INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[slutter]

I was looking into ducks and saw Muscovies, I was just curious if anyone had anything to say about them. Thanks in advance.
@jchny2000 i saw your post with a picture of one. What do you think of them, do you sell?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

We have a garden store (and another feed mill) that takes orders for chicks rather than putting them in bins in the store. They come from the same (semi-local) hatchery as TSC/Rural King, but they never go in bins. They tell you the day they take delivery and you go and get them right from the ship boxes. All chicks picked up the day they arrive.

That's where I got my first 6 birds for eggs.

What's the name of the garden store?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Matthey's Farm Market.

But it's on the west side of South Bend...

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Matthey's Farm Market.

But it's on the west side of South Bend...

Oh, okay. It would be closer for me to drive to one of the hatcheries in Ohio. I'll probably just go to the RK in Martinsville; they have a really good reputation. ;-)

 

[Hholly]

I just got an order from Ideal Poultry and they are growing like weeds. Haven't lost any.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I was looking into ducks and saw Muscovies, I was just curious if anyone had anything to say about them. Thanks in advance.
@jchny2000 i saw your post with a picture of one. What do you think of them, do you sell?

I do sell, they normally are starting to lay by March. I love the breed. I have kept several duck breeds, they are so social compared to other breeds. Also less messy. Very quiet, they don't quack like a mallard derived species. The only time they make a similar sound is when they are totally terrified, the hens let out a scream like a quack. Excellent mothers. My favorite hen, Huey is an instabroody, lol. I can literally hand her a dozen eggs in the spring and boom, she is brooding. Last 2 years, 2 oldest hens produced around 60 ducks each, brooded 3 clutches! I can't find a thing about them I don't like, to be honest!
Table wise, we eat a lot of duck. The meat is from Muscovy very similar to beef. The eggs are a bit smaller than pekin eggs, but really flavorful. I learned to skin them and it takes the oily taste out. I remember a member posted he/she had some for sale, @raisinemright was it you?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I just got an order from Ideal Poultry and they are growing like weeds. Haven't lost any.

Great to know! I encourage everyone to share their hatchery experiences.

 

[slutter]

I do sell, they normally are starting to lay by March. I love the breed. I have kept several duck breeds, they are so social compared to other breeds. Also less messy. Very quiet, they don't quack like a mallard derived species. The only time they make a similar sound is when they are totally terrified, the hens let out a scream like a quack. Excellent mothers. My favorite hen, Huey is an instabroody, lol. I can literally hand her a dozen eggs in the spring and boom, she is brooding. Last 2 years, 2 oldest hens produced around 60 ducks each, brooded 3 clutches! I can't find a thing about them I don't like, to be honest!
Table wise, we eat a lot of duck. The meat is from Muscovy very similar to beef. The eggs are a bit smaller than pekin eggs, but really flavorful. I learned to skin them and it takes the oily taste out. I remember a member posted he/she had some for sale, @raisinemright was it you?

What do you get for them? Are yours sexable at birth?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I can send a message about price we aren't allowed to post it openly on a thread. They may be sexable, but I don't know how its done myself.

 

[Indyshent]

I can send a message about price we aren't allowed to post it openly on a thread. They may be sexable, but I don't know how its done myself.

@slutter Muscovy are 90% sexable very shortly after hatch. Males wind up 3X the size of females, and the size difference is quite apparent shortly after hatch. Worst case, wait a couple weeks, and you'll know. I received seven Muscovies from her this summer, and they were all sexed accurately within a week or so. It's much faster than with Pekins and other mallard-derived breeds, which you pretty much have to wait for their big kid voices to come in for (around 8 weeks, which is still better than most chickens).