Can Muscovies be herded to coop?

[bigoledude]

Just read an exert from "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks". It stated that all of the mallard descended ducks are easily herded. But that Muscovies tend to scatter if you try to herd them.

Months ago I was offered many Muscovies that have run wild for generations. I have not taken advantage of this offer yet. I can have literally as many as I want or can catch. My plan is to keep them penned-up for a month or so and then release them behind my house.

If/When I do release them, they will have access to a canal behind my house and a stretch of wide open marsh that goes for hundreds of miles. Even if allowed to stay out all night behind the house, they wouldn't stand a chance of survival with the multitude of gators, coons, coyotes and possums. They either come home each night or they die!

Will it be possible for me to coerce them back to the pen/coop every night? How?

Because of the enormous amount of foraging available just behind the house and, to avoid the mess that a pen full of Muscovies makes, I wanted to be able to release them each day. What can I expect?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You can expect to clip their wings so they don't fly off and to be putting up fence so they don't walk off to the canal and swim away for good.

We herd ours back to their house, most nights they are standing at it waiting to goto bed though, open the door in they go. This is after about a month of training when first turned out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Only thing I can see as a potiental problem is the open body of water so close, My muscovies are waitng to go in at night too. but I have trained them also. Ducks are drawn to water and I would think with it being so close to where you live they would spend alot of time in it. Feeding them at their house may help but I am uncertain especially since these are already kinda wild that you may have problems herding.

 

[jdywntr]

I agree with Miss Lydia and Celtic. I got my muscovy at 3 months old and they are still learning to go inside and how to respond to herding. Which needs to calm and slow.
With basically wild ducks, I think that they will respond poorly to going closed up. My muscovy were used to people and the previous owners would "call" them in at night with scratch feed. I think your success will depend on how used to humans they are.

If they have been caring for themselves, they will be much more successful at surviving than more tame birds. I have clipped the wings on my birds but they are kept in an enclosed area with 6' fencing. You will need to think about exactly what you are wanting/expecting from them. If you want them to continue being very self suffiecient, don't clip their wings. If you want them to be more dependent on you clip them.
You will need to keep them confined for a while after they arrive so that they know where home is.

 

[PetesMom]

Our old drake came from a scenario like that...the guy had over 80 muscovies and mine took easily to being herded when we got him.

 

[Ally Rose]

If you go slowly and do it a lot they will most likely take to it.

BTW PetesMom, your profile pic is killing me! That is one adorable pekin!

 

[Going Quackers]

Mine do but they have always been 'pets' and trained to do so since really young, then the adults have taught the younger ones.. they have no access to large bodies of water.. only kiddy pools here..

 

[bigoledude]

After a month or two, I may clip some wings and release a few of the birds that I will definitely not use for breeding stock. I'm afraid this will make them a little more vulnerable to predation. We also have an abundance of hawks and owls here. There is a huge osprey that makes her home in dead cypress about 400 yards from my back door.

If the few that I release run away, I may have to wait and release only the ducklings that are hatched here. The ones I catch are really wild and may never consider my place as their home. What treat could I provide each evening during their penned-up-time that might-would have them eager to return to the pen each evening?

 

[Miss Lydia]

After a month or two, I may clip some wings and release a few of the birds that I will definitely not use for breeding stock. I'm afraid this will make them a little more vulnerable to predation. We also have an abundance of hawks and owls here. There is a huge osprey that makes her home in dead cypress about 400 yards from my back door.

If the few that I release run away, I may have to wait and release only the ducklings that are hatched here. The ones I catch are really wild and may never consider my place as their home. What treat could I provide each evening during their penned-up-time that might-would have them eager to return to the pen each evening?

Mine love dried Meal worms. all I have to do is start whistling and shaking the plastic container[they know what it looks like too] they come running