How to teach muscovies where "home" is?

[RedheadErin]

I picked up a lovely pair of young Muscovy sisters at the county fair. They are almost adults--they have a "grown up" look but the carunkles have not quite started to form. They have finished their required quarantine and have "met" the chickens by going outside in a dog-crate, so everyone can see each other.

So now the question is, how do I teach them that the chicken shed will now be their home? I have had a few muscovies in the past, and I *think* I just slipped them out on the perch in the night....but I'm not sure.

All the birds will be spending the weekend together in the quarantine area/safe room, so they will know each other pretty well by Tuesday. Will it be OK to put them all out in the shed together Tuesday and then just let them out together on Wednesday morning? What else could I do?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

One if not contained then clip their wings. Two if possible keep them inside the coop for about a month or two.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You don’t want food and water inside with ducks they will make a mess of the coop right outside will teach them where coop is. I have had a few over the years think the roof of their coop was a nice place to roost for the night but if you start out by herding them inside of an evening they will learn pretty quick they still may try to roost outside but not a good idea with flying predators around. I had to take the hose on strongest water dial and chase mine off the roof after that they went inside.

 

[RedheadErin]

If they start to hang with the chickens, will they just naturally follow the chickens back into the shed?

Our weekend trip fell through, so they are not going to have an intense bonding experience after all. Would it help to bring just a few chickens into the safe room with them,so they can at least be familiar with a few individuals?

We cannot possibly keep them in the shed for a month....its too hot during the day.


We just had a bad experience with guineas. we raised them at home and did everything right...and 3 of the 4 flew away the first chance they got. I sure don't want to repeat that!

Thanks all for help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My chickens go in around 5pm my ducks start in around 6pm. They don’t really follow the chickens in but they know where their house is . You might have to help them at first go inside which herding works well are they going to be inside a penned area when you let them out of the coop? That will make it easier for getting them up in the evening.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

You don't want to coop up ducks like you would chickens to teach them where home is. But, clipping their wings would help them so that they don't fly off (since they are muscovy).
Do they have a run or will they be free ranged and then cooped up?
I would keep them in a run of sorts and then herd them into the shed. My muscovies used to go in at night when they were first introduced to their run and duck house, but now as older ducks, they are still outside at 10 pm when I go out there to herd them into the coop. I say "bed time" and use a stick to guide them. They know the routine, they just prefer to be outside. If your run is secure, you could leave them out all night as long as they have access to shelter for inclement weather.
My run is not secure enough for my ducks to stay outside or else I would leave them out every night.