Found in eastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Central Argentina.

Adult birds stand about 5 feet tall and weigh between 60 and 70 pounds. The male is the larger of the two sexes. These birds are extremely hardy and will stay out in the most horrid UK weather, all night without problem. They seem as hardy as sheep!

Rheas are polygamous-polyandrous, which means that the roles of the males and females are reversed, the male builds the nest, incubates the eggs and rears the chicks once they are hatched, the female’s only role is to lay the eggs. When spring arrives, the males become aggressive towards one another and strut around with the feathers on their heads, necks, and chests raised so that they appear larger than they really are. These birds when over 8 months old will not be bothered by foxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The eggs are butter yellow when first laid but they will soon fade to a cream color once incubation has begun. If it is done carefully, artificial incubation is much more efficient than letting the male sit on his nest. We incubate the eggs at 98.5oF with humidity at approx 45%. The eggs will hatch after 36 to 42 days of incubation. The eggs should be candled after 14 days of incubation to check for fertility. If an egg is not fertile, it should be removed from the incubator so that it doesn’t spoil and possibly contaminate other eggs in the incubator.

Eggs should be placed in the incubator as soon as possible after they are laid and no eggs should be held more than 7 days before incubation. Eggs that are placed in the incubator up to a week apart will often hatch at the same time if the eggs are in shell-to-shell contact for at least the last two weeks of incubation.

Birds should never be kept singularly as they need companions of there own. They are extremely easy to keep!

 

PRICES:

Hatching Eggs as Available: £15 ea

Youngsters: Greys: £75 .Whites: £90

Adult Birds from:... £150

All when Available, email for info!!