Adding Muscovies to normal duck flock?

[jus10inla]

I already have 5 ducks.
1) indian runner hen
1) cayuga hen
1) pekin
1) swedish hen
1) crested rouen drake

They live on 10 acres , with a 1/2 acre pond. Im interested in more ducks, just for the h3ck of it,. I already know about if they mate the eggs wont be fertile. But if i add say 1 muscovie drake, & a couple hens… will the drakes keep the other one from messing with his girls, or am I asking for trouble ?

 

[CloneFly]

Hmm, I'm not sure about the drake keeping the other away from the girls. How many hens are you planning to add though? Drakes need about 5 hens per drake to avoid overbreeding. The boys can be quite brutal

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy drake has never tried to mate with my Runners or Buffs he sticks right to his 3 girls. he had more but the last one died of old age [15] last Oct. Now my Runner drake loves to chase down the Muscovy females and my Muscovy drake could care less.

 

[jus10inla]

3-4 muscovies total ,

 

[jus10inla]

Next question. Im not gona incubate but my ducks now do hatch out biddiies.

If my drake does get to new muscovies, and then they sit on eggs/ how far in / what are signs the eggs are infertile or the muscovie actually fathered them

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I do not have drakes, but I do have a mix of Muscovies and Rouens. I do occasionally have issues as my Muscovies strongly believe that they are superior beings, which can lead to physical conflict with the Rouens at times. It usually only occurs when the Muscovies are broody or molting or have “cabin fever” when the winter drags on too long. However, it’s not to be ignored entirely as the Muscovies are stronger and are capable of causing damage. I love all of my girls very much, but I do have to be watchful. That being said, it’s mostly my white Muscovy that initiates drama. My pied girl usually goes and sulks on her own when she’s crabby. Anyways…

 

[Miss Lydia]

Next question. Im not gona incubate but my ducks now do hatch out biddiies.

If my drake does get to new muscovies, and then they sit on eggs/ how far in / what are signs the eggs are infertile or the muscovie actually fathered them

You can candle on or around day 6 or 7 and will be able to see veining.
As for knowing who the dad is that will have to wait till they hatch.

 

[jus10inla]

Would it be better getting 2-3 month Olds or starters? I can hold them in chicken pen for about a month as it is set up for when one the ducks go broody as well. But i need them to be ready to hit the pond when turn out and care for themself

 

[Yardmom]

I have had a Muscovy flock and a mallard derived flock. For several years I saw less action between the 2 duck types than I did between Muscovies and chickens. Then last summer two muskovy eggs hatched almost a week early. The eggs looked like muskovy but the ducklings resembled my runner ducks.

 

[Quatie]

So If your muscovy drake doesn't have enough females, he will look at to your other females. My muscovy drakes ignore my other ducks, but one was originally showing some interest in some of my Saxonies. I added more muscovy females and he lost interest. I don't think 2 females will necessarily be enough for a muscovy drake. I would recommend closer to 4-5 females. Every drake is different, so I can't say it for certain won't work out. But muscovy drakes are remarkably slow at breeding. Painfully slow sometimes.

Also, my muscovy female had let my Saxony drake mate them before I got my muscovy drake. But now they are pretty exclusive to the muscovy drakes. My Saxony drake could care less about them now. So they do tend to prefer their own species if the have the option. But all my drakes have plenty of females.