Emus as livestock gaurdians?

[woodleighcreek]

I occasionaly drive past some cows and I oftain notice an emu standing amoung them. Is the emu the livestock gaurdian? Iv heard of useing dogs, donkeys, and even llamas, but I have never heard of useing emus.

 

[ksalvagno]

I"m thinking that they just have one emu and just put it in with the cattle. I don't think they would make good guardians.

 

[elevan]

I wouldn't think that they would be used as a guardian...but then I've never had an emu either...

 

[woodleighcreek]

It just makes me wonder everytime I drive past...Why would one keep an emu?

 

[elevan]

It just makes me wonder everytime I drive past...Why would one keep an emu?

You'll have to stop by some time and find out and then let us know

 

[carolinagirl]

I almost bought one emu once at an auction. They were selling really cheap (like $10 each, for adults). Then, as one of them was being ushered into the sales ring, it lashed out with a foot, nearly catching the handler in the leg and smashing through a wood barricade....I quickly came to my senses and did NOT buy that emu! So I can see how someone would have only one. It also may have been a stray since lots of folks find out that they are harder to unload than they though, and abandon them.

 

[MonsterMalak]

I was given some Emus years ago. I had them in a seperated pasture from everything else.

Anytime my dogs went into there, the Emus would put the fear into them.
And understanding that Emus have shared the continent with Dingos for the past 40,000 years, and have survived or thrived.

Funny how this idea has never come to me before, but it may work.

Guessing it may depend on the personalities of the Emu itself.

Would be nice if anyone else with Emus could give their experiences on them.

Thanks Everyone

 

[poorboys]

we had emus for awhile, yes they can protect with their feet to predetors, but you can't use them along with dogs, my girlfriend raises emus, she has about 9 of them. she waited for them to lay eggs, there eggs bring a nice price. they also have butchered some and it's very good tasting meat, don't taste like a bird, they use oil from their feathers and such, there is a market for all parts of the emu, but you have to find a good place that uses all the bird to beable to sell for a good price, they are pretty neat to watch, best way to catch one is to put a black sock or pillow case over their head so they can't see and usually you can load them easy then.

 

[TGreenhut]

I have seen many in my area who use them as successful livestock guardians.

 

[woodleighcreek]

Thanks everyone for letting me know! I do think it is a livestock guardian because we have lots of coyotes in our area and the dingo thing makes since.