paperwork for the countries involved as bird exporting / importing rules may apply.
In some countries emu will be classified as farm animals and livestock, whereas in other countries they may be considered exotic birds or pets.
You will need the relevant paperwork for the countries involved as bird exporting / importing rules may apply.
In some countries emu will be classified as farm animals and livestock, whereas in other countries they may be considered exotic birds or pets.
If you are moving home with your emu, check for licences required for the country they are moving to. If you are selling emu abroad, the buyer should be aware of any licenses that might be needed, but it's always wise to ask anyway, just in case.
There may also be transportation requirements for the vehicle they travel in, so it would be wise to check beforehand, and sort out any necessary paperwork or vehicle adjustments, such as tachographs.
*If anyone knows, or has experience of moving emu abroad, we would love to add here the requirements for each country, including the relevant government website links.
There may also be transportation requirements for the vehicle they travel in, so it would be wise to check beforehand, and sort out any necessary paperwork or vehicle adjustments, such as tachographs.
*If anyone knows, or has experience of moving emu abroad, we would love to add here the requirements for each country, including the relevant government website links.
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