Help! I need a class called Muscovy Duck 101

[Arielle]

I was at a swap to meet a fellow chicken person, when I was face to face with ducks. ANd my boys have been pleading for a duck for months. And here they were, cute and affordable.

I didn't do as I usually do--spend weeks and months reading and understanding the needs of such a creature.

Can someone please fill me in on the needs of young Muscovies still in baby feathers ( tail and wings sprouting real feathers) heading into their first winter, surrounded by chickens and turkeys.

I need a tutorial called Muscovy Ducks 101 !!!! LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
this is on duckling care in gerneral, but will apply to Muscovy ducklings, and congratulations they are the best. http://liveducks.com/care.html

 

[Bleenie]

If they're just sprouting their hard feathers they are probably around a month old. Muscovies are not as messy with the water as other baby ducks, good choice!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
You're kidding, right?? THese ducks are wet and messy!

 

[Czech's_chicks]

Quote:
You're kidding, right?? THese ducks are wet and messy!

X10!

They fly, too, so I always clip a wing as soon as it grows out. Just the one wing, the one time and they won't try to fly away after that.

 

[Arielle]

Miss Lydia, you wrote:

this is on duckling care in gerneral, but will apply to Muscovy ducklings, and congratulations they are the best. http://liveducks.com/care.html

Thank you--very help ful!

I think humans need to read the DO NOT EAT list--the list of junk food to NOT feed to ducks and chickens yet who tells the humans to "do not eat"!

THe ducklings are at 1 month-ish (according to BLeenie, TY) so the feed should change from 20 % prot to 16%. Does this apply to a big duck like a Muscovy? Do they grow faster than, say, a mallard, or develop the same rate over a longer time to reach the much bigger body size?

I have 20% turkey/gambird nonmedicated and 15%layer feed (3% Calcium) nonmedicated. I can cut the 20% by adding corn or oats, but is this too much grain? WHat should I cut it with? Greens? Worms? WIll a 4 week old eat these?​

 

[dianaross77]

I'd cut it with oats. The reason for lowering the protein is to avoid a condition called angel wing. Mine did just fine on 16% protein. They were just starting to grow their flight feathers when I switched from flock raiser. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't already, switch them over to pellets when you can. It's a lot less mess and waste. The type of waterer you're using might be to blame for the wet mess. I used a plastic jug with a hole cut just big enough for their heads to fit in to reach the water. That way they can't splash the water all over. Also, I like pine pellets for the brooder instead of shavings.

 

[Going Quackers]

I used a duck starter with mine(purina) then went to a grower and so forth.. that is how i have raised all 6 we have...

They are messy with water mine now have 3 pools that they waddle between.. and adore when a hose is left running.. they LOVE mud so my lovely white hens become a white and dirt coloured mess so very fast.

I agree the wood pellet would be heck of a lot less messy than shavings.. although i did brood all of mine on it but they will climb in the water bowls given half a chance.. ok my older ones still do

(5mths Oct)

 

[DuckWrangler16]

Get Storeys Guide to Raising Ducks it is an excellent reference. I got it and it has enhanced my knowledge incredibly.

 

[Arielle]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I died when I saw a duckling sitting in the water dish!! I knew I was in trouble! WIll definitely change the waterer to have a drier brooder and will continue with trips to the wading pool.

Thanks everyone! More suggestions welcome.