All about Muscovy Drakes

[Chikinzies]

hello,
I’m finding it really hard to understand the subtle head dips and changes with my Muscovy drake. There is little to nothing on the net about complex Muscovy language. Is it just a case of no one has mapped it yet?
The main behaviours are pretty obvious to me although I think he thinks his hairless monkey friend is a bit strange.(me) as I try to figure it all out by mimicking things and watching his reactions.
I’ve been working with my Muscovy drake “M.J” for about three years now and we are quite close.
I was just curious if anyone had or could direct me to some info surrounding this... it’s facinating to me.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

hello,
I’m finding it really hard to understand the subtle head dips and changes with my Muscovy drake. There is little to nothing on the net about complex Muscovy language. Is it just a case of no one has mapped it yet?
The main behaviours are pretty obvious to me although I think he thinks his hairless monkey friend is a bit strange.(me) as I try to figure it all out by mimicking things and watching his reactions.
I’ve been working with my Muscovy drake “M.J” for about three years now and we are quite close.
I was just curious if anyone had or could direct me to some info surrounding this... it’s facinating to me.

Nice to meet you hairless monkey
I'm not familiar to anything muscovy specific. . but typically the whole head bobbing thing is mating ritual behavior. . if you don't have any girls for him he probably views you as his flock. . and possibly thinks there is a chance He could mount a hairless monkey
Drakes are very hormone driven and I've heard they sometimes will try to mount things like rubber boots. . .

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@Alaskan you have muscovy ducks don't you?

 

[Alaskan]

yes I do...

I thought that there were some decent muscovy sites on the net.... but maybe they only talk color, not head movements. hummmmm

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

@Nyla maybe you can answer this question?

 

[Nyla]

All my Muscovy's bob their heads and wag their tails as a greeting gesture. When mine get into a exciting conversation with one another or myself, they wag and bob faster. I too have a very closely loved Muscovy named Lola. She sleeps outside in my window bed every night. Every morning she taps on the glass to wake me up for feeding time. She perches on my shoulder while I do my daily feedings. She likes to peep hiss kind of talking to me while we walk around doing the chores. She flys up to guests and greets everyone by bobbing and wagging her tail. Some people find it threatening and run away.

Sorry I don't have any websites to share. I go by my personal experience. I haven't really wondered into the understanding their movements quite yet. I'm kinda interested myself now though!

 

[Chikinzies]

Ok thanks for the reply’s.
Yes I know the basic stuff and the tail wagging I can sort of get the gist of it. It’s just sometimes it’s seems so specific.
And yes the girl muscovies are just amazing. So different than the males but I spose that’s the same with most dusk breeds.
I dunno, we’re mates and I just wanted to learn his language a bit more.. I guess I’ll keep looking.
Thanks

 

[Chikinzies]

That’s him in my avatar

 

[Skipper81]

I have 3 muscovy girls an have great communication with 1 of them the other 2 kind of follow her. She does all the communicating. The head bobbing is a mating ritual if there is other sex around including a sort of ritual dancing. My girl does head bobbing to say hello then coos to get my attention and then she points at what she wants and bobs and coos and points some more. Like I said it's only 1 of my girls that has this type of communication the other 2 just Bob and coo at her.
If water dish is empty she dips her head in it coos and looks at me like a puppy waiting for a treat and repeats. There hay is next to coop so she points coos looks at me and repeats. Food same thing. Open door to go out same thing. It's like muscovy sign language. If she hasn't seen me all day when I get home she begins a ritual of I missed you. Includes all 3 girls bobbing, cooing and dancing.if he's looking right up at you and stretching his neck towards you then he is trying to tell you something. Hope this helps I learn more and more from my girl everyday. I named her creeper because I thought she was creepy the way she stared at me and tried to show me things.

 

[Skipper81]

I just read that muscovys communication is based on visual things which seems on point to the sign language.