Creating muscovy flock

[americanchicks]

Hi all,
Its my first time raising ducks. I decided t go with muscovies. I may dabble in other breeds down the line. Well I have 6 ducklings and it looks like all are drakes except one. I say this because at 4 weeks she is half the size of her 3 brothers with far more feathers and much more smaller feet. The other two ducklings are from another breeder and are 6 and 8 weeks old. Very large feet on them as well. The 4 week old female has more feathers than the 6 week old.

So that said I am trying to decide on how to have my flock. I was first planning on 1 drake to 3-4 hens. However after reading I found that 3-4 may not be enough girls. Is this true? Another Idea was just to keep a couple drakes. Would drakes still fight if no girls? Another idea that I have been thinking is just keep hens. Just 3 or 4 and hold the drake so I can still get eggs. At this time I really don't care about raising ducklings. Then if I do I can always find a drake and if he needs more girls. Would love some advice.

Since this is my first time having ducks I only want 3-5 to start. That way I can see how they are as adults and decide on getting more or not. Like with chickens. I started of with 5 chickens 6 years ago now I have 28 funny how it happens.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I have one drake to two hens,they do just fine.If he is beginning to overbreed,simply just Seperate him till breeding seasons over.I usually notice hormones spark up by February and when the weather gets nasty hot (Mid June maybe July) they slow down.Ducks are weird.They are the only animal I have had to breed the opposite sex.Typically if there are no hens around,their gonna find one in the bunch to breed on unfourtently,and their gonna fight cause likely the one they try to breed is gonna fight back.On top of that,it isn’t healthy if they are breeding each other because they can really hurt each other,trust I know from experience.
And what do you mean “Hold the drake so you can still get eggs”?Ducks are gonna lay with and without a drake being present,eggs just won’t be fertilized.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

As far as liking Ducks,the most your probably gonna get from a ducks in terms of being friendly is hand feeding,maybe soem petting,and lots of conversation.My Ducks I originally had would eat from my hand and even come when called but never have had a duck allow me to pick it up nor let it.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Muscovy are a bit different so 1 drake to 3 hens is fine.
Obviously if you do have that many drakes it isn't going to work. Post some pics - we have lots of muscovy owners here and might be able to help sex them.

I have 1 muscovy drake and 3 hens. The only thing I would do differently is get 4 hens. Two of them seem to be buddies which leaves the 3rd girl out. Other than that, I am not having issues. You don't want to separate your drake long term. He will be lonely and that could turn into a behavioral problem.
If you don't want ducklings, you kind of picked the wrong breed.
Muscovies are notorious for being broody and good moms. However, I plan on taking their eggs as soon as I can.
Many others do the same thing because you could be over run with unintentional ducklings.

 

[tjo804]

Oh yes I have had my Muscovy for 2.5 weeks now. Lots of reading and watching required they are different than chickens for sure. Wag tails like a puppy, but stand of fish like a kitten. Mine love peas and watermelon and just so you know my hen,Wanda, has started hiding eggs because I take them every day. Her before home did not.

Lots. Of info here already just search Muscovy ducks.

Good luck, I have a feeling you will enjoy them!

 

[Jpat]

Oh yes I have had my Muscovy for 2.5 weeks now. Lots of reading and watching required they are different than chickens for sure. Wag tails like a puppy, but stand of fish like a kitten. Mine love peas and watermelon and just so you know my hen,Wanda, has started hiding eggs because I take them every day. Her before home did not.

Lots. Of info here already just search Muscovy ducks.

Good luck, I have a feeling you will enjoy them!

Hahaha auto correct is great!

Cant wait to see lots of photos. What an awesome hobby

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Yes wish I could more of these but from one bad experience with three ducks of mine my grandma won’t let me own the breed anymore.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Oh yes I have had my Muscovy for 2.5 weeks now. Lots of reading and watching required they are different than chickens for sure. Wag tails like a puppy, but stand of fish like a kitten. Mine love peas and watermelon and just so you know my hen,Wanda, has started hiding eggs because I take them every day. Her before home did not.

Lots. Of info here already just search Muscovy ducks.

Good luck, I have a feeling you will enjoy them!

They sure are smart too!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Yes wish I could more of these but from one bad experience with three ducks of mine my grandma won’t let me own the breed anymore.

Ack. What happened?

 

[MartinsPoultry]

You can vent sex them to be sure. I vent sexed two 1 month olds amd both are boys. Here is a good picture instruction to use.