The native South Americans have long known the therapeutic value of the Rhea for internal or external remedies. Now there are more birds being farmed in North America. They are smaller than African ostriches and have three toes instead of two. The head and neck are completely feathered. Long, pale brown or gray feathers droop over the shortened tail.
Rheas have long legs and run very rapidly.
They defend themselves in a different way from the Emu, though. A rhea has a spur at its heel that looks like a smaller version of the horn on a cow. The rhea can kick with a force of 800 pounds per square inch, and an adult rhea has little to fear from any predator except man. Rheas can be fiercer, less playful, and can cause you real harm if you annoy them enough. The male incubates the eggs for 35 to 40 days before the chicks hatch.