Baby Emus: All You Need To Know (with Pictures)

Emus are the only survivors of the genus Dromaus And only live in Australia. One of the three largest birds in the world alongside cassowaries and ostriches, an adult emu can reach a height of 1.9 meters and weigh about 50 kilograms.

Each giant emu begins life as a much smaller (though still relatively large) baby emu. This article covers everything you need to know about baby emus – there will be plenty of baby emu pictures of the day!

What does a baby emu look like?

Baby emus hatch furry black-and-white to cream striped down jackets. Their faces are also covered with down, but instead of stripes they are spotted.

This stripe acts as camouflage and the chicks lose it at about 3 months or so, slowly turning from dark brown to black. Once they develop their juvenile plumage, young emus slowly grow into the taupe-brown plumage of adults.

Close up of an Australian emu chick

How big is a baby emu?

Baby emus are relatively large at birth, measuring about 12 cm (5 in) tall and weighing about 0.5 kg (17.6 oz).

While they are undeniably large for a small bird, an ostrich chick weighs twice as much!

Emus grow rapidly, but take about 3 years to reach sexual maturity. After about 8 to 12 months, juveniles reach adult size and weight.

How much does a baby emu weigh?

Baby emus weigh about 0.5 kilograms (17.5 ounces) at birth. Emu chicks gain weight and grow very rapidly, reaching adult size and weight in about 8 months to about a year.

A male emu with chicks

What does a baby emu look like?

After about three months, the young feathers begin to grow. First, the striped undercoat of young emus is gradually replaced by dark brown to black plumage, with a black head and neck.

Females are usually darker than males. Meanwhile, the baby emu’s furry face begins to thin, revealing its blue skin. Adult feathers develop after about 6 months and continue to develop for about 12 to 15 months.

Juvenile emu sitting on the ground

What do you call a baby emu?

The little emu has no specific name. Often, baby emus are called chicks. From the moment they hatch and afterward, baby emus are called fledglings.

Emus don’t really have a fledgling stage because they can’t fly! In contrast, baby emus develop into juveniles after about 3 months, and then reach adulthood after 1 to 1.5 years.

Do both parents care for baby emus?

Female emus are polygamous, meaning they mate with more than one male during a single breeding season.

Unlike most birds, the male emu incubates the eggs and then raises the chicks as they hatch. Emu chicks are under the close care of their fathers for at least 6 months, but may remain in the family unit for as long as 1.5 years.

During this time, the male will often become very territorial and protective of his chicks, even rejecting offers of help from the mother! This does vary, as some emu couples have been observed to remain monogamous. In this case, the father still bears almost all parenting responsibilities.

A male emu drinks water with his chicks nearby

What do baby emus eat?

Within a few days, the baby emu will be feeding on its own. They follow their father, who proves what they can and cannot eat by pecking at available foods in their environment.

Chicks learn what to eat by trial and error, but can Eat many types of food, from small and large insects to fruits, shoots, seeds, grasses and other plant foods.

What do captive baby emus eat?

When raised on a farm, baby emus are fed industrial bird feed. Their diet is rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits and mealworms.

During the first few months, baby emus are usually fed emu starter which contains 20% protein. Then, between 2 and 24 months, the chicks were fed a maintenance feed before switching to a 16 percent adult feed that was lower in protein.

Three baby emus (chicks) looking for food

Do both parents feed baby emus?

Baby emus are not fed by their parents – they feed themselves. Emu chicks are able to walk and feed on their own in just a few days.

Baby emus follow their father – who usually raises the chicks – and follow his instructions on what they can and cannot eat. They learn what to eat and what not to eat through trial and error. Emus have super strong stomachs and large gizzards, meaning they can digest most food in their environment.

What do emu eggs look like?

Emu eggs are large, measuring approximately 130 x 90 mm and weighing 450 to 650 grams. They are a striking emerald green color – some of the brightest and brightest colored eggs of any bird.

The eggs are covered with white spots that give them the appearance of a dark starry night sky.

Three emu eggs on the ground

How long does it take for emu eggs to hatch?

Emu eggs take about 54 to 56 days to hatch – a long time considering they are only hatched by males.

Males rarely leave the eggs during incubation and may lose a third of their body weight.

How many babies does an emu have?

A typical emu lays 8 to 10 eggs, but 20 to 24 eggs have also been recorded.

One study found that only 40 percent of wild emu eggs hatch successfully. Many have lost their lives due to harsh weather conditions, abandonment, predation, and destruction by other emus.

A large emu family consisting of eighteen chicks

When do emus lay eggs?

Emus mate around December to January and lay eggs throughout February and as late as May. During this time, a female may mate with about three consecutive partners.

Once the female lays her eggs, she usually wanders around while the male takes over the hatching duties. However, there are exceptions, as some females will stay with their mates year after year.

How long do baby emus stay with their parents?

Baby emus remain close to their fathers for at least six months, but they generally remain a close family unit for most of the 18-month period.

After about 12 months, the juvenile emus join a nearby herd, and their father may not be far away. Emus take about three years to reach sexual maturity, at which point they gain full independence.