An emu that was rejected by its parents after hatching has found a new, smaller guardian in an incredible story of animal friendship: Nugget the chicken.

Shrub the emu was abandoned by her biological parents, Forest and Mathilda, and was left helpless to fend for herself.

Birdworld caretakers found a shrub covered in mud and flies, attacked by a crow.

The emu, now four years old, sought advice from a hen named Nugget, a small Bantam hen who took on the role of foster mother. She taught Shrub how to eat and walk.

However, within a few weeks of being fed, the emu had quickly outgrown Nugget. The bird park keepers then supported Shrub’s development by playing various games and activities to further develop his coordination skills and build his muscles.

Hoping to reunite the rejected emu with his parents, Birdworld staff planned a safe interaction for the ex-family. Emus are known to be reactive and defensive, so the reunion could have been deadly for baby Shrub.

To overcome this obstacle, the keepers accompanied Shrub to the outside of his mother and father’s enclosure, allowing the chick to reconnect with his parents behind the security fence.

Polly Bramham, head of living collections, said: “Having initially been raised in a dimly lit barn before coming to Birdworld, Shrub’s father Forest had developed limited eyesight and a unique way of walking, learning to navigate by leading with the back of your head instead of your feet.

“Unlike most birds, emu males incubate their eggs and usually breed in winter. However, Shrub’s mother, Mathilda, laid eggs in the summer and Forest did not appear to be incubating them.

“We didn’t expect the eggs to hatch and were surprised when they found a cold, muddy and neglected shrub in the nest. She was rushed to an intensive care unit, warmed up and, fortunately, proved to be a resilient survivor, just like her father.

Polly explained how Shrub needed training to become an emu: “The job fell to Nugget, a little Bantam hen who lived in Birdworld.

“Nugget took Shrub under his wing and taught him essential life skills, like eating and walking. She was the best foster family Shrub could hope for – busy, bossy, and showing him lots of fuss and attention. Shrub quickly learned to pick up food, drink and coordinate his lanky legs. The guards loved watching them together.

“It was especially important to do this while Shrub was still a juvenile, so that Forest and Mathilda wouldn’t see her as a threat.

“We found Shrub to be a very happy-go-lucky emu, who often got social etiquette wrong and was disciplined as a result.

“Emus are extremely large and potentially dangerous birds with powerful legs, meaning Shrub would continue to be separated from adults at night for the next two months while she learned the rules of life from the emu . »

She added: “Seeing Shrub with his parents as they run around their paddock, you would never guess their difficult beginnings. Shrub is an amazing woman and the guards are so proud that she has no confusion about who she is. She is 100% emu, but with all the time in the world for her guardians.