Any Muscovy fans out there?

[MattD]

We have Muscovies- I love the girls! They are also nice and quiet!

I have a few questions for you all with Muscovy experience.

We thinned out some boys before Thanksgiving. 1 month prior we had taken 3 of the drakes and put them out to free range and run over the wilted garden area with our 3 geese. 2 of the others were living in the chicken coop with the hen. We slaughtered 2 of the coop birds and one of the free range birds. Our coop allows the chickens, other ducks, and guineas to run outside by day and inside with free choice feeding at night. The indoor coop birds were getting 3 hours of artificial light after sundown. The free range birds received natural light with shortening days (November).

My question is that the duck living with the geese was unreasonably easy to pluck for a Muscovy- it plucked nearly like a chicken or other duck breed after scalding. The other 2 inddor/outdoor ducks were what I have gathered to be the typical Muscovy experience- very thin friable fatty skin- plcuking tore most of the skin off. Does anyone know any tricks or relationships between stages of molting and ease of pulling feathers?

 

[justusnak]

Last year I rescued 6 Muscovy ducks.....what an experience it has been. Turns out I have 4 males and 2 females. They are wanderers. They come home every evening..and for the most part are here throughout the day. However, sometimes they fly off for hours at a time. Will they nest here, at home near the pond or in my woods? I just love the way they waggle thier tails at me. However, I cant keep them OFF my truck, and I am afraid they will ruin the paint job. Is it a good idea to clip thier wings, when they are free running ducks? Any help would be great...and 53 ducklings???? OH MY!!!

 

[justusnak]

ok, here I go....these are my Muscovy....the dark one...a mix...just showed up one day. He is Regal!

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

I have read Muscovies are excellent survivalists and can roost in trees. Have y'all seen this? Can I let them free range if I buy some or will they be eaten? Or will they live harmoniously with bantams and let them roost in the pen with the chickens? We have a lot of coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, etc on our tree farm.
How garden friendly are they? I raise a large garden and am debating what all I can raise (Poultry) that won't destroy my vegetables.

 

[justusnak]

RoyalHills.......I have 6 moscovys...they free roam....they like to get on top of things....truck....grape harbor...house. They can fly quite well at maturity. I am new to this breed...but love to watch them roam around. Not too sure how they are garden wise tho. I am worried about my grapes as well. sigh!

 

[keeperofthechickens]

My mom has a pet muscovy. He was a rescue at the local feed mill. His previous owner kept him inside and took him to his construction job every day. He is real a character. Wagging his tail, always follwing us around. Does not care for other ducks though. He only likes humans.

Love him, but he can get a little aggressive in the spring time. And he loves to make whopee on your shoes

 

[mothergoose]

Hello fellow muscovy fans,
I can't help you with the garden question...no time for a garden, too many birds! I have not had any preditor trouble on the adult muscovies, but have had hawks take babies. My muscovies free range as well. They are great flyers and mine mainly roost on the kids swing set. They do hand out on top of my van, they don't get on my husbands truck...I think they know better! I love them and can't wait for them to start hatching me some ducklings. I will have to keep track of how many they each hatch and see if anyone can beat my sweetie's record!

Christie

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

Any suggestions on where I can buy a pair of Muscovies?

 

[justusnak]

RoyalHills...where are you located? I am in SE Indiana....and if they hatch ALL of the eggs in the nests.....we will have...ohhh, about 40 babies soon, UGH!!!!

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

sadly, I am a longgggg way from you. I am in Louisiana.