Attention Muscovy lovers

[lbrykowski2011]

At what age do muscovies start mating? Are they good mama's? I think mine have been trying, but the female is not laying eggs yet. They are around 25wks. Also, do they have babies in the spring or whenever? I was told when I got them, they were 2 females, however due to size difference, I think it's one of each.

This is when I first got them, now, the black one(Thunder) is 3x bigger than the white one (Lightening) and has the red stuff on his nose and is jumping on the backs of her and my 2 campbell's. lol First time with a couple so not sure what to expect, when or how to prepare. The ducks have a pen they go into at night (finally) and then spend the day out in the pond, I know when I got them I kept them penned till their flight feathers came in, I heard they can't go in water right away. So if they have ducklings, do you have to pen them or does mama keep them away from water?

 

[Miss Lydia]

At what age do muscovies start mating? Are they good mama's? I think mine have been trying, but the female is not laying eggs yet. They are around 25wks. Also, do they have babies in the spring or whenever? I was told when I got them, they were 2 females, however due to size difference, I think it's one of each.

This is when I first got them, now, the black one(Thunder) is 3x bigger than the white one (Lightening) and has the red stuff on his nose and is jumping on the backs of her and my 2 campbell's. lol First time with a couple so not sure what to expect, when or how to prepare. The ducks have a pen they go into at night (finally) and then spend the day out in the pond, I know when I got them I kept them penned till their flight feathers came in, I heard they can't go in water right away. So if they have ducklings, do you have to pen them or does mama keep them away from water?

My Scovys that hatched this year will start mating next spring. They are great mamas but even with Scovys you can have some that aren't. Ducks that hatch this year won't lay till next. Mine are 5 months old this week and are playing house, the drake and the 2 ducks go into the goose house and play grown up, he stands and puts his head in the air and bites at it one of the ducks goes into the corner and plays at making a nest. But he hasn't tried mounting either of them yet. I usually use a cat litter pan with mama and new ducklings and put a big rock in it so they can get on it to get out. They are usually in the water at 3-5 days old. The pond maybe a bit different I'd keep them out of it till a couple weeks old. So you may have to pen. This is just me though I am a bit over protective. Also if this is a dug pond or natural one you may want to make sure you don't have snapping turtles they will eat ducklings and also bite off feet. Very pretty ducks.

 

[Going Quackers]

Most of mine from this year are attempting to mate, the June boys(except one) are, the female from this clutch has not laid. The clutch from Mar is full on, and the duck has come into lay but has now ceased.

Mama quality varies, in general scovies are but you can have exceptions. Young ducks are particularly fickle with this, you'll find sometime they get better with age or not lol

I have no ponds here, and usually try to keep access to deep water to a restricted level and opt for lower options for mothers and young, depends on your set-up really.

 

[Alaskan]

How happy are Muscovy about walking on snow and ice?

 

[Going Quackers]

How happy are Muscovy about walking on snow and ice?

They deal with it i don't know how much "happy" comes into it, they have never said.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They deal with it i don't know how much "happy" comes into it, they have never said.

Mine I would say aren't real happy with it.

 

[Alaskan]

Thanks....I am trying to figure out how much snow free area the muscovies will need.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks....I am trying to figure out how much snow free area the muscovies will need.

Why not have some extra straw or hay on hand and just put it down where they walk the most. I use shaving and put a path down to feed bowls and to their house, They pretty much hunker down when it's snowing I have places they can get up under. They are pretty tuff birds actually, their carnucles are the main things if it's super cold with a lot of wind then they'd need to be kept inside till the weather passes, I've never had one get frost bite but I live down south compared to you. What is your coldest temps in winter?

 

[Alaskan]

My average humidity is pretty high since I am near the coast.....so frost bite on comb points and wattle edges is a common occurrence for me.

I bought my muscovy flock from a lady in the same town I am in....but she is at a much lower elevation than I am, so she gets less snow, and she is in a more wooded/much less windy spot.

My average min. temp is 16F. I can get down to -10F for a week...but that is rare.

However, I can easily get six feet of snow, and lots of wind.

I have plastic panels to block the wind, I just wasn't sure how much snow free area they would want/need.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My average humidity is pretty high since I am near the coast.....so frost bite on comb points and wattle edges is a common occurrence for me.

I bought my muscovy flock from a lady in the same town I am in....but she is at a much lower elevation than I am, so she gets less snow, and she is in a more wooded/much less windy spot.

My average min. temp is 16F. I can get down to -10F for a week...but that is rare.

However, I can easily get six feet of snow, and lots of wind.

I have plastic panels to block the wind, I just wasn't sure how much snow free area they would want/need.

Really hard to say, they must adapt pretty well since they are all over the world. We've had temps into single digits and wind blowing like crazy and they still seem to rather be outside than inside. My gander actually seems to mind the snow and cold more than any of my ducks, He immediately will lay down on his feet and legs when he comes out of his house in the mornings if it's below freezing.