How to Raise an Emu for Profit

Emus are large birds that resemble the ostrich. Some farmers in the United States raise emus for a profit by selling their meat and their oil. Farmers also make a profit from emus by selling their eggs, feathers and breeding them. While you are unlikely to get rich from raising emus, you can make a modest profit from it.

Things You'll Need

  • Fencing material
  • Incubator
  • Automatic waterer
  • Trough
  • Emu food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure you have enough land put aside to raise your emus. Most emu farms are 5 to 10 acres, but 1 acre per five emus should suffice.

    • 2

      Install a fence around where you plan to keep your emus. Since emus can jump very high, make sure the fence is at least 6 feet tall. Use fence material that will not get tangled with the birds.

    • 3

      Build a shelter in the enclosure where the emus can keep warm during windy or cold days.

    • 4

      Purchase an automatic waterer and trough for your birds. Ensure each emu has access to one gallon of water per day.

    • 5

      Buy an incubator to incubate your eggs. Using an incubator and hatching your eggs away from the pen allows the emus to imprint on you rather than other emus.

    • 6

      Feed your emu chicks with an emu starter feed, but adult emus can eat a combination of corn, alfalfa and wheat. Allow adult birds to forage for food all day rather than feeding them at set times.

    • 7

      Make sure your emus get the proper vaccinations for both the eastern and western varieties of equine encephalitis.

    • 8

      Separate your male and female emus. Emus breed in September, so allow breeding pairs to intermingle then.