Free Ranging Muscovy Ducks

[pattyjean73]

A Muscovy hen has decided to stay at our house and creek. She's been here for a couple of weeks now so I went and found her a drake. I brought him home and he is currently staying in an XXL wire dog crate. Which I might add, the hen was super interested in getting in that crate with him last night. Anyway, my questions are this: How long should I keep the drake penned up? I would really like to let him to free range and visit the creek but come back to roost each night and to get feed. The hen that stays here roosts on top of my chicken coop. Would the drake follow her home each night on his own? Or should I give up on the idea of those two staying around and just build them a duck pen?

 

[Czech's_chicks]

If ever there was an appropriate analogy like "breed like rabbits" this is it. Muscovy can sit on a clutch as large as over 2 dozen eggs and can go broody up to 5 times a year......unless you want more muscovy than you can deal with, leave him penned and watch her like a hawk - these are the absolute, hands-down, sneakiest nesters I've ever had and I've raised them for 17+ years.

 

[Going Quackers]

The trouble is most mature Muscovy drakes don't fly well, so while they will roost up a bit it's nothing compared to what a female can do. All mine are full flight here, and most of the males loose flight by about 5-6mths range.. some are more agile than others but... overall they just bulk up to fast.

The other poster makes a good point they are the rabbit of the duck world and determined to brood, really isn't satisfactory for an explanation. I often have many going all over trying to set nests. I actually have had one disappear because of it recently, i opt to lock mine in housing at night to reduce my loses due to predators... loose ducks especially sitting ones are the genuine definition of 'sitting duck' .

Do you know where the duck came from? is she tame at all. Not sure if she isn't how you would catch her, they again fly quite well. She probably would love a partner but he's at risk and you will have a lot of scovies if you are unable to control the clutches.