Hi Soon2B-- sorry that is not a very politically correct or nice term, really. Dumb is the same as mute-- they become silent and dont make any noise for a bit, then they start the huffing, is just what I read. No change in intelligence!
Thanks all for your contributions!
Well sounds like I have a pair and 2 muscovy drakes. Darn it. Haha, so much for picking out older ones to be sure I got females! I will learn eventually... until then, I guess I will start to think about processing some drakes :-(
Hmmmm. One other clue: they are still chirping. I didnt think they could be drakes at this size without some carunkling, but they are definitely as big as the hen, or a wee bit bigger. I read that drakes will go dumb around 12 weeks before developing the hiss/cough. These have to be at least 12...
Hello, hoping someone with more experience can help me out here. I picked up 4 "muscovy" yesterday from a local farm. Now, its clear I have one gorgeous drake, as planned, and one lady duck (the buff/brown pair).
I am less sure about the dark ones, which I was told were "nearly adult teenager...