I have been wanting to get Muscovies for a while, and i just found someone in my area who happens to be incubating Muscovy eggs that are due to hatch this week, so i'm going to go get some once they hatch. I'm so excited, but i want to make sure i do this right.
I have hatched and raised lots of chickens, but i've never touched a duck, so i wonder if y'all would mind kind of telling me the differences in what to expect. And any advice is very welcome.
First, i read that i can use a regular chick waterer for the ducklings. But i keep imagining them trying to drink out of that tiny space with those big ol' duck bills, and the geometry doesn't seem to work.
Can i really use a chick waterer?
Second, i've always kept my chicks on pine shavings.
Any problem with pine shavings and Muscovy Ducklings?
My plan has been as follows:
Raise the ducklings in an outside brooder with a heatlamp, and from what i understand, unmedicated feed. Is flock raiser ok? When they get feathered in and a little bigger, integrate them with the chickens so they can live in the coop. I figure that when they get big enough to fly, they can fly out of the chicken run on their own, and they'll identify the coop as home, so they'll know where to come back to for shelter.
Next question: once they start flying the coop, natural water is close by, and i figure they'll find it quickly. I've read that Muscovies don't really have to have water like other ducks, but should i be providing a pool or something before they fly the coop? Feel free to straighten me out on this if i'm confused.
And please share any information that might benefit me. I'm so excited and nervous!
Oh, one more thing. I have elevated nest boxes in the coop for the hens. Will the ducks want to use those? Or do i need to provide something different for the ducks?
I have hatched and raised lots of chickens, but i've never touched a duck, so i wonder if y'all would mind kind of telling me the differences in what to expect. And any advice is very welcome.
First, i read that i can use a regular chick waterer for the ducklings. But i keep imagining them trying to drink out of that tiny space with those big ol' duck bills, and the geometry doesn't seem to work.
Can i really use a chick waterer?
Second, i've always kept my chicks on pine shavings.
Any problem with pine shavings and Muscovy Ducklings?
My plan has been as follows:
Raise the ducklings in an outside brooder with a heatlamp, and from what i understand, unmedicated feed. Is flock raiser ok? When they get feathered in and a little bigger, integrate them with the chickens so they can live in the coop. I figure that when they get big enough to fly, they can fly out of the chicken run on their own, and they'll identify the coop as home, so they'll know where to come back to for shelter.
Next question: once they start flying the coop, natural water is close by, and i figure they'll find it quickly. I've read that Muscovies don't really have to have water like other ducks, but should i be providing a pool or something before they fly the coop? Feel free to straighten me out on this if i'm confused.
And please share any information that might benefit me. I'm so excited and nervous!
Oh, one more thing. I have elevated nest boxes in the coop for the hens. Will the ducks want to use those? Or do i need to provide something different for the ducks?