Domestic Pet Duck what to do about flying?

[joya250]

Hello

So, my female Muscovy duck is approaching 3 months of age. She is 100% domesticated, and I am committed to keeping her.

From what I understand this breed of duck can fly, but doesn't fly very far. She is starting to take flight, just enough to fly over the fence into the neighbors' yards. One neighbor is okay, and I can go retrieve her. The other neighbor has a pit bull, and it would be very dangerous for her to end up in their yard.

What suggestions do you have???

 

[KathiQuacks]

You could clip a wing? Especially knowing a dog could get to her otherwise. Just have to remember to do it again after they molt!

 

[joya250]

You could clip a wing? Especially knowing a dog could get to her otherwise. Just have to remember to do it again after they molt!

Thanks. I was thinking this might be a solution, though I know nothing about wing clipping! Time to Google!

 

[StinkyAcres]

I clipped both wings on my Muscovies and they don't go over the four foot fence anymore. Like @KathiQuacks said, it has to be done yearly after they molt and regrow their flight feathers. It's pretty easy to do, especially with two people - one to hold the duck and one to clip the wings.

 

[StinkyAcres]

By the way, your Muscovy is adorable!

 

[joya250]

By the way, your Muscovy is adorable!

Thank you. And thank you for your response above. Just did a little YouTube video-ing and feeling much more confident about clipping Lucky's wings.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Thank you. And thank you for your response above. Just did a little YouTube video-ing and feeling much more confident about clipping Lucky's wings

I was always told not to clip both wings just one my grandma always said that if you clip both its like you never clipped them

 

[StinkyAcres]

I was always told not to clip both wings just one my grandma always said that if you clip both its like you never clipped them

@centrarchid conducted an experiment to see how high his chickens could fly with one wing and both wings clipped. It showed that clipping both wings was more effective.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

@centrarchid conducted an experiment to see how high his chickens could fly with one wing and both wings clipped. It showed that clipping both wings worked better.

I'm not saying I'm right people have different experiences we have just had hens fly when both wings cut

 

[StinkyAcres]

I'm not saying I'm right people have different experiences we have just had hens fly when both wings cut

Yes, I've heard that some chickens can still fly if the primaries are clipped on both wings. Muscovy ducks are heavy birds that don't fly much in the first place and I've found they aren't as eager to fly over fences.