Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[Leahs Mom]

@oldhenlikesdogs
You mentioned that they are out at night. What about predators?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@oldhenlikesdogs
You mentioned that they are out at night. What about predators?

They are pretty savvy and can fly off if there's problems. I did have one hen go missing last year, and one was killed by a hawk a few years back, I found the hawk sitting on her carcass under a truck where the duck must have crawled with the hawk, or to escape the hawk. I think I have lost a total of 4 to predation in the last 15 years, so not too bad.

If there's a serious predator problem like the year a coyote kept taking birds the ducks will stick close to the shed and will not leave, so their behaviors can help me get on top of any problems. You will also lose the heavier drakes first.

We have nearly zero ticks in our yard now, I don't have all the bug problems others have with Japanese beetles, potato bugs, and box elder bugs that others around me do. Guineas can do the same but they are obnoxious birds.

The good thing with muscovy is you can always let them hatch more, broods are often 10-20, they are very prolific.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Nice! Thanks for the info, @oldhenlikesdogs. The Muscovy in Brazil were as likely to be in trees and snags as on the ground. I did find a couple nests with large clutches of up to a dozen or more eggs. We have a couple blue kiddie pools we use in the summer for other animals that could be useful for the ducks. When we used to live in Texas, Muscovy were a popular breed. They would be in all colors and patterns hanging around the parks, roadside ditches and homesteads.
Are they like the chickens in that they will lay fairly continuously without a drake? I think we would just be interested in eggs for cooking. Of course, that's how the chickens started out....

Native Brazilian Muscovy:

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Nice! Thanks for the info, @oldhenlikesdogs. The Muscovy in Brazil were as likely to be in trees and snags as on the ground. I did find a couple nests with large clutches of up to a dozen or more eggs. We have a couple blue kiddie pools we use in the summer for other animals that could be useful for the ducks. When we used to live in Texas, Muscovy were a popular breed. They would be in all colors and patterns hanging around the parks, roadside ditches and homesteads.
Are they like the chickens in that they will lay fairly continuously without a drake? I think we would just be interested in eggs for cooking. Of course, that's how the chickens started out....

Native Brazilian Muscovy:
View attachment 1294830

Those are beautiful ducks. Down south Muscovy can go feral and survive. For a while there was talk of banning the species from being owned. I'm glad that went away.

Hens will lay without a drake. Here in Wisconsin they are seasonal layers, starting in spring and laying on and off until fall. Mine haven't quite started yet.

I believe the breed Cayuga is considered a good consistent egg layer in mallard based breeds if you are wanting more production, but if you keep a good size flock of muscovy hens, you will get decent seasonal production.

 

[cavemanrich]

For a while there was talk of banning the species from being owned. I'm glad that went away.

What was the thinking behind that IDEA???

 

[GardenTillers44]

Down south Muscovy can go feral and survive. For a while there was talk of banning the species from being owned.

They did ban them in parts of the Bahamas. I photographed a couple there while on a project in Abaco and the wildlife constable wanted to know where they were so they could trap them. Apparently they were running the native White-cheeked Pintails out of their nesting grounds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What was the thinking behind that IDEA???

They are becoming a vaguely invasive species down south because they can survive and thrive. The DNR wanted to label them as an invasive species and make it illegal to sell them. They weren't aware of how many people were keeping them.

They are indigenous to south America, so places like Florida and Texas are great homes for them. Most are from people releasing them, something that is bad in any species.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have a few plum trees. The problem especially this last season is this gangrene (I use this term to cover anything undesirable )that developed on the branches. It has been there in the past, but this last season was extra heavy. Previously, I would just prune off the few branches infected. Is there any solution to this??? preventative, or therapeutic?

The trees are dormant now, but spring is around the corner, and I will have to do something before the buds start to grow. My focus is more on the beautiful flowers the trees produce rather than the fruit. I do eat the fruit, even though I do not spray any insecticide. I just close my eyes and enjoy the extra protein,,,,
This is in full bloom. Easy to see why I would not want to loose the trees.

 

[CayugaJana]

They are considered an invasive species in Florida since there are so many in the wild I believe.

 

[cavemanrich]

They are considered an invasive species in Florida since there are so many in the wild I believe.

I"m not a hunter so I don't know. What species do the duck hunters get???