Maeschak
Songster
I'm assuming they all see it and get the idea because I lock them all in the coop where I keep the nests, but I usually start them off by putting a bunch of golf balls in it-anywhere between 3 and 12. They just keep on laying where they think other birds are laying and the "eggs" are staying safe. You can either collect the real eggs as they lay them to keep them clean and safe, or let them stay in there and slowly take out the golf balls. They will eventually cover them up with feathers, and that's when you should switch out all the balls (provided you want a clutch that big).
They won't nest everywhere, btw. They like dark corners, or quiet, covered nooks in tree tops, and will keep going back there to lay. Mine usually fight over who gets to go broody in the most desirable nest boxes even though I let them free range over my fenced in woods and field acre. Their goal is to "hide" their big eggs so they can hatch them and I usually try to work with that. I also try to provide one more box than bird. I'm not sure if this is the right size based on the label as I've already taken mine off, but this is what the tubs look like, with a hole cut in the narrow side. The box has to be duck sized basically. Dark colors in corners are preferred. They may switch nesting places if they catch you taking eggs, but mine mostly just get really, really huffy and mad at me. They really want those babies. The odd thing is, even my khaki campbell ducks that aren't supposed to be good at laying in the nest boxes and are supposed to drop eggs everywhere usually get them in those nest boxes, so I have to keep pulling out the wrong, younger eggs with a shorter incubation period when they sit incubate-and all throughout the 35-38 days. That's where I need suggestions.
Oh thanks so much! I've been doing some reading on Muscovies and most of what I have read said that if Muscovies have access to tall grasses, weeds, woodland, etc they will purposely make their nests as difficult as possible to find. I have a large plot of land and was envisioning never being able to even find the nests. I don't have an enclosure suitable for full-time living so they will be pastured during the day and only locked up at night. I have a pond (with tons of duck weed and small fish) as well as a stream, woods, cropland, etc... So I'm sure they will be cruising all over the place foraging their hearts out. Great to know that they will nest within their night coop.
Thanks again- I am looking forward to getting my first (mostly) meat Muscovies in the spring and hope to be able to save a breeding group.
