Broody Muscovy

[JamieMcClain]

I believe I have a broody muscovy. She started laying within the last month. Got mad about me taking her eggs so started laying waaaay up in the top of a 40ft tree, down a hole inside it so out of the wind mostly. So far she goes out every morning, flies up, lays her egg, then comes home. She’s done this for about 10-15 days now. Today she only came home from about 12-4. Then flew back up and didn’t come home to be locked in for the night. Does this mean she’s finally decided she’s got enough to hatch? And honestly will any of them survive? That’s quite a fall and it’s cold here. Night time temps dip down into the single digits and even negatives (Fahrenheit). She’s also been VERY vocal at me lately and muscovys I know are pretty quite. When I put her away at night she chirps and sasses at me the whole time and does the same anytime I get near her. This would be her very first hatch.
So my question is: will she actually be able to hatch a clutch with this cold of temperatures? Or should I catch her next time she comes home and break her broodiness for her own good? There is no way for me to get the eggs she’s layed.

 

[SolarDuck]

They could survive but honestly you probably don't want to deal with the injuries the ducklings could sustain while jumping. I think you should wait for her to come back down again and clip her wings so she can't fly back up. There are just too many things out of your control if she's at the top of a tree.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm sure they'll be fine jumping if they hatch. I've had chicks hatch up in hay lofts that just down fine

 

[SolarDuck]

I would honestly be more worried about something like a hawk or owl getting her while she is up in the tree.
I suppose you could let her just stay up there and hatch them but just seems pretty risky to me.

 

[JamieMcClain]

They could survive but honestly you probably don't want to deal with the injuries the ducklings could sustain while jumping. I think you should wait for her to come back down again and clip her wings so she can't fly back up. There are just too many things out of your control if she's at the top of a tree.

I’ve thought about this but I like their ability to fly. We’ve got some foxes around and this way they can fly away from them. But that might be my only option

 

[JamieMcClain]

I would honestly be more worried about something like a hawk or owl getting her while she is up in the tree.
I suppose you could let her just stay up there and hatch them but just seems pretty risky to me.

I’ve thought about this too. We do have owls and hawks both that like to hunt mice in our field. I would hope she would fly away if they attacked but who knows. I’ve also heard they get very protective and mean when they’re brooding which might detour them

 

[SolarDuck]

Maybe you could just lock her up for a few days to break her broody, and the eggs would probably freeze so they can't hatch. Not sure what else you could do. I'm sure she would probably(?) Be fine hatching but I don't know if I would risk it. Its ultimately up to you.

 

[SolarDuck]

But also if you do that it could potentially make her trust you less in the future and not let you catch her. And if a muscovy hen doesn't want you to catch her there is really nothing you can do they are great flyers.

 

[KaleIAm]

It depends on what risks you are willing to take. I would not be willing to let even one duckling be injured while jumping from a 40 foot tree because they landed wrong. Even if it was a small chance I wouldn't do it. But you might be ok with it.

Maybe locking her up inside a coop is a good alternative to wing clipping, if your duck needs to fly to avoid foxes.

 

[SolarDuck]

Exactly, well put Kale. They are build to be able to jump out of trees as ducklings in nature but yeah if one just lands a little bit wrong or on a rock. It could end up in a lot of suffering for a little duck and/or a lot of vet bills.