About the Business
The emu, a fascinating and versatile bird, holds immense potential in various markets. Emu feathers, eggs, and even toenails are now coveted as creative jewelry accents for fashion-forward items and unique craft goods, such as exquisite backgrounds for fine artistic paintings. From a consumer’s perspective, the emu embodies a natural resource of unprecedented value.
Emus, pronounced ‘ee-mews,’ belong to the ratite group of flightless birds, making them the second-largest member of this family. These remarkable birds are not only the national symbol of Australia but also native to the continent. They were initially introduced to the United States as breeding stock for American zoos but have rapidly gained popularity as an alternative livestock option for American farmers.
Emus have a rich history dating back approximately 80 million years, with origins in the vast Australian outback. These birds played a crucial role in the survival of Aboriginal tribes, providing them with sustenance, clothing, shelter, and spiritual significance.
Today, the American emu industry is thriving, with domestically bred emus at its core. Thanks to ongoing research and knowledge sharing, the American emu is now considered the industry standard. This burgeoning market offers profitability for both small and large participants.
Emus are known for their docile and curious nature. At birth, they stand at around 10 inches tall and exhibit distinctive black and white stripes. By three months of age, they transition to nearly solid black, later adopting a tan, brown, and black plumage as adults, with some having a bluish neck. Their feathers are downy and lack the stiff vein found in many other birds. Fully grown emus reach an impressive height of 5 to 6 feet and typically weigh between 90 to 120 pounds.
Emus are flightless but exceptional runners, capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour in short bursts, covering approximately nine feet in a single stride. They are highly adaptable to temperature extremes, withstanding both scorching heat and sub-zero cold. Remarkably, no common diseases have been identified among the species.
These birds thrive on a simple diet, accompanied by generous water consumption of 2 to 4 gallons per day. Emus also enjoy playful interactions with water or mud. Emu hens can maintain productivity for an impressive 25 to 35 years, laying anywhere from 20 to 50 eggs in a single season. Egg-laying typically commences between 2 to 3 years of age, with pairs breeding from October to April, producing an egg every three days on average. With a hatch rate of approximately 70 to 80%, emu chicks have excellent survival rates.
Emus are incredibly resilient creatures. Hatchlings can walk within hours and run within days. They exhibit rapid growth, reaching their full height within a year. By six months, they have mostly shed their chick feathers, revealing the elegant plumage of adulthood. While some shelter is advisable during the initial months, emus are hardy and adaptable creatures.
For today’s American farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders, emu farming presents a lucrative alternative cash crop. With minimal investment in facilities and land area, coupled with an excellent feed conversion ratio, and a growing global market, emus promise stable returns for their owners, both now and in the future.
