This wasn't exactly an impulse acquisition, but I had the opportunity to snag a small group of Muscovy ducks yesterday, so I went ahead and got them. We're about half ready, but we have enough for immediate needs and the rest will be done this week. I'd prepared and read, but I've never had ducks before, much less Muscovy, so now that I have them in front of me, I have questions.
I'm thinking three boys and two girls?
The angel wing was disclosed to me before I purchased them. Their previous owner was content to let him be. I am, too, but is it too late to do anything for it? I won't be allowing him to breed and none of them will free range. I know he's not affected aside from flight, it just looks so dang weird.
Do I need a water bowl? Is it okay to just have a pool for them to drink out of? They're both dirty anyway.
I read up on nutritional yeast and what we have has enough niacin to act as a supplement for them. Do I just sprinkle it on their food? How often?
They are 3-3.5 months old. I do want to breed them, but the gender ratio is way off. I don't currently have another space to house the extra boys, but in 4-6 weeks time I will. Do I have that much time before trouble starts between the boys?
Also, the space I'll have free has historically been home for our two pet bantam roosters. I know some keep ducks with chickens and some find it too dangerous. Normally I like to keep species separate so everyone's specific needs can be best met, but since in both cases these are just extra birds I need to put somewhere, and since they're all male, do you think that would work? Two drakes and two roosters in a pen? We'd eat the extra boys but the one without angel wing is perfectly nice and I could use him for breeding next year to keep inbreeding down. Additionally, their previous owner expected a good home for them, so eating these individuals isn't an option.
They're so friggin' pretty and QUIET, I can't believe I've gone this long without them. I'm also beginning to think chickens are overrated, lol. Thanks for any help you can offer.
I'm thinking three boys and two girls?
The angel wing was disclosed to me before I purchased them. Their previous owner was content to let him be. I am, too, but is it too late to do anything for it? I won't be allowing him to breed and none of them will free range. I know he's not affected aside from flight, it just looks so dang weird.
Do I need a water bowl? Is it okay to just have a pool for them to drink out of? They're both dirty anyway.
I read up on nutritional yeast and what we have has enough niacin to act as a supplement for them. Do I just sprinkle it on their food? How often?
They are 3-3.5 months old. I do want to breed them, but the gender ratio is way off. I don't currently have another space to house the extra boys, but in 4-6 weeks time I will. Do I have that much time before trouble starts between the boys?
Also, the space I'll have free has historically been home for our two pet bantam roosters. I know some keep ducks with chickens and some find it too dangerous. Normally I like to keep species separate so everyone's specific needs can be best met, but since in both cases these are just extra birds I need to put somewhere, and since they're all male, do you think that would work? Two drakes and two roosters in a pen? We'd eat the extra boys but the one without angel wing is perfectly nice and I could use him for breeding next year to keep inbreeding down. Additionally, their previous owner expected a good home for them, so eating these individuals isn't an option.
They're so friggin' pretty and QUIET, I can't believe I've gone this long without them. I'm also beginning to think chickens are overrated, lol. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Muscovy are slow to mature so most likely you have time to get the boys their own space. My Muscovy hatch one year and don’t mate or lay eggs till following spring of the next year. This has been the way with mine and I’ve had Muscovy since 2004 others my have a different time line. Never had any fighting between drakes till breeding season started up.
