Hi HEChicken,
When spring time comes next year you should see them breeding and start laying eggs. I would take the eggs until May (so its warm). Then let them just lay their eggs. The eggs will last until they sit. They lay one egg a day until they have a clutch of 10 to 20, then they start...
Here is Momma posing for a picture. You can see the one on the bottom left snapping a fly.
Here is two moms (white heads) sharing duties with 2 very early spring hatching (all black) on the right.
First year I kept count and my Muscovy went over the 35 days. I"m not wondering if they were just standing over their eggs for a few days to keep me from taking them and weren't really sitting and warming them up. This year a mom who free ranged and had her nest in an abandoned doggie igloo...
Yes, We have roasted them and some are just right while others are just as you said. We found by using a roaster and cooking it till it falls apart we can use it just like beef in BBQ sandwiches, Beef Burritos, casseroles, stews, etc. I eggs are also amazing, just really large yokes so I throw 1...
Believe it or not, Muscovy Duck meat tastes more like grass feed roast then it does chicken. They are very lean and need to be slow cooked and made into many different dishes. Not only that, they breed like rabbits, eat bugs, and aerate your yard in search of worms.
Three of my mothers have...
Thank you for your replies.
I treat mine as well as I can and kill them as quick and humanly as possible. I got into raising this breed for the meat. I wanted to produce my own organic meat, that didn't take the head aches of goats, pigs, or cows. As far as poultry goes, these guys are strong...