Louie Rudkin-Millichamp with the chicks
(Picture: Ped Millichamp)A teenager has been hand rearing emu chicks in his bedroom in south London.
Louie Rudkin-Millichamp, 14, has a penchant for looking after rare, exotic animals and has recently turned his attentions to caring for four emu chicks who were born last week.
Already the animal lover has looked after rats, cockatiels, quails that he incubated and hatched himself, leopard geckos and even rarer breeds of reptiles – including gargoyle geckos and leaf tail geckos.
Most recently, he has been focused on caring for four emu chicks after they hatched in his bedroom in New Malden– having incubated the eggs he got from a Kent emu farmer he made friends with.
His father Ped Millichamp told of his son’s “amazing” ability to care for exotic pets and he said he was pleased to see him using his time constructively, rather than spending hours playing computer games.
He told The Standard: “Louie has always had a fascination with animals. His interest has been quite keen since he was very little.
“Everyone has been wowed by it. A kid can do this. For the friends and family who know Louie, they are really aware he has done all his research and their care is paramount to him. Everyone has been amazed.”
People are legally allowed to own emus as pets, according to Defra. The four emu chicks are named Randolph, Savannah, Ducky and Blue.
Mr Millichamp added: “Louie is already emotionally attached to the chicks. They are little babies, they are snuggling up to you, they want the heat. It is all that affection.
“I think the most wonderful thing Louie has enjoyed about having the emus is the achievement of incubating them and hand rearing them.”
They will stay in his care for a month or so before they are rehomed, either returning to the farmer the eggs originally came from or to one of the farmer’s emu specialist contacts.
“Louie is vying for the emus to be rehomed closer, the closer the better. When they are born, they imprint on you, he’s hoping they will have an attachment that stays,” Mr Millichamp added.
“The care for all of the animals is paramount for him.”
When the emus are rehomed, the dad has been guessing what animals will capture his son’s attention next.
He said: “Louie likes to raise the stakes. I wonder what animals he will want to look after next!”
