Reptile & Amphibian Forums

But hey, modern dinosaurs count right? Besides, I haven't had an original post here in a long time.

This is part of the 'other side' of my animal life: namely giant birds. I've been enamored of ratites (emus, ostriches, etc) since I was in the 7th grade and have raised both emus and rheas and hatched ostriches. I've wanted cassowaries for a while, despite their typically-ferocious nature (but you guys can understand that aspect right?), and when early last week I was presented the opportunity to get one, I jumped on it. Of course, it took an all-day-and-night drive to get him and get him back here, but good grief it was worth it. And he's docile! He is fully armored - take a look at those feet - but has been meticulously raised since he was young and shows no fear nor aggression toward people. Even so, I take great care in being around him. I'm planning to borrow a friend's female this spring and see if I can make baby cassowaries.

Okay, enough text, enjoy the pics.

(check out that inside toe - only about 3" of that is toe, the rest is claw)

(preening)

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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

awesome bird! Congrats on finding him and congrats on securing a docile one at that. Good luck with him and thanks for the pics.

Ditto. Way cool. ~~Greg~~

WOW...way cool Chance...My absolute favorite "giant" bird. As close to a Deinonychus as one can thanksfully get to see running around.

Cheers!
Al
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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

That's a neat lookin' bird!

Funny thing happened to me a few years ago that you might get a kick out of.

I had 2 big German Shepherds and a shepherd/chow mix that were standing in my pasture barking at something in the woods. I walked out to where they were to see what the fuss was about but couldn't see anything but they were still carrying on.

I crossed the creek and headed into the woods, as soon as I did my dogs figured that was the "go ahead" to go get what they were barking at. They took off past me and got about 35 feet away when all of the sudden this huge Emu stepped out from behind a tree. With its feathers all ruffled, making it look twice its size, it started stomping towards my dogs.

My big, bad German Shepherds hit the brakes, let out a yelp that curled the hair on the back of my neck, and high-tailed it back in the opposite direction. They flew by me & didn't stop until they reached the house, leaving me to fend for myself.

I laughed until I cried. I stood still and the Emu stopped after a few stomps & the dogs were gone. I slowly walked up to it within about 3 feet of it while watching its body language & it took off in the other direction.

Some people about 4 miles down the road had a bunch on their farm but when I called they said it wasn't one of theirs. The next day I saw the Emu walking down the middle of the road in front of my house and my dogs stayed on the porch barking at it. Never did find out who it belonged to and never saw it again. My dogs are glad its gone. Biggest/baddest dang turkey they've ever seen. Heeheehee!!!

Take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Hey Mike. Thanks for the story. It was quite entertaining! Emus really seem to enjoy the challenge that dogs present...and squirrels, rabbits, etc. It's really funny to watch a squirrel mistakenly wander into my colony big pen and see the emus go after it. They always get away, but not without a good chase!
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

lol thats hilarious!

Friend of mine had a similiar situation. He had an emu that someone had abandoned. He took it in and babied it like you wouldn't believe. This was in Phoenix. He had a coffee can that he would fill his food into to carry it out to it everytime he fed it. Well one day me, my ex, his kids, the neighbor and his grandson all went over to see him. Well my kids all knew about the giant chicken that Danny owned and didn't think about it. When Danny asked the neighbors grandson if he wanted to feed the chicken he said yeah. We went out and sat on the back porch and Danny leaned down in the bush and was making kissy noises and well that lil boy leaned down too. About that time the emu came over and was leaning down touchin the lil boys shoulder.

He looked over his shoulder and about peed all over himself lol he'd never seen such a big chicken and took off running. I call him a little boy but he was about 11 years old lol. He told everyone for a long time about the giant chicken in uncle dannys back yard lol.

That's funny!
I can picture the boy's reaction. I bet he thinks of that emu every time he eats chicken.

Chance,
Are emus and the like territorial or just protective of the colony, or, both? Including cassowaries?

If you've ever been flogged by a rooster you can respect the claws on these big birds.

Ya'll take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Territoriality among ratites varies with the species. If you're referring to within their own species, then I suppose you could say they all are territorial. Toward people though, emu typically are unconcerned with us being in their pens. If anything, they just try to show out more. Cassowary females and sometimes males can be quite territorial or downright aggressive, ostrich males can be very territorial in the breeding season, and likewise with rhea males. They all have slight variations on the themes of their respective sex roles though, so it's hard to sum them all up unilaterally. I personally find it very interesting though that the emus and cassowaries operate on a matriarchal system wherein the female calls the shots, while ostriches and rheas operate on a patriarchal system. Even so, the males in all but ostriches do all the work in incubating eggs and raising chicks. It may give a little insight into how dinosaurs behaved and shared or burdened sex roles.

So I'm sure that's more than you wanted to know about their territoriality, but what can I say, I like talking about them.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

Very informative, Chance! Thanks for sharing!

"Even so, the males in all but ostriches do all the work in incubating eggs and raising chicks. It may give a little insight into how dinosaurs behaved and shared or burdened sex roles."

Hen-pecked, eh? Could this be the reason dinosaurs are extinct? Women!

Boy, I sure hope my wife doesn't see this post, I'll be washing dishes for a week.

Thanks, again, Chance!

Later!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

To clarify my last post, I was only joking. I'm not a male chauvinist pig, by any means.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to the eggs before they get cold and the wife notices I'm gone.

Have a great day!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Is it possible that breeding him will make him less docile? Just a question.
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phflame
kingsnake.com host

Hey Flame. That's actually a very good questions and a very real possibility. I'm anticipating him only be protective of his eggs and, if I ever let him sit any eggs, of his chicks. Once he's away from the female though, he should go back to his usual self. I'll just have to wait and see though. I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed!
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

Congrats Chace! I will have to get up there and take pics when I get my camera repaired! They really are cool beasts.