All of the local folks want to know if they can help out. Tom cut
down a cedar and laid it so that it might help to block the north wind.
Another friend offered to put up a tarp covering to keep the rain and ice
off of Rocky. Even the rest of the animals come by to visit as if they
know that babies should be hatching soon and to encourage Rocky
to hang in there!
Donna
and Curtis check on Rocky and even make him eat a little food and drink
some water. Tom says he's seen Rocky up a couple of times and counted 8
eggs. He was getting worried about Rocky untill the other day another male
emu came close and Rocky jumped up and chased the other male away! We are
all hoping there will be some babies soon and that the eggs are fertile!
None of the other birds are doing anything but walking up and down the
fence on the Hi-way in front of the local store.
During the recent visit from Curtis's sister Kim
and her family, Rocky recieved lots of attention and praise for his efforts!
Even before the weather started to warm the Rhea's are starting to look
good for the upcoming breeding season. The males are booming and herding
the hens, so it wont be long now before we start finding nests!
We have 4 hens
with 3 roosters in the colony and feel that is a good mix for the season.
One of the males raised chicks last season, so we are hopefull they will
do well! This year we are going to let nature run it's course and
allow the roosters to hatch and raise the chicks.The males do a great job
of hatching and brooding the chicks and are fierce to protect the nest
and babies. Here is a photo from the last time we let the males raise their
own.