LPM 222: Diversified poultry production and current concepts in poultry management and marketing [Livestock Production Management (Regional Interest)] (1+1)

Brooding of emu

EMU BROODING

Natural brooding

• Newly hatched chicks are active and can leave the nest within a few days. They stand about 12 centimetres tall, weigh 0.4 kg and have distinctive brown and cream stripes for camouflage, which fade after about three months.
• The male stays with the growing chicks for up to 7 months, defending them and teaching them how to find food.
• Chicks grow very quickly and are full-grown in 5–6 months; they may remain with their family group for another six months or so before they split up to breed in their second season.
• During their early life, the young emus are defended by their father, who adopts a belligerent towards other emus, even including the mother.
• The father emu ruffles its feathers, emits sharp grunts, and kicks his legs to shoo off other animals.
• It can also bend its knees to shield its small chicks. At night, it envelops its young ones with its feathers. As the young emus cannot travel far, the parents must choose an area with plentiful food to breed.
• In the wild, emus live between 10 to 20 years; captive birds can live longer than those in the wild.

Fig.9.5. Natural brooding of emu chicks

Artificial brooding

• Emu chicks weigh about 370 to 450 g (about 67% of egg weight) depending on the size of egg. First 48 to 72 hours, emu chicks are restricted to incubator for quick absorption of the yolk and proper drying. Like chicken emu needs brooding during their early life.
• Clean and disinfect brooding shed thoroughly well in advance of receiving chicks, spread litter material like paddy husk and cover the litter with new gunny bags or burlap.
• Arrange a set of brooder for about 25 chicks giving 2 sq. ft. brooder space per chick for first 3 weeks. Provide brooding temperature of 90ºF at first 7 days and 85 ºF during 2^nd and 3^rd weeks.
• The heat source may be of incandescent bulb or infra red bulb or gas brooder or electrical heater. Proper temperature makes the brood successful. Provide five water mugs of one litre capacity and equal number of feeder troughs under the brooder.
• A chick guard must be 2.5 feet height to avoid jumping and straying of chicks. Provide 24 hours lighting with one foot candle intensity (i.e., 40 watt bulb for every 100 sq. ft. area). After 3 weeks of age, slowly extend the brooder area by widening the chickguard circle and later remove it by the time chicks attain 6 weeks.
• A brooder box is a first temporary home for the chick, while it gains strength, and learns to walk properly. This can be of any box type plywood or wooden or metal enclosure covered on all four sides that is fitted with or without a lid (see fig. below). The box needs to be fitted with a heat source, like an infra-red light.
• The bottom also needs to be lined with anon-slip rubber mat, and also with a water drinker and a small food bowl. The chicks spend up to first 10 days in brooder box, until they gain enough strength to be placed with the other chicks.
• Brooder boxes for chicks are typically about 1 feet high and 5 X 5 feet size giving a floor space of 1 sq. ft. if used for 5 days and 2 sq.ft. if retained up to 10 days of age.

Fig. 9.6. Brooderbox (first 5- 10 days)

Fig. 9.7. Large brooding facility

Fig. 9.8. Brooder with guard (up to 10 days)

Fig. 9.9. Brooder pen (above 4 days)