Emu

Dromaius novaehollandiae

The Emu is a large flightless bird from Australia. They can raise from 20-50 chicks a year in North American farming conditions.

It is supposed to be easy to sex young Emus. Up to 5 weeks, you can tell by the feathers on the back of top of the head -- on males these will form a mark like a bulls-eye, on females they will be in irregular lines. Or so I was told by an Emu breeder.

A male Emu strutting
Photo courtesy of Songline Emu Farm

Emu Links:

There are emus at Star K Farm, and pictures of their chicks.

See the emus at Cache Valley Poultry

Here's a page on emu farming

Emus at Birds of Paradise