Walking the Rhea Bird Chicks (Rhea americana) In The Orange Area

We recently acquired two Rhea chicks from a bird sanctuary. We chose to raise them from hatchling so we can form a bond with them. The Rhea eggs are moved from the incubator to the hatcher at 35 days and are no longer turned. Eggs normally hatch at 36-38 days. Chicks are placed in a homemade brooder after one day in the hatcher. Rheas are from South America only and are limited within the continent to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. 

They are grassland birds and both species prefer open land. The greater rheas live in open grasslands, pampas, and chaco woodlands. We chose the Greater Rhea. The greater rhea is the largest of all South American birds and is related to ostriches and emus. These flightless birds use their long, powerful legs to outrun trouble.