How to Correctly Install an Electric Fence for Emus? Best Tips & Tricks 2022

Emus are much bigger than ducks and chickens – two or three times more precisely. Therefore, your regular fencing will not be enough for an advanced emu shelter.

Although these birds do not require advanced housing and maintenance, you still have to provide them with enough spacing for their needs.

But, how much space do emus need?

Examine the article as we have found all exciting info about the spatial needs of emus.

You will learn about their needs for companionship, the type of fence they require, and other features.

Are you ready to find out how to properly install an electric fence for emus? Let’s begin.

What are emus’ needs?

Emus and ostriches are known as ratites – flightless birds with ratite breastbones. They might be challenging to cope with.

Emu runs 30 miles per hour when searching for food and water. In addition, it can jump up to seven feet and jump over the fence.

However, installing electric fencing will save your money, time, and energy while keeping the predators out of the birds’ space.

It would help if you remembered – never use barbed wire fencing when enclosing the emus and ostriches. This type of fence can cause severe injuries to birds.

You should avoid installing electric fences for emu chicks. Emu chick plumage is not as developed as with adult emus.

So, they are more prone to electric shocks.

Also, to use your existing fences instead of the barbed wire fences, you will need an electrified wire installed at the top and outside the bottom of the electric fencing.

It prevents emus from jumping out and intruders from coming in.

The birds reach under, over, or through any fence to eat grass out of the large area. Even though they cannot fly, their best advantage is jumping.

How much space do these birds need?

Emus prefer more space. They love to forage, hence the need for a natural, open environment.

Their forage is crucial for food, so the bigger, the better.

A pair of emus or ostriches need 3,000 square feet of your area minimum. But, some breeders might raise emu pairs even in 1,000 square meters.

It would help if you remembered that the space where you’re breeding emus must be adequately fenced.

And, a long pen for running may be needed. Its size is around eight square feet.

What’s the best electric fencing type?

As the emu and ostrich don’t fly but jump, the wire fence spacing must be close together, at least six feet tall. Otherwise, the birds will escape to the other side.

Emus are over six feet tall, while ostriches are even more than eight feet tall.

If you use electric fencing for the ratites, remember that feathers are not the proper electricity conductors. Therefore, you need to use a low-impendence charger for your fencing.

Since the two-legged animals have less contact with the ground than the four-legged ones, you must install a proper grounding system.

So, the best solution is…?

A six-foot high-tensile electric fence for ostriches and emus will be the most productive in keeping the predators out of the enclosure and your big birds inside the confined space.

You will also have to use fifteen wire fence lines, four inches above the ground with the bottom wire.

In addition, there is a space of four inches apart for the first four feet of fence height and eight inches space for the top two feet of the fence.

You should place the electrified wires outside the fencing to chase the wild predators away and contain the animals.

So, according to various experts, you need the following configurations for the emus & ostriches:

• a six-feet fence
• twelve bottom fence wires, four inches apart
• top three fence wires, eight inches apart.

What about shorter/existing electric fences?

If you fence your farm with woven wire fences – two-inch by four-inch at least five feet tall, that will also prevent ostriches and emus from jumping out.

These can also be valuable for other various types of animals, such as goats, smaller chicks and other poultry, livestock, horses, etc., to deter predators.

Also, the electrified wire installed on the outside bottom of the fence prevents beasts from digging under construction.

However, it would help if you did not use the electric fence for chicks.

Instead, you should install a closely spaced woven wire or a chain link, as these units are more effective.

Field fencing is also an alternative, but you must find a proper height to keep emu and ostrich safe and chase wild beasts away.

What about outdoor areas?

Emu likes a natural environment with plenty of dirt, shrubs, pebbles, and other units to keep them occupied.

In an outdoor area, emus and ostriches will feed on fruits, weeds, herbs, and other greenery. Once they’ve got enough food, the ratite will be happy and peaceful.

They can also dig for insects and small mice for their diet. Bur, humans can feed emu with ratite pellets, and you can find them on Amazon in some countries.

Among the greenery, they will also feed on insects and other invertebrates to feed upon. But besides that, emus like sleeping under trees.

A shelter: Yes or no?

You can create enclosure spaces with many trees to prevent ostriches and emus from escaping for your peace of mind.

But, if not possible, you can create a shelter or an emu shed. This is crucial for incubating eggs and avoiding dangerous risks.

Emus need a shelter to protect them from weather elements. Generally, emu will roam in the sun, but harsh weather conditions will harm them.

Their shelters should be shaded, well-ventilated, and sufficiently spacious. It must have a good heat source to keep emus warm in the winter.

In the summer, it should have a fine water source.

Although emu has feathers to resist cold and sun, they need instant access to water.

Don’t forget that a female emu is larger than a male and can be violent during the breeding season. Then, they lay the eggs and wander off, leaving the nursery to males.

Emus aren’t like similar poultry with one male and more females.

Males will build the nest to protect the future emus, so you also have to find an ideal space for the breeding season.

Their nests are usually in the ground with grasses, sticks, and leaves.

Once hatched, emu remains with the father for up to a year, after they’re ready for breeding after two and three years.

A male emu will also fight others, but various female birds are getting along with more male emus.

So, they should be with another emu to thrive in captivity, not to be kept alone.

Summary

Let’s revise a bit.

First, emu likes a natural, open space for its activities.

So, when installing an electric fence for emus, place electrified wires at the top and the bottom parts to keep them safe.

Next off, provide a more spacious area.

Finally, using your existing constructions is fine if you prevent accidents and dangerous risks.

And please refer to our guidelines for the best fence and correct measurements!