How to Hatch Emu Eggs in a Hova-Bator

Research about hatching and raising ratites like emus, ostriches and rheas is ongoing at the University of Florida and Oregon State University. Individuals and breeder associations are also compiling data. While there are general areas of consensus, there are no hard fast specifics at this time. This is very understandable, as body heat and moisture vary from bird to bird, and most institutions and breeders are working with eggs from different gene pools.

Things You'll Need

  • Fertile emu eggs
  • Hovabator
  • Egg rotators (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Using a soft tip marker, number each egg in one place. Record the weight for each of the eggs. Set up a chart with the starting weight and space for the daily weight for the next 56 days. If you are rotating the eggs by hand, set up a chart to help you monitor this process as well.

    • 2

      Set the temperature. Most experts recommend a hatching temperature of 96.5 degrees F for emu eggs. However, the University of Florida recommends a range of 96.7 to 97.7 degrees F. Keep in mind that eggs can suffer heat stress, especially during the early days of incubation. Towards the end of the process you will drop the temperature in anticipation of hatching.

    • 3

      Set the humidity. Start at 40 percent . Emu eggs should be maintained somewhere between 25 and 55 percent humidity. This will be adjusted depending on the weight loss of the eggs. Eggs lose about 10 to 18 percent of their weight during the incubation process. This takes place at a steady, gradual pace, so that the weight of emu eggs should drop at somewhere around 2 percent per week. Too much and the chicks hatch dehydrated; too little and they are edematous.

    • 4

      Install the egg rotators, if you have them. Hova-Bator manufactures rotators that are designed for larger eggs like emus. If you do not plan a monitoring system so that you are turning the eggs at least five and up to 24 times a day. The numbers on the eggs will help you keep track of which eggs have been turned.

    • 5

      Weigh the eggs every day. Increase or decrease the humidity if they are not maintaining a steady gradual weight loss.

    • 6

      Remove the rotators, or stop turning the eggs, on the 42nd day. Set up your brooder. Remember, newly hatched emu chicks are unable to maintain their body heat.