The Emus are loving grapes! Every afternoon I pop out and give them a little snack of freshly picked grapes. Fortunately, during September and October we have more grapes than we can eat, make wine or brandy from, Our excess would regularly go to the chickens, but now the emus too.
My only concern is what their little treat is going to be come the end of October, perhaps diced apple?
For the past month Ozzy and Izzy the emus have had full access to the field.
Beautifully tame and inquisitive, they spend a lot of time at the gate being met by passers by.
The geese used to be the star attraction for passers by. The emus seem to now be taking font stage as the main attraction.
Having hatched them in April, it is still remarkable to think that they are only 5 months old! They are growing so quickly!
Ozzy and Izzy have now moved from the back garden to their nursery paddock.
This weekend we herded the emus out of the garden across the road and into their new home.
While they are young, I have sectioned off part of the field. They have access to the stable, where they go to bed at night and are locked away for safety.
During the day, they have full access to run around in their own little sanctuary.
After 9 months the plan is to give them free access to the field which they will share with the geese.
Our first little emu hatched at 50 days incubation. This little one hatched on day 55.
So its name? The first was Ozzy, this is Izzy.
Normally to sex the little chicks you send off for DNA testing. This often involves using the membrane in the shell. However, the company I was going to use currently will only take blood or feather samples. I don’t feel it is humane to inflict either on the defensive little chicks.
As long as they have company that is what I feel is important.
Late afternoon today, our first little emu chick popped out. It is very alert and trying to stand.
Tomorrow I will move it into a pen under a heat lamp.
Hopefully over the next few days it will be joined by other sibblings.
Second attempt to hatch š£ Emu eggs is underway! Day 2. Another 48 days to go until we know if we have been successful.
This time we have borrowed the Mother of all incubators.
Fingers crossed š¤.
Last time was not successful Last attempt but we only had two eggs and perhaps an incubator not up for the job?
We have this seasons goose eggs for sale. About 3 times the size of chickens eggs, they are a meal in themselves.
You can buy online click and collect, or from the door. Unfortunately, we do not ship.
To find out more and check availability see our website : https://chilcotts.farm/produce/local-fresh-goose-eggs/
Thank you for following!
Here we are early March, a bit later than normal for the first goose egg of the year. However, for us, this is a GREAT egg. Our little goose who laid this was attacked by a fox a month ago. This perfectly formed egg is the start of the goose laying season for us and the start of Spring! Who knows, this year, apart from hatching out emu eggs …… we may hatch a few geese too. Watch this space. In a couple of weeks, we should have goose eggs for sale. Check out our website for availability: https://chilcotts.farm/produce/local-fresh-goose-eggs/
Thanks for following!
Ooooh this is eggciting. We are going to hatch out a couple of Emu Eggs.
The colour is quite amazing, and the size incredible. Both looking like huge emeralds. Weighing around 700 grams each, I should imagine quite a meal.
They are now in the incubator, and will be manually turned 3 times a day.
Watch this space. Hopefully this summer we could have emus roaming the field with our geese.
