Pecking order: Ian Newby with Beaky and, from left, Harry, Jack, Joe, mum Lisa, Bryce, Peter and George
Like a lot of youngsters she likes to relax in front of the TV and will eat anything in sight.
Beaky the pet emu also quite enjoys a soak in the bath. In fact, the two-year-old bird is almost as much a part of the Newby family as the six children.
She arrived in an unhatched egg, an unusual Christmas present for Ian Newby, 44, from his wife Lisa, 36.
Just hatched: Ian Newby and his family getting to know a young Beaky
Now his present is a fully grown emu, weighing 12stone and standing 6ft tall.
Despite her great size – emus are the second tallest birds in the world after the ostrich – she has defied expert opinion by remaining tame and domesticated.
Beaky was born after Mr Newby assembled a makeshift egg incubator.
‘I didn’t really think it would work but, to my astonishment, Beaky hatched,’ said Mr Newby.
Cooling off: Iain Newby pictured hosing down Beaky Bill the four-year old Emu which he keeps in his back garden in Southend
‘I put her in one of my children’s old playpens – but after a few months she was already three feet tall and she found she could jump out.
‘Beaky would love running about with the children and playing with the toys. She’s very much a part of the family.’
Because they all grew up together, the couple’s children – Jack, seven, Harry, six, Bryce, five, George, three, Peter, two and Joe ten months – all feel that Beaky is like a sister.
Friends: Iain Newby pictured with Beaky who sits down and watches television with the six foot-tall bird who loves to be a part of family life
‘She’s just like a dustbin and will literally eat anything the children toss in her mouth.
‘In fact she’ll eat just about anything if allowed to – keys, drill bits, sponges.’
But Beaky has now been banished to a summerhouse in the garden because she is too messy and troublesome to be allowed the run of the family home anymore.
The Newby family live in Little Wakering, near Southend, Essex, and also have four dogs, five cats, one parrot and a hedgehog as pets.
The Newby family live in Little Wakering, near Southend, Essex, and also have four dogs, five cats, one parrot and a hedgehog as pets
Iain Newby with his daughter Bryce and Beaky Bill who has an 80 metre pen to stretch her legs in
source: dailymail
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