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We believed that we had two males. About 2 months ago, we asked around about getting a female. The person we
talked to was so disgusted about how many Emus they had, and how much they ate, that we had second thoughts. So we forgot about it.
Two months ago, Virginia saw Beaky pulling pine needles off a tree and
making a fuss on the ground. We then saw that Beaky was sitting on the ground, not moving or walking around like he normally does. So I went out to see Beaky up close. Well, he wasn't very happy at all, with a bunch
of hissing and swinging of his neck and clacking of his beak. I gently lifted his rear end and discovered 8 eggs!
Aside...
You might ask how do we know that Elvis (the other Emu) is a female and Beaky is
a male. About 2 months ago, Virginia was working in the pasture, bent over, and Beaky came up behind her, very VISIBLY excited and tried to mate with her. So, we know for sure that Beaky is a male. Also, males sit
on the eggs and tend the nest. Finally, the eggs exist, so Elvis being the only other one around, must obviously be the female.
More research has revealed that a mature pair will lay 20-40 eggs a year,
finishing in about May. They will produce for 20 years or more. From the time the eggs are laid to hatching is about 50 days. We should be seeing baby Emus in mid-May. So, we have a lot to look forward to.
Meanwhile, we have taken 3 eggs from the nest and blown them empty (also broke one). They are really beautiful, with a
black matrix around a turquoise base. So much fun on the farm!
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