Choosing a pet can be a very difficult decision. Should you go for a conventional rabbit, dog or cat? Or for something slightly more outlandish, like, say, an emu?

Emus are very gentle by nature... but be careful they have sharp claws

Emus – the second largest bird in the world – make for very unconventional pets, yet having them at home seems to be an increasingly popular trend that is catching on in Malta.

This year, emu breeder Brian Gauci, owner of six adult birds, has sold 16 chicks. “We had 32 hatchlings this year, and so far we have sold more than half of them,” he told The Sunday Times.

These exotic pets seem to be especially popular in Gozo. “Gozitans have bought quite a few – possibly because they have more space to keep them,” said Mr Gauci, 28, of Wardija.

Emus, second in size only to the ostrich, need huge pens as they require space to move around.

Their average height is around two metres and one weighs about 50kg.

An emu on the farm. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli. Right: Emu breeder Brian Gauci.

Like ostriches, these birds cannot fly due to their body weight, but make up for it by running extremely fast: they can reach a top speed of 50km/h if required and maintain this speed for a stretched period of time.

The first emus – a flock of 70 – were brought to Malta in 1997 by Mr Gauci’s uncle, Joseph.

He set up an emu farm with the aim of selling their meat for consumption.

However, the business did not thrive and when he passed away his family decided to keep six emus for breeding “to keep his memory alive”.

This year, for the first time, Mr Gauci has decided to sell the chicks.

As we spoke, the six birds kept looking at us quizzically, but let us inside their pen without a quarrel.

“Emus are very gentle by nature,” said Mr Gauci, then warned that they have very sharp claws and one must be careful, especially if the bird feels threatened.

They are also extremely curious and were enthralled by our shiny watches.

Male and female chicks cannot be distinguished and a DNA test is usually carried out before the chicks are sold for €160 each.

They have a life span of around 20 years and lay between four to 20 eggs every November.

“The female lays the eggs, but then it’s the male who sits on them and takes care of the chicks till they are about a year-and-a-half old,” said Mr Gauci.

Anyone interested in having emus for pets can contact Mr Gauci on 7996 8888.