Adorable Juvenile Emus

Like other birds, Emus grow up very fast, and are full grown by 5-6 months old! The stripes they're born with help to camouflage them and fade within three months.

Males are the dominent parent from the time the eggs are layed until the chicks are on their own at about 7 months old. The female leaves shortly after laying eggs--though some will stay until the eggs hatch--and will often lay other clutches of eggs with up to two other males during the breeding seasion. The male incubates and turns the eggs up to 10 times a day and will rarely eat or stand up for the 8 weeks of incubation, surviving on stored body fat. After the chicks hatch, the male protects the brood and teaches the chicks how to find food. Chicks will stay with the family group for about two years or until they find a mate to start a family with whey they are sexually mature, which is about 18 months old.

For more information about Emus, Wiki has a wonderful source here: Wiki:Emu

I've uploaded two other pictures today and I hope you'll visit them too!

Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)