How to Raise Rheas

By eHow Careers & Work Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Incubator
Brooder pen
Ratite carpet
Heater
Food and water containers or feeders
Ratite pellets, grit and dog food
Fenced-off area with natural rhea habitat
Roofed shed
Hay for bedding

Step 1:
Buy an incubator for the newly-hatched chicks. The chicks must be left in the incubator for approximately 24 to 36 hours, or until the chick looks healthy enough to be put in the brooder. Make sure you have a quarantined area for any sick birds.
Step 2:
Build a brooder pen; the size depends on the number of chicks you're raising. Use a wire mesh, measuring 2 inches by 4 inches and a ratite carpet, keeping the temperature at 90 degrees. The pen must be sanitized every day and the feeding and watering dishes must be sanitized every third day. Make sure the chicks cannot fall into the watering bowls.
Step 3:
Prepare an area for the chicks to run around in for about a month. This will strengthen their legs. Keep ratite pellets and grit in their feeding troughs and make sure there are no small items--such as nails, wood chips and bolts--around for the chicks to eat. Continue to monitor their health and quarantine any sick birds.
Step 4:
Allow the chicks outside on warm days after a month. They'll learn to peck the ground for insects. Fence off an area safe for the chicks and continue to feed them ratite pellets and water them. They'll need to be dewormed and the temperature in the brooder must be kept at 90 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent sickness.
Step 5:
Fence off one-acre breeding areas for the adults, with each area containing five to 6 females and 2 males. Provide a natural habitat with grass, clover, trees and bushes for nesting and cover. For shelter, the rheas need a roofed shed with hay or straw flooring. They also need feeders for water and food and should still feed on ratite pellets or dog food mixed with fruit and vegetables.

Resources

Visit USDA for information and resources on raising rheas.

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