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What time of year do emus lay eggs?

Someone is telling me it's during summer, but I'm sure that it's winter...

Does anyone know?

1 Answer

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  • Dan S
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    June, winter in Australia where they live.

    According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emus#Breeding

    "Emus form breeding pairs during the summer months of December and January, and may remain together for about five months. Mating occurs in the cooler months of May and June. During the breeding season, males experience hormonal changes, including an increase in luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels, and their testicles double in size. Males lose their appetite and construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground from bark, grass, sticks, and leaves. The pair mates every day or two, and every second or third day the female lays one of an average of 11 (and as many as 20) very large, thick-shelled, dark-green eggs. The number of eggs varies with rainfall. The eggs are on average 134 by 89 millimetres (5.3 in × 3.5 in) and weigh between 700 and 900 grams (1.5 and 2.0 lb), which is roughly equivalent to 10–12 chicken eggs in volume and weight. The first verified occurrence of genetically identical avian twins was demonstrated in the Emu."

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