Do mature muscovy drakes always look this gross?

[Le Moth]

I give layer pellets because my girls lay most if not all of the year.
Should I figure out a way to separate him during feeding and give him different feed to keep the calcium down?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you get another feed to mix I use half layer half starter 100 lbs total that way my layers are getting calcium but my boys not so much then I put oyster shell out as supplement.

 

[Gray Farms]

I agree with @Miss Lydia, if you can't get a mix with more protein and less calcium. Mix your own 50/50 layer and starter should work good. Also some dry dog/cat food as treats would be ok.

 

[Le Moth]

When I next go in to town I will look for some better feed and if I can't find I will definitely mix some and start putting out oyster shell. Thank you.

Are you talking about gamebird starter?

 

[Gray Farms]

When I next go in to town I will look for some better feed and if I can't find I will definitely mix some and start putting out oyster shell. Thank you.

Are you talking about gamebird starter?

Yes, its higher protein than chick starter. Chick starter/grower will work to if you can't get gamebird.

 

[Going Quackers]

Whites do look more um, dirty but generally nope. I have mainly drakes now, they all look good they molted before they came into winter... though i have nothing but colors here now. My whites have long since passed on.

ML has good suggestions.. Mine all free range but i don't and have never used layer because i always had young on the ground and ran a large drake/duck flock. I just had oyster shell for my girls....

 

[Loopeend]

Haha I like your question! I never owned muscovy's but they are in every petting zoo over here.. and I never noticed... but they dó look a bit that they haven's showered in a week... hahaha!

 

[Le Moth]

Haha I like your question! I never owned muscovy's but they are in every petting zoo over here.. and I never noticed... but they dó look a bit that they haven's showered in a week... hahaha!

Yeah, the girls are soft and cute, and I'd like it if my boy looked more... like a gentleman

 

[Loopeend]

Yeah, the girls are soft and cute, and I'd like it if my boy looked more... like a gentleman

you have a Turkey in your picture. They have weird red excess things on their face also... but their feathers look healthy and clean... so it's not thát...they are walking around with geese/swans/other ducks and have the same amount of water but just... look a bit shaggy/scruffy =/

this might be not a thing that is alarming. It might just be the breed? I know I can have big discussions with other people all over the world what is the most hygenic thing to do (and I'm on the less showering side due to culture), why would it be different with ducks?
It might not look as pretty as a well showered duck; but as long as it is healthy..

Maybe the males have a more productive gland and smell to be better at being attractive to females? But that also means they can't clean themselves in water the same as females do because their greasy-good-smelling-sexy feathers don't let water through as much?

Not a duck-expert but making a mental note to smell my male-partner more.

 

[Le Moth]

you have a Turkey in your picture. They have weird red excess things on their face also... but their feathers look healthy and clean... so it's not thát...they are walking around with geese/swans/other ducks and have the same amount of water but just... look a bit shaggy/scruffy =/

this might be not a thing that is alarming. It might just be the breed? I know I can have big discussions with other people all over the world what is the most hygenic thing to do (and I'm on the less showering side due to culture), why would it be different with ducks?
It might not look as pretty as a well showered duck; but as long as it is healthy..

Maybe the males have a more productive gland and smell to be better at being attractive to females? But that also means they can't clean themselves in water the same as females do because their greasy-good-smelling-sexy feathers don't let water through as much?

Not a duck-expert but making a mental note to smell my male-partner more.

I suppose because ducks are waterfowl and live in/around the water, so waterproofing is important. Though I don't think Muscovies are technically ducks...

As for the turkey, he only looks good if he stays dry, here's a pic of him when wet and one of David when he looked sleek and soft.

Unfortunately birds don't have a very good sense of smell, though the idea of sexy stinky feathers is funny xD
I do understand what you are getting at.