Advice Please Rescuing Muscovy Ducklings

[JanetMarie]

@Rosestars You did the best you could for them. Thank you for taking the time to care so much for them, and if everyone did as you did the world would be a better place for all creatures.

It is better for them not to suffer. If left to themselves they would have died and have been miserable.

Glad you have the little duck, and he/she is very fortunate to have you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am too sorry it turned out like this but to have such injuries had to of been very painful. I think that was the best outcome also. Poultry and animals in general don't show pain like we do so more than likely they were really suffering. I think you def need to keep this place in mind if something like this happens again because they are there to help and even if that means letting them go to put them out of suffering.

Bless you for caring and I am sure your little one will have a great life with you, Please keep in touch and let us know how she is doing. and all the rest.

 

[wvchics]

I am so sorry. I know you really wanted to save them. It didn't sound like they were injured that badly, but sometimes there are things we can't see. I understand how you feel, but everyone is right you did do everything you could for them. Unfortunately we can't save them all. I know just how you feel, but don't let it discourage you. Try to think of the good that came out of it. They are not hurting anymore. They did make it to the most beautiful pond ever and they'll never be afraid again or hurt again. Some people say animals don't go to heaven, but I don't understand how it could be heaven without them. Also, if anything happens in the future you know just who to contact, and it sounds like these people genuinely care. X-rays cost a lot and they provided them knowing full well what the possibility was. They definitely were more worried about the animals. I'm glad you are keeping the other duckling. She needs you. I'm still so glad you cared. They don't all end in sadness, and the reward for the ones you save is worth the pain of the ones you lose. Keep at it, and let us know if you come up with a duck wheel chair idea. I would love to see.

 

[Rosestars]

Thank you for the words of support and encouragement. When the lady came out and told me they had to euthanize I was upset and after that it was a little bit of a blur I do remember her saying multiple broken bones and she started to list them and among them I heard broken ribs, , I heard her say multiple internal injuries I think she may also have said damage to internal organs . The little injured female duck would sit in my backyard keeping my duck company. I miss her. Moving forward there are still the other ducklings who are walking around my street sometimes close to the road. And a mother with a new mate about to create more. I want to get involved in possibly trying to relocate them to a safer private pond.

A few days ago during our discussion of whether or not a non profit can charge a donation fee to people dropping off injured creatures . I called the Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission for answers. They sent me this email I wanted to share with you. They also sent an attachment showing the rules for a wildlife permit that rescues need to have I can try to send that attachment if anyone wants to see it but it is long .

Here is their reply.

Quote:
"Good Afternoon,



According to Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 68A-9.006:


Permittees or theirvolunteers shall not require a fee associated with wildlife rehabilitationservices, nor shall permittees or their volunteers require fees forrehabilitation services, including the pick-up, delivery, or acceptance, ofsick, injured, orphaned or otherwise impaired wildlife. This limitation shallnot apply to professional fees charged by a licensed veterinarian.



Muscovy ducks are nonnative wildlife. A rehabilitation permit only requires a rehabilitator to receive native Florida wildlife. Here is more information about Muscovy ducks from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/waterfowl/nuisance/nuisance-muscovies/. "

I think from this they are saying that it is not acceptable to for rescues to charge a fee to receive wildlife but that muscovy ducks are not legally considered wildlife so I think this is a gray area .

I want to take care off my duckling I feel worried I may not be allowed to . I will do what I can about it .

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does any one need to know you have an injured Muscovy duckling?

I sure hope you can find someone with a safe pond to take the ducks too.

It says no permit is required to own Muscovy ducks so I think as long as you keep her from flying off your safe to keep her.

But you need to catch and release on someone private property nothing owned by the state.

I remember around 2010-11 Ocala rounded up hundreds of Muscovy's and killed them even though there was an out cry from the public and rescue places wanting to take the ducks and give them a safe home. Very sad. Muscovy's are healthy ducks just like those in the wild. Plus if they breed with a wild ducks because they aren't from the Mallard their off spring are sterile. So no population explosion from wild to Muscovy after first time breeding.

 

[Rosestars]

Does any one need to know you have an injured Muscovy duckling?

I sure hope you can find someone with a safe pond to take the ducks too.

It says no permit is required to own Muscovy ducks so I think as long as you keep her from flying off your safe to keep her.

But you need to catch and release on someone private property nothing owned by the state.

I remember around 2010-11 Ocala rounded up hundreds of Muscovy's and killed them even though there was an out cry from the public and rescue places wanting to take the ducks and give them a safe home. Very sad. Muscovy's are healthy ducks just like those in the wild. Plus if they breed with a wild ducks because they aren't from the Mallard their off spring are sterile. So no population explosion from wild to Muscovy after first time breeding.

Are you in Florida too? Yes now that they have made it harder to release muscovies or relocate them, it seems more people will harm them . I do not know why some people are so cruel to them

Not very many people know I have my duck but some of my neighbors do and the house next to me is for getting fixed up for sale and I do not know who will buy it and move in . I worry code enforcement may find out somehow. I live in city limits and are probably not zoned to keep a duck. I was actually looking into calling her my comfort animal but not sure if code enforcement would go along with that. She is a comfort to me sometimes.

I feel done with seeing these ducks run over in my neighborhood not just young ducks but adults too. A lot of people drive through my street fast, sometimes they do not look or slow down. There are some bad drivers here. These ducks are not safe.

In the website shown in my previous post two of the links listed on the page mentioned federal laws that applied to muscovy ducks everywhere in the US ( except 3 counties in Texas) not just Florida so I wanted to put them out again. I hope the links work and can be viewed on here. I thought someone might find the information in them helpful since it affects all of the US.

http://myfwc.com/media/3373085/federal-control-order-muscovy-ducks.pdf
http://myfwc.com/media/3373163/muscovy-faq-fact-sheet.pdf

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was born and raised in Jacksonville Fl. but as an adult we moved away.

I was reading the link you posted about the Muscovy's in Fla. Hopefully since they are quiet ducks it won't be a problem keeping her with you.

I hate the thoughts of any animal having cruel things done to them but Muscovy's have been put into a terrible light those of us who have had them for years know they are wonderful birds. And we have to be responsible owners and not let them breed and hatch every time they want too. Like you said in a previous post it's not the birds fault.

 

[Rosestars]

What are the solutions to the out of control breeding going on with wild muscovies in Florida? Is there are a way to spay or neuter them like they do the feral and stray cats ? They do increase their numbers a lot . And that leads to angry homeowners. Not sure what I can do to help but I want to do something. I am planning to call the person from the animal rescue and see if I can help any further.

We are allowed one chicken for eggs in the city were I live, though not sure if the rule includes those within city limits ( like me ) or not . There is no mention of duck egg raising . I think my duckling is a girl because of the sweet cute sounds she makes but I do not know for sure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well Muscovy's are called the quackless ducks so you won't be a nuisance to your neighbors any way.

I would ask the rescue what can be done other than taking eggs away. I have read of members here on BYC that have had their ducks spayed because of laying trouble, But I think it would be expensive and water fowl don't do well under anesthesia.

They can increase their numbers and it takes dedication to keep that from happening, I actually have a Muscovy female right now that I have taken all her eggs and she is still broody and sits on an empty nest most of the day, but I don't give in She will get over it eventually. I have to keep my numbers where I can house and care for them. I love these ducks but know my limits. lol I am down to 4 females Muscovy's and 1 Muscovy drake I had 13 at one time but most have died of old age.

Let us know what the rescue says about what can be done.

 

[Rosestars]

How long do muscovy ducks live? I know my duck will not bother anyone but some neighbors can be mean. The neighbor who used to live next door was unfriendly and would have turned me in to code enforcement just because she could.

From my research I think that there are professional trappers people sometimes hire to take the ducks away from their property but they are expensive and may not care about saving the ducks . They may just kill them.

I found some information on the Humane Society Of The United States website I have put below some quotes and a link the the website
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/ducks/muscovy_regulations.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Quote:
"A major goal of the new regulations is to prevent more ducks from becoming feral. So, no one may release muscovies to the wild, including to the urban wilds of local ponds and parks.

The new regulations also ban owning and transferring ownership of muscovies, except for use in food production. But after hearing from The HSUS, waterfowl rescuers, and pet duck owners, USFWS will not implement those bans at this time"

Quote:
"Wildlife rehabilitators re-home some muscovies with private owners. Federally licensed migratory bird rehabilitators may continue to care for sick, injured, or orphaned ducks as long as they do not release them to the wild.

Waterfowl rescuers have been actively helping communities by removing feral ducks and placing them with private owners. Since the bans on owning and transferring muscovies will not be implemented at this time, rescues can continue as long as ducks are not released to the wild. "

Talk about confusing . You can no longer own mucovy ducks as pets ( unless you already owned the duck before the law changed), The new rules also state you cant relocate the ducks, but if you do it to private land or rescue sanctuary with they won't enforce the law.

I have read there is a type of bird food that contains contraceptives that can be added to the feed for muscovy ducks.That is my idea . Put the birds on birth control. Of course the problem is people are not actually allowed to feed them .