A few ?'s about my first "muscovy" ducklings.

[Mechicken]

Hello everyone.

Until recently, Iv been a straight up chicken guy. Quite a few years now.
A few months ago though, I was walking my dog out back and......... There was a little duck! I ushered him into a cage, so my other dogs or the cats wouldn't get him.

And here we are today: A giant male Muscovy stalks my backyard.
His name is Quacless.
He was the fist duck I have ever owned, or ever touched, or seen up close....
He would hang around with the chicken flock too, So I never put much thought to him being the only duck.

Well that all changed when he matured. He started chasing the roosters away from the hens....... Then he started....... you know.... Trying to make duckens...
So he had to be removed from the chickens pens. Poor Quacless spent days walking around the chicken pens wondering why he lost his girls.

Anyway! The problem was we just couldn't find any full grown girls for him.
So a few days ago I finally found someone who was selling baby Muscovy's. He'll just have to wait for them to grow up.
They came from a less than reliable source though, Ive found out.

I just want to know how you tell the difference between Muscovy ducklings and the domestic ducklings?
I have 20, and they are all different colors, white, black, grey, yellow, and mixed in between. I just want to know if they are mutts or not.
I am really just wanting to breed the Muscovys, but......

If they are not Muscovy's, will my boy be able to breed with them?
I was told that because they are different species, it may not work out.

Also that they need more(?), or less protein in their diet than standard ducks?
I don't buy any commercial feed, all my chicks/chickens get my own grains, bugs and what not, is there anything I should be adding specifically for the ducklings?

And they are only eating food that I put green coloring into(pureed greens) is this normal for them to seek out green foods? They completely ignore uncolored food.

And will males get along? Are they as bad as roosters?

Thank you for any info, its kinda hard to get good answers when you lack your own experience.

 

[jdywntr]

I just want to know how you tell the difference between Muscovy ducklings and the domestic ducklings?
I have 20, and they are all different colors, white, black, grey, yellow, and mixed in between. I just want to know if they are mutts or not.
I am really just wanting to breed the Muscovys, but......
Pics would help, you'll have to post more to be able to post pics. Muscovy do come in many colors. You may not be able to tell the difference if they are mixes. I had one I thought was a pure muscovy but one he grew it was obvious that he was not.
If they are not Muscovy's, will my boy be able to breed with them?
He will be able to breed but the offspring will be sterile (if they are not pure muscovy hens)
I was told that because they are different species, it may not work out.

Also that they need more(?), or less protein in their diet than standard ducks?
I raised mine the same as previous breeds.
I don't buy any commercial feed, all my chicks/chickens get my own grains, bugs and what not, is there anything I should be adding specifically for the ducklings?
Extra niacin for bone strength.
And they are only eating food that I put green coloring into(pureed greens) is this normal for them to seek out green foods? They completely ignore uncolored food.
I think any ducks will prefer something green. I'd try putting a little of the greens on the grains so that they try them and see they are okay to eat.
And will males get along? Are they as bad as roosters?
Multiple males without enough females will fight once they are grown.
Thank you for any info, its kinda hard to get good answers when you lack your own experience.

Congrats on your ducklings and

 

[CorinneP]

I Have a Muscovy He has a Mate but also .. mates with a Peking I have .. They do fight sometimes.. And are pretty rough while mating .. Ducks will cross breed. but mating with a hen can kill the hens .. I do not know all the answers as I am not a Duck expert .. But my ducks will eat all sorts of colored foods.. dinner left overs .. they adore cracked corn ... I have seen them eating my dog food .. I have a creek so they often go for a dip and fill up on water bugs. My Girl Ducks lay eggs regularly but do not sit on them .. So I collect them with my chicken Eggs. I once tried to Hatch one under a broody Hen misting it carefully every day but it didn't work .. I have a pair of baby Mallards I am raising now and don't want to get over run by ducks as they eat soo much ! Ducks do so much better in at least pairs .. this keeps them from being to annoying to humans too .. I am sure your young girl will grow quickly but I would make sure she is mature before allowing them to be together for fear of him mounting her too young . Ducks don't seem to care .. Of course Roosters aren't very discriminate either . as far as telling them apart their are many images if you google .. and can study the looks.. I think Muscovy's start out adorable and end up pretty homely .. but its kind of fun to have him hissing .. I Can not tell you how often my company has come running in a panic to tell me one of my ducks is choking ! lol

~ Corinne