What is unusual about emu feathers?
Emu feathers are less water-resistant than other birds’ feathers. Its tail feathers are not so soft. Instead, they are stiff, and the bird can rattle them to scare off predators, such as dingoes. Born to run.
What are emu feathers used for?
Emu feathers are used in fishing lures, clothing accents, fans, wall hangings, flower arrangements, hats and many other things.
Does a emu have feathers?
Emus do have small wings, but they are insufficient for flight. Emus and other ratites have a unique feather design. Each feather is double-shafted and lacks barbules, resulting in the barbs hanging loosely and appearing similar to hair from a distance.
Are emu feathers waterproof?
This means that the bird looks more like it is covered in hair than in feathers. These soft feathers are not waterproof like other feathers, and an emu in the rain looks a bit bedraggled. Emu necks are often without feathers, and the skin is bluish. Emu beaks are wide and soft, for grazing grass and browsing in bushes.
What is the difference between a male and female emu?
Emu females are generally larger than the males. The females weigh about 40 kilograms, the males about 36 kg. Emus can run at speeds of up to 50 km per hour. Emu feathers are brown, and grow in pairs with two shafts joined at the base.
How do emus mate?
During the courtship, both genders start strutting and circling; ruffling out their feathers and cocking their heads in a shy posture. The male starts a mating dance with slow, snake-like back-and-forth movements of his head while circling around the female.
What are emus farmed for?
Emus can be bred commercially for their meat, skin, oil, eggs and feathers. All birds used for commercial emu farming must be derived from farm-reared or captive stock.
How often does an emu lay an egg?
3 or 4 days
Many emu begin producing in their second year. Emu lay eggs in the winter months, usually between November and March. Eggs are laid every 3 or 4 days, with an average of 30 eggs laid per season. Some may produce up to 50 eggs per season.
Why do emus have feathers?
Most birds usually have one feather per follicle, but emus grow a double shafted feather from each follicle. These hair-like feathers are an adaptation for the heat in Australia. They allows the heat to escape. By lifting the wings an emu can allow air to flow over veins close to the skin helping to cool them.
Do emus have fur or feathers?
They are covered in soft fluffy feathers. They have two sets of eyelids, one for blinking and the other for keeping the dust out!
How do emus sleep at night?
Emus sleep during the night but do not sleep continuously for the whole night, they can wake up several times during the night to either feed or go to the toilet. Emus sit down to sleep and it seems that this is also helpful to camouflage them as they look like a small hill when sleeping.
Where do emus sleep at night?
Young emus usually sleep with their neck flat and stretched forward along the ground surface.