Attn: Muscovy Duck Keepers; wing clipping advice wanted.

[HortenseCumberbatch]

Hi Everybody. I got myself some a couple of Muscovy and I need some advice on wing clipping. Basically, how likely are they to fly away? Do they fly like a chicken flies or like a Mallard? If they fly like a chicken, only slightly better, I'm prone to just let them keep their wings intact so they can fly up and perch in branches if they want. I just think, for our situation, it's safer for them to be able to fly up if they want to. Any articles you can point me to? Thanks.

 

[Going Quackers]

They fly, & fly well the females do most males by 1yo are far to heavy too, my 13wk old ducklet can clear the 5ft fence that surrounds their barn.

I personally do not clip my ducks but i free range, i feel that is making them a 'sitting duck' so i allow the ladies full flight, they all stay, but this is a situational thing, individual mileage will vary.

 

[decomposed]

my females both flew away as soon as they could fly i had to clip their wings because i found one of them across the road from my house they are very good at flying

 

[charlindabob]

I pinion day old Muscovy ducklings to prevent them soaring into the neighbors yard or onto their house, etc. Done correctly there is little to no blood and the ducklings seem none the worse for it. No, I don't like doing it, but it is a permanent solution to fly aways. Your situation may be different.

 

[Frank Phinster]

How old are your muscovies? If they are already old enough to fly, clipping would be a good idea because as long as they are not used to their new home they are liable to fly off. Once familiar with the place they barely take off for good but might get curious about the neighbourhood.

When I clip wings I always leave about three outer primaries intact so the symmetry does not get destroyed too badly. One reason I prefer clipping way over pinioning.

 

[Onewiththeducks]

I don't have Muscovies myself, but you really only have to clip one wing. That way, if they try to fly they will be off balance.

 

[jdywntr]

I chose not to clip the wings of my ducklings that hatched in December. One day, 2 females disappeared. They reappeared a few days later and that evening, 2 more females and a male left with them. About 3 weeks later, 2 of the females returned. I clipped a wing and that night, they disappeared again, clipped wing and all. Another week or so later, the male and a female appeared. I clipped their wings, they stayed. A day or 2 later, 2 of the other females came back. So, of the ones that left, 1 never returned. They have all been back for a week or two.

Mine range during the day, and I'd rather leave them full flight but not if some are going to decide to come and go all the time. I don't want to be responsible for creating a feral muscovy population here. It wouldn't be fair to them or the neighbors. I clipped a wing on my 3 month olds last weekend. I will see how it goes after all of the younger ones molt for the first time. If they stay around, full flight, I'll leave them, otherwise I'll clip a wing. I have too much invested in allowing them to just take off.

Also, keep in mind that many predators climb trees (raccoons, opposums) and others are capable of taking a duck out of a tree (owls). Safe nighttime housing is usually the best predator protection.

 

[HortenseCumberbatch]

So, they flew off at the first opportunity. They're wily little creatures. I've recaptured two and the third is hanging around but she's on to me now and flies up out of reach when ever she sees me. Hopefully she'll figure out this is home and I'll catch her eventually. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Going Quackers]

So, they flew off at the first opportunity. They're wily little creatures. I've recaptured two and the third is hanging around but she's on to me now and flies up out of reach when ever she sees me. Hopefully she'll figure out this is home and I'll catch her eventually. Thanks for all the advice.

How old are they and how long did you leave them penned, new birds should be kept confined until they learn their home and their people. Hopefully some food will entice them back?

 

[CherpNPeep]

How old are your muscovies? If they are already old enough to fly, clipping would be a good idea because as long as they are not used to their new home they are liable to fly off. Once familiar with the place they barely take off for good but might get curious about the neighbourhood.

When I clip wings I always leave about three outer primaries intact so the symmetry does not get destroyed too badly. One reason I prefer clipping way over pinioning.

I am moving to a new property and all of my muscovies lives (4 months) they have lived in a inclosed run however I'm moving them into a opened / almost freeranged area. Should I keep them inclosed for a few days before releasing them?