HIGH LONESOME RANCH, INC
Birch River, West Virginia 26610
Jim & Marcy Lilly
hlrinc@yahoo.com
About Us ...Animals on the Ranch ... Beauty Recipes... Canning... Farm Animals... Favorite Animal Links ...Favorite Pet Links ... Frugal Recipes ... Home Remedies ... Kennel... Low Carb Recipes ... Favorite Homesteading Links... Homesteading Letters... Living Without Electricity ... Homeschooling... Homeschooling Links... Countryside Magazine Articles 1995 and 1997 ...First Year On The Ranch
PLEASE HELP PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WV ANIMAL OWNERS It is our duty as citizens (local, WV and U.S.) to know the laws. It's time to spread the word to the WV animal owning population that there are people out there trying to create laws that have the potential to affect every aspect of all animal ownership. Please join our group, and help preserve your right to keep animals!
If
you are interested in owning any exotic baby, please remember that the
Animal Rights
activists are not your friend. You should join groups in your state - or go
to Exotic Law for more info on where to go for
information
Animals On the Ranch: ~ South America, Africa ~ North America ~ Australia ~ Asia ~
One
of the smallest marsupials, the sugar glider looks similar to a flying squirrel.
It
can glide using the flap of skin between it's fore feet and back feet. It loves
to eat fruits and juices, and is a very adorable pet if bonded with you. Sugar
gliders are, without a doubt, The true pocket pets. Tame sugar
gliders are
delighted to be in physical contact with their owner's body. They will sit on
your shoulder, ride in your hair or nap in your shirt pocket. They are nocturnal
by nature so your pocket will make an ideal 'nest' for your sugar glider to take
a daytime snooze. Sugar gliders are tiny gliding possums from Indonesia, New
Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. All possums and opossums, including North
America's Virginia opossum are marsupials that give live birth to their young
after a brief gestation. Young sugar gliders are a intense silver-gray with a
black stripe that starts just above the nose leather and extends over the
forehead, down the neck and back and continues on to the black tail. There is
also a dark strip from the outside corner of the eye to the ear. Captive raised
sugar gliders remain this color throughout their lives.
It had a distinctive warning sound,
and then it will bite you with it's tiny teeth! The male has a distinctive
scent gland on the top of his head. You can see it in the picture above.
Items you may need if you want sugar gliders:
A cage with 1/2- 3/4" " maximum spacing, at least 20" x 20" and a minimum of 30"
high, with a double wire floor, the bottom of which is no larger than 1/2" mesh,
and a removable litter pan between the two floors.
A food cup to hang on the side of the cage
An outside water bottle (and small cage cup if not trained to bottle)
A nest box
A hamster glove or sugar glider sock
Shredding material for bedding
Parrot ladders, ropes, rings, toys
An exercise wheel
Gnawing toys-sticks, blocks, etc.
Gnawing foods - dog biscuits, monkey biscuits, rodent block
Pine or fir shavings for the pan
Glass tube for feeding nectar
Lorikeet nectar supplement
Vitamin and calcium supplement
Crickets and mealworms
Sugar gliders do well in relatively small environments if they are allowed ample
exercise outside of their cage daily. They do
best in an ambient temperature of 75-85 degrees F. Only tame sugar gliders
should be allowed this freedom. Wire cages are preferable but must be placed in
an area where direct sunlight does not shine on the cage and there are no drafts
from open windows, doors, ceiling fans or vents. The openings in the wire mesh
should not exceed 1" x 1/2". Many bird cages suitable for finch size birds work
well. Sugar gliders need chewing objects to help wear down those long incisors.
In the wild, these teeth wear when the sugar gliders chew the bark off trees,
mostly eucalyptus, to eat the sap that drips from the wounded tree.
Sugar gliders have a high energy diet in the wild that has a fairly high level
of protein.
They should have a free-choice mixture of seeds and nuts, dried fruits, coconut
and cat food. (This is a handy diet to keep in front of them in case you must be
away from home a day or two.)
The fresh diet should be fed in the late afternoon or evening to avoid
attracting fruit flies.
Nearly all fruits and some vegetables are relished. Sugar gliders have distinct
preferences for some fruits and dislike others. Citrus often encourages
diarrhea. Bananas are not a favorite with many sugar gliders and they attract
fruit flies almost instantly. Vegetables (frozen are okay after thawing) to try
are broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, corn, cooked beans and green peas. Add a
small amount of hard-boiled egg. Balance their diet and give them variety.(top)
"Fred", out first Emu. He is one of
the friendliest and gentlest emus we have. He loves it during
breeding season
when Jim comes around. Fred thinks of Jim as another emu - Jim where's baseball
caps all the
time and we guess the bill looks like an emu's beak! Fred struts his stuff and
does a little dance, and falls to the ground and writhes around to see if he can
impress Jim.
:
(pronounced "ee-mew"): One of the largest flightless
birds in the world. Second only to the ostrich which resides in Africa, the emu
can run up to 35 mph, and
weigh up to 140 pounds. Its life span is between 30 and 40 years, and it starts
its reproduction cycle at about two to three years of age. They are the more docile of
the large birds, however, can really pack a wallop when they kick!. They have
3 toes, and the middle toe has a large nail that can slice right through
overalls! We saw this happen first hand when we picked up our first pair of emu
from an Amish farmer in Ohio. He wrestled in a small barn with the large bird,
(where we heard thumps and bangs) and emerged carrying the bird, but his
overalls were sliced from his chest to his knee!
Emus breed and lay eggs
mainly during the winter months, while ostriches and rheas breed and lay eggs in
late spring, summer, and early fall. Sometimes starting as early as October and
ending as late as June, the females lay an egg about once every three days, and
will lay, on average, 25 eggs per year. The emu has dark-green eggs that cannot
be candled (examined in front of light to check fertility and chick growth)
during incubation. Incubation is approximately 50 days.
We have found emu to be gentle birds. We walk among them and pet them on their necks and back. They let us examine their wings and, in general, don't mind us in their pen with them. Even gathering the eggs isn't any big deal to them (I wouldn't do the same with the ostrich!!).
We got our first emu when Brandon was
studying dinosaurs. He so wanted to live with the dinosaurs! We discovered emus
and decided that they looked a bit like some of the dinosaurs he was reading
about - the velociraptor and such. When we brought our Fred and Wilma home in
1995, it was such a thrill to look out the window and see the elegant birds
walking so cautiously and deliberately around the enclosure. They are fence
walkers, and will walk the fence line - no matter how long the line is.
EMU OIL:
The emu have a sack of fat which Aborigines have used for centuries for healing
burns and other ailments. This sack is rendered into a lotion and rubbed on
burns, and sore muscles. The Aborigines have used emu oil as a skin moisturizer,
antiseptic, and as an aid in the relief of muscular aches joint pain and
sunburn. American sports players recognize the benefits. Some chiropractics use
emu oil in massage treatments The American Emu Association has articles on
information using emu oil for burns. We use this for every burn we get...
sunburn, grease burn, etc. It is still amazing to me how well it works for us.
Emu oil can be used in soap recipes, along with goats milk for a wonderful
luxurious soap.
One of the most remarkable attributes of Emu Oil is the effectiveness it has in comforting stiff muscles and joints. Emu Oil is currently undergoing testing in Australia and the United States for its effectiveness on arthritis pain, as well as its ability to heal sprains and bruises caused by sports and other activities. Emu oil contains naturally a high level of linolenic acid a substance known to ease muscle ache and joint pain. and oleic acid, which provides a local anti-inflammatory effect.
People who use emu oil have reported some success with the conditions listed here:
acne age
spots arthritis athlete’s foot bed sores bruises burns
bursitis calluses canker sores carpal tunnel syndrome
chapped lips circulation complexion problem conditioning hair contact
dermatitis cracked skin cuts dandruff diabetic bruising & ulcers
dandruff diabetic neuropathy diaper rash dishpan hands dry skin
eczema eye irritation fever blisters fingernail cuticles frostbite
gout gum disease growing pains hair loss headaches hemorrhoids
in-grown toenails increasing mobility insect bites irritated skin
itching joint pain lumbago massage medication carrier moisturize
skin muscle pain & spasms night muscle cramps
nosebleeds pain relief pet hot spots pet/animal injuries & wounds
psoriasis radiation burns rashes razor burn & nicks rheumatism
rhinitis rosacea scar prevention sciatica scrapes & scratches
shin splints shingles sinus headaches skin grafts skin hydration
skin rashes sore muscles sports injuries sprains stiffness stretch
marks sunburn relief surgery scars swelling tendonitis thin, aging
skin tick bites tired feet varicose veins wasp, bee stings weak
nails windburn wounds wrinkles & fine lines
One drop of emu oil will
cover an area approximately the size of the back of your hand!!
Use Emu Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair
Use Emu Oil for Dry, Damaged Skin and Pain Relief
Use Emu Oil Direct Skin Application:
Use Emu Oil in your Bath:
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by
the Food and Drug Administration.
There is no intent to diagnose, cure, treat, or
prevent any disease or condition
This Internet site is used for informational and educational purposes only
and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.
EMU MEAT
is lower in fat and higher in protein than
other red meats. It is 99% fat free!! It looks and tastes similar to beef, but
with healthier consequences. You cook it as you would beef. But, if you cook a
hamburger BEWARE: there will be no shrinkage due to such a minute amount of fat.
In fact, you will have to grease the pan to prevent sticking! It is most
delicious! Because it is so low in fat, it is best served slightly rare, or it
could dry out. Compared to others meats, the fat content, cholesterol, and
saturated fats are lower than chicken, turkey, lean beef and pork!
Some recipes are: emu tenderloin, emu surprise, emu with beer gravy, and emu
goulash
Some gourmet recipes can be found at Blue Mountain Emu
FARMING:
You can find out more about the emu as a viable farming resource with the
Emu Today and Tomorrow... Outback Emuzing Ranch...
EMU EGGS :
Emu eggs are a very beautiful dark emerald green. Many artisans and
crafters enjoy the emu egg for carving , etched, painted, jeweled, or cut out
and decorated with miniature figurines, jewelry boxes, , Christmas
decorations... the ideas are limitless...
FEATHERS and CLAWS:
Emu feathers are unusual in that there are 2 feathers coming from 1
shaft. They are soft and delicate looking. The tail feathers are long "up to
18")and can be used in hats, vase decorations, aboriginal shields The body
feathers are about 6-8 inches and are used in feather dusters, jewelry, cat
toys. Then there are the small feathers, (2-3" long). They make wonderful
fishing ties, or earrings. The feathers can be dyed easily.
The claws are used in jewelry, earrings and necklaces, hat decorations... such
as cowboy hats. Some great links to emu pages can be found at Davis World Wide
Emu Page.
One of the emus
looking through the fence after a major ice storm hit West Virginia during the
2003 winter
Cold weather doesn't bother emu.
A story about Fred:
Our emus left their enclosure one day to go out into the world. There were 6 of them wandering around on our mountain top. We live in an area where our closest neighbor is about 1 mile away. Two came home on their own and we ushered them into the fenced area. Over the next few days we had many calls on "emu sightings", but whenever we drove to where they were supposed to be, the emu had slipped quietly into the woods. On one occasion a woman stopped at our house to tell us the emu was close to the highway (near our neighbor's driveway). We drove out to see, and sure enough there was one of our females. Bethany and Mariann stayed with her while I went for the trailer. I came back and we easily loaded her into the trailer and brought her home. The tamer the emu is with you, the easier they are to load or move from one place to another. We walked quite a distance along the dirt road in front of the house with 2 emus following a bucket of feed.
Eventually all the
emus were found except Fred and Wilma. Wilma never did come home and we
never found her. But after a week, a young man told us he and his buddies had
seen an emu in the woods across from our land. The girls got on their bikes and
road the dirt path, where they came up these fools and their 4-wheelers. The
young men were trying to ride the emu - forcing themselves onto his back and
scaring him to death. Mariann (she was 11 years old at the time) yelled, "That's our emu!" and the men stopped
what they were doing. As I came up with 2 friends of ours, the men went into an
explanation of how they were trying to hold the emu there until we came. In the
meantime, they had let go of Fred and he ran into the woods. My girls followed
after him trying to calm him and coax him out. No dice. He was petrified. We
couldn't get him that day because when we got close, he took off. (Emus can run
rather quickly). We left, but over the next few days continued to seasrch for him.
One day I looked out of the window and there was Fred walking slowly and
cautiously up the driveway. We headed out and herded him into the fence with the
other emus.
We were so happy to have him home. But we learned something from this experience. When an emu is traumatized as much as Fred seemed to have been, they don't forget. It has taken 3 years now to get Fred to trust us again. He was so skittish of any human after that experience. We can now pet him and move him easily, but he has never danced for Jim since.
So if you come across an emu that is out for a walk in the world - be slow, gentle and easy and call the owners to come get him. Riding a big bird is for the ostriches - not the gentle emu.
"Renegade" an emu found by the West Virginia DNR.
An educational note - The correct pronunciation is: "ee-mew" ... Please do not spread the ignorance of pronouncing it "ee-moo"!! (After all - how do you pronounce menu?)