I got her from a farm feed&supply store. They have donkeys, various pigs, goats, emus, quails, and various chicken and duck breeds. The man working there who talked with me when I decided to purchase her was nice enough, but he did something that really angered me and I feel like a fool for not saying anything. I'm kind of wondering if I should say something next time I go there. The second I showed interest in the Muscovies, he said they are disgusting and the nastiest creatures ever. I asked if they were for sale and he said he believes the owner is selling the whole flock only, but isn't sure. (2 males and 4 females) So I went and talked with the owner, an older lady, and she said she could sell me a single female so I decided to purchase anyways. She told me to pick one out as the man went to get a cardboard box for transport. He didn't come back until after she had gone back inside.
I told him which one I picked out, and he went in to get her. He held her in place, and then to my surprise he grabbed her legs and flipped her upside down and carried her over like that. As he was opening the gate that separates the employee area from visitor, I touched her head. I said "Wow, she is dirty". Because, well, she was. Probably due to the fact they don't have a pool and don't have enough water to even clean their faces. She felt sticky and muddy. He said "Well quite frankly it's because she's covered in "s". I told you they are just nasty" or something like that. So, as he walked out, I asked him "why is that" as he never gave me a reason for why they are so gross. I really wish I didn't ask, because not only did he have nothing to back that statement up (basically just said they are an invasive species that the state doesn't care if you hunt, and that people slipped in their "s" when he was younger), but he just stood there, holding her upside down, as he talked bad about her species. I didn't know what to say, or if it was even bad for her. And if I did say something, would he just say "Oh it's fine" and shake her or something? Anyways, after about 2 minutes, he put her in the box and closed it. He then used both hands to pat the box hard enough to make a small thud, and said "There you go!".
So I did some research tonight and found this:
"A duck has a very strong, limber neck and many duck breeders do catch them by the neck. I usually grab the wings on the ducks and geese. NEVER grab them by the leg unless you are butchering them right that minute. The legs are weak and it causes a lot of pain."
Now, either way, I'm not going to pick my ducks up by the neck or legs. It just sounds wrong, and I'm never going to forget how my sweet faced duck looked upside down like that. However, I want to know if people actually do grab them by the neck. If they do and it doesn't hurt, wouldn't they still be more terrified considering predators attack necks? And as for the legs, does it cause all ducks a lot of pain? If so, I think I'd like to go share that knowledge next time I go to that supply store.
Here is the cage they had them in:
And this is her:
So needless to say, she is afraid of me. I'm really hoping that tomorrow when she is hungry she will give me a chance. I hand feed my Harlequins and they are pretty friendly toward me. So tomorrow morning when she is hungry I will try to bribe her with vegges, fruits, and pellets. Unfortunately, Emma won't be helping me because Emma and her gang of 2 drakes are acting aggressive toward my Muscovy. I read on someone's post that they left a new duck in a flock and after 2 days of fighting they established a pecking order and were fine. After I try to feed her in the morning, I'm going to supervise them together.
(*Note: Emma and her gang of 2 drakes: This was an accident. I was supposed to receive one male and one female but they ended up being both male. One is being returned tomorrow afternoon)
My Muscovy seems to have at least a little desire to be with them. My Harlequins went swimming together and despite all the hostility she jumped in the pool with them. However, she just zoomed across and jumped out the other side lol. When the Harlequins were removed from the coop, though, she didn't get in the pool. The Harlequins are in the "outside" coop. The "inside" coop is covered by shed roofing, while the "outside" coop is covered with metal fencing. There is a small door for the ducks to go in and out, but I shut it for tonight so I could supervise the first day together tomorrow just in case.
Hopefully this gets sorted out quickly. I think she will be a lot happier here. Probably not hard to make her life better, considering she had wire floor, shallow drinking water that is probably not changed enough, no pool to swim in or bathe, crowded area, and not treated will by humans. I bought her from a business but I practically feel like I rescued her, even if my ducks are being mean. Unfortunately, with all going on, I forgot to ask her age. I plan to call the woman tomorrow to see if I can find out.
I'll post some photos of my coop tomorrow with her.
I told him which one I picked out, and he went in to get her. He held her in place, and then to my surprise he grabbed her legs and flipped her upside down and carried her over like that. As he was opening the gate that separates the employee area from visitor, I touched her head. I said "Wow, she is dirty". Because, well, she was. Probably due to the fact they don't have a pool and don't have enough water to even clean their faces. She felt sticky and muddy. He said "Well quite frankly it's because she's covered in "s". I told you they are just nasty" or something like that. So, as he walked out, I asked him "why is that" as he never gave me a reason for why they are so gross. I really wish I didn't ask, because not only did he have nothing to back that statement up (basically just said they are an invasive species that the state doesn't care if you hunt, and that people slipped in their "s" when he was younger), but he just stood there, holding her upside down, as he talked bad about her species. I didn't know what to say, or if it was even bad for her. And if I did say something, would he just say "Oh it's fine" and shake her or something? Anyways, after about 2 minutes, he put her in the box and closed it. He then used both hands to pat the box hard enough to make a small thud, and said "There you go!".
So I did some research tonight and found this:
"A duck has a very strong, limber neck and many duck breeders do catch them by the neck. I usually grab the wings on the ducks and geese. NEVER grab them by the leg unless you are butchering them right that minute. The legs are weak and it causes a lot of pain."
Now, either way, I'm not going to pick my ducks up by the neck or legs. It just sounds wrong, and I'm never going to forget how my sweet faced duck looked upside down like that. However, I want to know if people actually do grab them by the neck. If they do and it doesn't hurt, wouldn't they still be more terrified considering predators attack necks? And as for the legs, does it cause all ducks a lot of pain? If so, I think I'd like to go share that knowledge next time I go to that supply store.
Here is the cage they had them in:
And this is her:
So needless to say, she is afraid of me. I'm really hoping that tomorrow when she is hungry she will give me a chance. I hand feed my Harlequins and they are pretty friendly toward me. So tomorrow morning when she is hungry I will try to bribe her with vegges, fruits, and pellets. Unfortunately, Emma won't be helping me because Emma and her gang of 2 drakes are acting aggressive toward my Muscovy. I read on someone's post that they left a new duck in a flock and after 2 days of fighting they established a pecking order and were fine. After I try to feed her in the morning, I'm going to supervise them together.
(*Note: Emma and her gang of 2 drakes: This was an accident. I was supposed to receive one male and one female but they ended up being both male. One is being returned tomorrow afternoon)
My Muscovy seems to have at least a little desire to be with them. My Harlequins went swimming together and despite all the hostility she jumped in the pool with them. However, she just zoomed across and jumped out the other side lol. When the Harlequins were removed from the coop, though, she didn't get in the pool. The Harlequins are in the "outside" coop. The "inside" coop is covered by shed roofing, while the "outside" coop is covered with metal fencing. There is a small door for the ducks to go in and out, but I shut it for tonight so I could supervise the first day together tomorrow just in case.
Hopefully this gets sorted out quickly. I think she will be a lot happier here. Probably not hard to make her life better, considering she had wire floor, shallow drinking water that is probably not changed enough, no pool to swim in or bathe, crowded area, and not treated will by humans. I bought her from a business but I practically feel like I rescued her, even if my ducks are being mean. Unfortunately, with all going on, I forgot to ask her age. I plan to call the woman tomorrow to see if I can find out.
I'll post some photos of my coop tomorrow with her.
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and good luck with her,
( you can actually pull the legs off if you are rough enough!!)
