How to tell if emu is "skinny"

[TGreenhut]

Lately I've been worrying a little bit about my two emus. They seem kind of on the skinny side. I'm not sure if maybe I'm not feeding them enough? Lately I've been having problems with out goats hopping the fence into their pasture and eating all of their food so I've been letting them eat all they want for about in hour in the morning and an hour in the evening (what they eat in that time doesn't seem like very much). From your experience, how much does your emu eat in a day? When feeling your emu's underside, how hard is it to feel their ribs? Do you think the type of grain I'm feeding them could cause them to be a little bit on the skinny side? I have just been feeding them the "Farmer's Best Ratite Maintenance Pellets" because that is what my feed store sells. Should I start ordering the Mazuri Ratite Pellets?

Thanks so much...

 

[chickenzoo]

I don't buy Ratite pellets for mine,.... picky buggers didn't like it.....They get a mix of horse pellets, dog chow, catfish pellets, sweet feed, layer, bird seed or game bird pellets and treats of greens and broccoli etc.. You shouldn't feel too much rib or bone on them. You can get a foal feeder that has a deep trough to use as a feeder, or use a horse feed bucket set at a height the goats can't reach or make a foal feeder out a horse over fence feeder bucket, PVC pipe, pieces of threaded rod that fits through PVC and some locking nuts.Space the PVC rods enough that a Emu head can get in, but not a goats. I fill one of these 1/2 full for the 4 emu ( about one full horse scoop per emu per day) I have but they have woods and pasture also. I also worm my emu, that is very important. Use Safeguard liquid wormer or horse paste, then in 6 months another type( Valzaban, Ivomec etc..) - rotate like you do horses. Normal emu average weight is about 125 lbs. I also give them horse EE & WE shots plus tetanus & Westnile.

 

[TGreenhut]

Quote:
How much exactly is one horse scoop?

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
How much exactly is one horse scoop?

Average plastic horse feed scoop is 2-3 quarts. If you are feeding good, then I would suggest worming them.

 

[TGreenhut]

Quote:
How much exactly is one horse scoop?

Average plastic horse feed scoop is 2-3 quarts. If you are feeding good, then I would suggest worming them.

ok thanks!

 

[Irine]

Quote:
By sweet feed do you mean 4 way mix with molasses?

 

[chickenzoo]

Basic Sweet feed, what ever that entails at your feed store, from all stock to more molasses base. It is not their whole ration, just a part of it. They try and steal whatever the horses have from time to time to get their quick fix when they are out... hehe

 

[Irine]

Quote:
I have goats and sheep and I get 4 way with molasses for them as a treat, so I am thinking to add a bit to their food. I feed ratite pellets add some game bird to it, some scratch, but I noticed it does not digest, so I will stop the scratch all together. They love apples,pears,peaches but do not like veggies

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
I have goats and sheep and I get 4 way with molasses for them as a treat, so I am thinking to add a bit to their food. I feed ratite pellets add some game bird to it, some scratch, but I noticed it does not digest, so I will stop the scratch all together. They love apples,pears,peaches but do not like veggies

Spoiled Emu don't like their veggies, hehe. Mine like Collard greens & Broccoli, romane lettuce but not iceburg.