Emu chick abandoned by parents saved by chicken foster mum

Shrub, the four-year-old emu at Birdworld in Surrey, was left to fend for herself by her parents, Forest and Mathilda, who were not up for parenting duties.

She was found in a dire state, covered in mud and flies, and being dragged from the nest by crows.

But the little emu chick, weighing just 500g, defied the odds and survived.

Shrub was found in a dire state (Image: Birdworld)

Polly Bramham, living collections manager at Birdworld, said: "We didn’t expect the eggs to hatch and were surprised when they found Shrub cold, muddy, and neglected in the nest.

"She was rushed to an ICU, warmed up, and fortunately turned out to be a resilient survivor, much like her father."

Shrub, however, needed a helping hand to learn the ropes of emu life, and this role fell upon Nugget, a small bantam hen at Birdworld.

The emu defied the odds and survived (Image: Birdworld)

Polly said: "Nugget took Shrub under her wing, teaching her essential life skills such as eating and walking.

"She was the best foster Shrub could hope for – busy, bossy, and showing her lots of fuss and care."

Shrub, however, quickly outgrew her foster mum, and the Birdworld keepers took over her development, engaging her in enrichment games and activities to build her coordination and muscle strength.

When it was time to introduce her to her birth parents, the keepers were cautious not to let Shrub in with Forest and Mathilda, as emus are known to be very reactive and defensive.

Shrub and her foster mum, Nugget (Image: Birdworld)

Instead, Shrub was walked outside the enclosure, allowing her to interact with her parents from a safe distance.

Polly said: "It was particularly important to do this while Shrub was still a juvenile so that Forest and Mathilda would not see her as a threat."

Shrub now lives full-time with her parents, having successfully integrated into the emu family.

Polly said: "Seeing Shrub with her parents as they race around their paddock, you would never guess their difficult beginnings.

"Shrub is an amazing lady, and the keepers are so proud that she has no confusion about who she is.

"She is 100 per cent emu, but with all the time in the world for her keepers."

Birdworld is one of the largest bird parks in the country, home to over 1,000 birds and 181 species.