Due to some difficulties the last few breeding seasons, we are creating a blog post to explain new policies relating to the sale and pickup/delivery of our emu chicks for the 2023/24 breeding season.
To start, we have several RECOMMENDATIONS for all of our purchasers that will make your emu-owning adventure better. These recommendations are based on our experience and the experiences of breeders and owners that we know and trust.
New emu owners should have a minimum of 1 acre of space to house their new emus. When it comes to space, the more the merrier. But we have found that if you are keeping a couple of emu as pets, 1 acre of space is usually adequate.
New emu owners should plan to purchase at least two chicks. While there are many anecdotes of single emu thriving on a small farm, emus in the wild typically travel in a mob and may do best with a fellow emu friend. Additionally, raising a single emu chick can be difficult as they cannot be left alone. They'll either need a human companion 24/7 or another animal buddy to keep them company.
New emu owners should purchase sexed chicks. Every single season, we get messages from individuals who ended up with two females or two males and want to trade or sell their extra to get another male/female. The fact is, moving and selling adult emus is extremely difficult in most instances. If you're able to buy vent or DNA sexed chicks, it'll save you a lot of hassle.
New emu owners should always quarantine new chicks for two weeks before introducing to other chicks or animals. We have many customers who purchase from us AND from another breeder. By not quarantining any new animals, illnesses can spread and young emus have sensitive immune and respiratory systems that put them at risk of illness and death.
New emu owners should have their enclosures for their adults built before buying chicks, in addition to having the ability to separate adult birds in case of fighting or other issues. These birds grow FAST and it's better to be prepared ahead of time. Procrastination is never your friend.
New emu owners should not overcommit by purchasing more than a few chicks during their first season. We have turned down purchasers who are purchasing more than four chicks during their first year. Raising emu chicks is more difficult than you realize, especially with how fast they grow, and if you're raising many of them clear into adulthood, it gets dangerous once hormones start rolling. It's best to start small and grow a bit year to year.
Next we will talk about our POLICIES & REQUIREMENTS as well as what we are offering for the 2023/24 breeding season.
All chicks sold by The Homesthed are DNA-sexed prior to going to their new homes. We fill reservations as the sexing results are received. We send in the DNA immediately upon hatch and typically receive it before the chick reaches two weeks old.
The Homesthed is offering FREE transport up to 20 miles from our farm. If you would like transport and live further than 20 miles from the farm, we are offering weekend-only transports at a price of $1.00/mile over 20 miles (ROUND TRIP). You are welcome to hire a private transporter that you trust as well.
All chicks are old enough to go home at four weeks old. We do not allow them to go home any sooner as it allows us to confirm they are healthy and sturdy enough to travel.
All chicks must be picked up or scheduled for delivery by six weeks of age. We do this for several reason. First, caring for emu chicks takes time, resources, and money. Our prices are based on the costs of raising the chick to three weeks. For each week over three weeks, a $20 cost of care charge per chick will be added to your purchase price.
We do not offer refunds or exchanges on our animals. We are 100% confident that we are sending healthy, sturdy chicks to our customers. Any illnesses or injuries that occur after the chick has been brought home are not the responsibility of The Homesthed. We understand that bad things happen, so we are ALWAYS available to provide assistance and advice in regards to injuries and illness. By following our recommendations for care, you are giving your birds the best chance at a long, healthy life.
In order to get onto our waitlist, you must pay a $50 non-refundable deposit per chick. You can reserve based on color and gender. If you do not pickup your chicks or cancel your reservation, you forfeit your deposit. You can postpone your reservation to later hatches if so desired. If The Homesthed cancels your reservation for any reason, we will refund your deposit.
Your purchase price balance must be paid at pickup. We accept cash, Venmo, Zelle, and Cashapp payments. If you would like to pay via PayPal, there is an additional 3.6% fee added to the purchase price. We will also accept checks, but you must provide a picture of your valid Driver's License in case the check does not clear the bank.
The Homesthed reserves the right to decline or cancel any reservation for chicks if we feel that the purchaser will not provide a suitable environment for the chicks.
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