are muscovys smarter?

[FarmrGirl]

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LOL! Yes, you should get some scovies!!

Don't feel bad, that's the only way I can get the mallard-types to learn where to sleep too. Try to herd them... unsucessfully... then grab them each up and stuff them in the door. Talk about acting like you're the devil! Some ducks I have to do this for a week or so, some get it in a few days... but until they do it's complete pandeleeeerrrium out there while they're screaming bloody murder and I chase them around.

Those Muscovy get it right away tho, man. Until they're teenagers and decide they want to stay out late. Mine got themselves "trapped" up at the top of the hill hanging out until it was too dark to find their way to the house a couple of times. Then I'm carrying these pterodactyl clawed creatures to their house one at a time because they're fighting and scratching the whole way. Those are the days I need a lot of neosporin and bandaides! Thank goodness they grow out of that stage quickly

 

[Going Quackers]

As i only own that breed can't compare to others... i think the hens are fantastic.. well mine are.. the drakes? it's a good thing i can't stomach getting personal with my meals

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with all the above, scovies are the brightest and smartest. but then again I am partial since they are the only ducks I have.

 

[Oregon Blues]

My ducks are bright enough, but they are hampered by their use of "Group Think". It's like they have one community mind. Get one off by himself and he is perfectly fine about learning.

I don't have any problem getting the ducks to bed, but they want to go to bed at precisely the correct time and if the routine is broken, group-think gets upset.

When they are learning to go to bed, I have little portable fencing panels (X-pen) that I set up so that they get funneled right where I want them. If they get chased, they get upset. If they get upset, they seem to turn their brains off. I move them slowly and calmly and give them time to think and they don't get upset. They are much easier to deal with when they aren't upset.

 

[farmdude]

Mine learned bedtime & place after showing them once. They are 6 weeks old. I've heard when they are adults it is common for them to roost up like chickens. Does anyone's muscovies roost with their chickens?

 

[manybirds]

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WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY smarter. they know when your going to catch them and just how to avoide it. as dave holderead wrote 'if you walk into they're territory you can just about step on them and they'll just lay there. but when they know your intention is to catch them they (I cant remember his words here but it had something to do with them being wyly and hard to catch)

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

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Mine have never roosted with my chickens but all my hens roost at night...

 

[bayyjayy]

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HOW do you only have one breed? I wish I could stop at one, but I want sooo many! I have never wanted this breed, but this thread is making me rethink that.

 

[farmdude]

I have had many duck breeds myself. I never wanted muscovies because I thought they were ugly with the fleshy faces. I got a pair from a friend last fall. I loved them. Unfortunately coyotes got them over the winter. I built a new pen and started over with 6 ducklings and then picked up a couple more. Their intelligence and personality have made them beautiful to me.
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HOW do you only have one breed? I wish I could stop at one, but I want sooo many! I have never wanted this breed, but this thread is making me rethink that.

 

[manybirds]

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HOW do you only have one breed? I wish I could stop at one, but I want sooo many! I have never wanted this breed, but this thread is making me rethink that.

if you get some make sure you get nice ones. most muscovy's bred today are for meat and have lost the beautiful streamlined body, small caurnacles and tight feathering (these birds r ugly). I got some ugly ones at first but then I searched and found some SQ ones for sale. they r the prettiest ducks in my pen.