Adding more ducklings

[MabelTheMuscovy]

Hi!
I breed Muscovy ducks - a personal favourite. This year however, I have had several requests for different kinds of ducklings. I would like to hatch some Welsh Harlequins, but there seems to be demand for Khaki Campbells near me!
Since these breeds both have slightly different hatching times, I don't want to place all of the hatching eggs I would buy under my female at the same time. I realise I could add more eggs a few days later - not a problem for her as Muscovy ducks have a 'the more the merrier' attitude. BUT my question is...
If she hatched say 12 khaki campbell eggs, could I buy day old Welsh Harlequins and add them to her clutch once her eggs had hatched? Or would she know they were different and abandon them? Bear in mind that she is a very broody duck!
Thank you!

 

[Welshies]

I'm not sure, but are you prepared to prevent mule ducks?

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

Might be a silly question but what is a mule duck?

 

[arrowti]

Well muskovy ducks are their own 'species', whereas all other ducks belong to the 'mallard-derivative' line. It is extremely rare for a duckling that is part muskovy and part mallard-derivative to hatch naturally, but when they do, they are an infertile mule duck that usually does not lay eggs and may have some odd traits.

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

Perhaps I'm confused.. but the plan isn't to cross the Muscovy with another breed. I was going to buy fertilised Khaki eggs and place them under a broody hen. Wouldn't that work?
Thanks

 

[Welshies]

Perhaps I'm confused.. but the plan isn't to cross the Muscovy with another breed. I was going to buy fertilised Khaki eggs and place them under a broody hen. Wouldn't that work?
Thanks

Yes, but ducklings grow up. As adults, they will cross breed. If you don't want mule ducks, you'll need to keep then very carefully seperated- which can be a hard task.
Mule ducks are a Muscovy/Mallard-derived breed hybrid... And they are sterile, which means they can never breed. They also lay very few to no eggs, and are used mainly for meat... but, using a Khaki-Muscovy for meat is a sketchy matter. You could either get a large mule, or a tiny one. Also, breeding a 12-15 pound duck with a 4.5-5 pound one is a risky business, and breeding a 5 pound drake to an 8 pound female is not always successful (although, typically it works out fine).

 

[MabelTheMuscovy]

I sell them at 4-5 weeks old when they are just off heat and living outside. Therefore cross breeding shouldn't be a problem I don't think.

I have people asking for them already.. I have not even gotten round to ordering eggs!
Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Welshies]

I sell them at 4-5 weeks old when they are just off heat and living outside. Therefore cross breeding shouldn't be a problem I don't think.
I have people asking for them already.. I have not even gotten round to ordering eggs!
Thanks for your suggestions!

Well, that's good, then. Just watch for the mules if you keep adults.