Considering getting a muscovy

[Reurra]

What should I have if I want 1 duck. I was thinking of a muskovy duck for the bug predation. But do i need lots of water? We are on a well here and we dont know its capacity so I cant fill a tub every day to keep it clean. Also I would worry about my chickens falling in and drowning. Do they need a ton of water? How well do they mix with chickens?

We have a yard that backs an open field and also has a forest. We have bears, coyotes, eagles, hawks, osprey, weasels and the occasional lynx or bobcat. I want something that will make some real noise if something tried getting into the flock. I thought about a goose, but they sure drop a big load

and they eat like horses, not to mention they are enormous. I cant have a goat or a donkey and my husband said absolutely NO to a dog. Besides i would be worried about a dog harming my flock.

So I contemplated a muskovy. Would they be good watch birds as well as a bug control manager? What are some things to consider before getting a musckovy?

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

I don't have a muschovy, but want one! I think they do pretty good pest control, from what I've heard. They don't absolutely require a pond, but would appreciate it far more than chickens and would go in it sometimes. I think they eat more slugs than chickens. No idea about the saying something about a wild cat or wild something-else. Do you have a roo? Can you have a roo if not?

 

[Kevin565]

What should I have if I want 1 duck. I was thinking of a muskovy duck for the bug predation. But do i need lots of water? We are on a well here and we dont know its capacity so I cant fill a tub every day to keep it clean. Also I would worry about my chickens falling in and drowning. Do they need a ton of water? How well do they mix with chickens?

We have a yard that backs an open field and also has a forest. We have bears, coyotes, eagles, hawks, osprey, weasels and the occasional lynx or bobcat. I want something that will make some real noise if something tried getting into the flock. I thought about a goose, but they sure drop a big load

and they eat like horses, not to mention they are enormous. I cant have a goat or a donkey and my husband said absolutely NO to a dog. Besides i would be worried about a dog harming my flock.

So I contemplated a muskovy. Would they be good watch birds as well as a bug control manager? What are some things to consider before getting a musckovy?

Muscovies are great but not for your situation.

1. Ducks need companions. There is no way around it. You need at least 2 ducks to be fair to them.

2. Muscovies are somewhat standoffish. They will most likely stay on their own away from the other birds. Though some drakes do mate hens which can kill them.

3. They do not require lots of water but they are very messy. Plus males can get quite large.

4. Muscovies are VERY quiet. There is no way they would be able to alert you.

 

[Going Quackers]

I only have Muscovy ducks, firstly, no they don't need a ton of water, i'm on well too.. yet i have 17 of them so i wouldn't worry there. Secondly, while the ducks do make some noise they are generally considered a quiet breed and no way would I put a drake with laying hens that is why my chickens are separate from my Muscovy flock.

They are excellent for bugs and so forth however usually geese are considered more in the flock guard department.. although dogs are probably considered the top.

 

[Reurra]

The only roos I ahve are Stumpy and Buster my cochin bantam, I keep them separated from my main flock because Frightful my laying hen can be a real bully. I may not introduce Buster to them until he is much much older. Stumpy will always be separated and kept with my Bantam and silkie hens...although Im suspicious that the silkie may be a boy with how he has been thumping Buster around.

All the adult roos I have had have gone aggressive. Im hoping Buster wont, but if he does, at least he is a size I can manage. He should not get much heavier than 1.5lbs at the biggest I think. Right now, if I were to ball him up, he would fit in a softball. And hes around 9 weeks or so, maybe older. I havent kept count lol.

So I considered a goose, or a muscovie. Something that would make enough noise to alert me. In the winter I wont be able to hear whats going on outside behind the house because the windows will be closed. In summer I keep the windows open. Our view behind the house is very minimal.

How would someone introduce one to a flock of chickens. Would it get beaten up? Would the hens be really mean and hurt it? Would a hen muscovie cause problems with the hen chickens?

So if Muscovies are very quiet, then goose would be better? How do geese fare with chickens?

I really cant have a dog, our house is too small and my husband said NO more pets...chickens he does not care.

can geese eat chicken food and visa versa?

Im loving the info Im getting here I ahve wondered about these things for a while now!

 

[jak2002003]

What should I have if I want 1 duck. I was thinking of a muskovy duck for the bug predation. But do i need lots of water? We are on a well here and we dont know its capacity so I cant fill a tub every day to keep it clean. Also I would worry about my chickens falling in and drowning. Do they need a ton of water? How well do they mix with chickens?

We have a yard that backs an open field and also has a forest. We have bears, coyotes, eagles, hawks, osprey, weasels and the occasional lynx or bobcat. I want something that will make some real noise if something tried getting into the flock. I thought about a goose, but they sure drop a big load

and they eat like horses, not to mention they are enormous. I cant have a goat or a donkey and my husband said absolutely NO to a dog. Besides i would be worried about a dog harming my flock.

So I contemplated a muskovy. Would they be good watch birds as well as a bug control manager? What are some things to consider before getting a musckovy?

Sorry to say your situation sounds like you should not get a duck.

A musCovy duck does not make any sound at all, apart form a quiet hissing / rasping sound, so it will not warn you if predators are about.

All the other kinds of ducks NEED quite a lot of clean water so stay healthy, this is because they use the water to help keep them cool in hot weather - loosing lots of body heat through their wet big feet.

One duck alone would very very unhappy. All ducks are best kept in groups with one male to several females. (unless its a single pet duck that lives with you in the house). A single duck outdoors would feel very unsettled without the security of others to keep a look out for danger.

If you really want ducks I would recommend a group of pekin ducks - perhaps a trio of females. They are noisy and will make a lot of noise if they are disturbed by something.

Also if you got only one male duck of any kind it would be harassing you chickens and could injure them trying to mate too roughly with them (as ducks are much heavier than chicken).

 

[Kevin565]

The only roos I ahve are Stumpy and Buster my cochin bantam, I keep them separated from my main flock because Frightful my laying hen can be a real bully. I may not introduce Buster to them until he is much much older. Stumpy will always be separated and kept with my Bantam and silkie hens...although Im suspicious that the silkie may be a boy with how he has been thumping Buster around.

All the adult roos I have had have gone aggressive. Im hoping Buster wont, but if he does, at least he is a size I can manage. He should not get much heavier than 1.5lbs at the biggest I think. Right now, if I were to ball him up, he would fit in a softball. And hes around 9 weeks or so, maybe older. I havent kept count lol.

So I considered a goose, or a muscovie. Something that would make enough noise to alert me. In the winter I wont be able to hear whats going on outside behind the house because the windows will be closed. In summer I keep the windows open. Our view behind the house is very minimal.

How would someone introduce one to a flock of chickens. Would it get beaten up? Would the hens be really mean and hurt it? Would a hen muscovie cause problems with the hen chickens?

So if Muscovies are very quiet, then goose would be better? How do geese fare with chickens?

I really cant have a dog, our house is too small and my husband said NO more pets...chickens he does not care.

can geese eat chicken food and visa versa?

Im loving the info Im getting here I ahve wondered about these things for a while now!

Geese would be more likely to serve your purpose but honestly the only thing that is truly going to work best for your situation is a dog. A adult goose can hold it's own and most likely will ignore them unless they get in it's way. Geese would most likely ignore your other birds except during breeding season. Geese can eat layer pellets but need more niacin when babies.

 

[Reurra]

Everyone has given me lots to think about. I may have to extend my run out to make room for a larger birds. As i said before, my DH is not very popular with the idea of a dog. He wants one, but he thinks we already ahve too many pets. We have 2 cats and 10 chickens lol. If i play my cards right, I might be able to warm him up to getting a dog, but I would be scared of it attacking my birds. So a goose might be on the horizon for us. I ahve enough land i can develop to set up a goose pen if needed.

 

[jdywntr]

Muscovy would not work for an alarm unless you were standing right next to them. My chickens make WAY more noise than my scovy.

Geese are also flock animals so keeping one alone would not be fair. I would look through the goose forum too. Geese are not "protectors" but they will sound an alarm it something is out of the ordinary. A goose is not a fighter but bluffs predators. If something is intent on attacking, a goose stands no better chance than a duck or chicken. A dog would be your best bet for an alarm. The best way to insure it doesn't attack your birds is to raise it with them. That means a puppy and you would need to keep it with the birds and spend time training it for 1-2 years. There is a lot of info online about flock guardians.

We were considering getting a Great Pyrenees pup for our flock. We decided to wait because eventually I also want to get some goats and I don't want to have to get another dog to bond with them too.

Your biggest considerations need to be:
are you okay with a dog living outside? In order to alert/protect your birds, a dog needs to be there at night.
what breed will work for you? what do you want it to do (attack/alarm) and what is you environment like (winter/summer weather)
What will you do if the dog doesn't work out? guardian breeds don't always guard. some will attack birds even if raised with them. guardian breeds bark, alot, and at night.


I think your best solution would be to make sure your coop is predator proof.

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

I say try to get a dog!

Plz take a moment to vote on what breed of chick I should get in September!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/694755/what-breed#post_9420793