Kinda frustrated and looking for some input

[LaynaDon95]

ducks who are adult or of laying/breeding age who are moved will sometimes just stop laying because of the change. Muscovy are known for being seasonal layers so at this time of the year they are more likely to be putting on weight for winter, than laying. if over fed commercial feed they wont forage. they will take the free easy to get meal and enjoy the easy life. This doesnt mean starve them, but do make them get up and get moving some. If you live where it turns cold, the bugs will all but vanish as well, so that doesnt encourage them to forage either.

if you want ducks for eggs look at a high yield laying breed like khaki campbells and runner bred for eggs or even the hybrid 300's from Metzers.

They don't get much feed, and I'm steadily cutting back more and more to encourage them to forage. I'm about to start feeling their crops at night and if they are full, cutting back on the feed the next morning, and repeating this until I find the minimum amount of feed I have to feed them, and still have healthy, producing birds. I've been considering Khaki Campbells, but I'm gonna have a hard time convincing my parents to get more ducks when they aren't happy with the ones they have already. I'm placing an order from Ideal in the spring, so we'll see what our situation is from there. I love ducks. I think they are funny and I love watching them. My parents aren't sold though, unfortunately.

Even though they were adults when you got them, they may not have started laying because of the change in their home. They may have needed time to settle in and then, when settled it was too late in the year for them to start.
Although muscovy are known to be good brooders and good mothers, every duck is an individual.
As for mating, unless you are out there 24/7 you may not see the mating.

In the best situation, drakes would not be fed a layer ration but it is unavoidable for many. I would be more concerned about the younger birds getting layer ration but again if there is nothing you can do about it, just hope you have no problems.
Muscovy are typically very good mothers so I am surprised that you lost so many ducklings. I had a duck hatch out 11 early this year and they all survived.

You can let your parents know that they should be eating their weight in bugs so that would be reason in itself to keep them around even if they aren't laying.

Thank so much! You make me feel much better. I'll wait until next breeding season (which is what by the way? Warm weather?) and see if things pick up. Maybe they were just on strike from being moved. What, in an ideal situation, would the younger muscovies be on?

I've read/heard that some ducks do not care for fermented feed. And my ducks (not 'Scovies) never touch wet feed. I will add that Miss Lydia is a great person to ask. Good luck with your flock.

Mine love it. In fact, my brother accidentally put out dry food the other day and only a handful of my birds would touch it. I wetted it down and they attacked it. I'll PM Miss Lydia, thanks.

 

[Spifflove]

How do they tas...er I mean try organic feed. GMO soy is bad for fertility according to studies on rats.

 

[LaynaDon95]

How do they tas...er I mean try organic feed. GMO soy is bad for fertility according to studies on rats.

LOL I would love to, and maybe one day, but unless you're buying I'm afraid that's out of the question right now.

 

[Spifflove]

LOL I would love to, and maybe one day, but unless you're buying I'm afraid that's out of the question right now.

Heh, hear u there. I am using GMO until I buy my Swedish Flower Hens and show quality Silver Appleyards

But really I would just get more Muscovies and start over. Its the easiest fix.

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL I would love to, and maybe one day, but unless you're buying I'm afraid that's out of the question right now.

I can't afford Organic, i broke down last Dec. and bought organic and they wouldn't even eat it very dusty. So Purina Flock raiser it is, I started my flock on Fermented feed about a month and a half ago they all eat it with the exception of my oldest ones, but i think they will come around.

 

[ChristineR]

They don't get much feed, and I'm steadily cutting back more and more to encourage them to forage. I'm about to start feeling their crops at night and if they are full, cutting back on the feed the next morning, and repeating this until I find the minimum amount of feed I have to feed them, and still have healthy, producing birds. I've been considering Khaki Campbells, but I'm gonna have a hard time convincing my parents to get more ducks when they aren't happy with the ones they have already. I'm placing an order from Ideal in the spring, so we'll see what our situation is from there. I love ducks. I think they are funny and I love watching them. My parents aren't sold though, unfortunately.
Thank so much! You make me feel much better. I'll wait until next breeding season (which is what by the way? Warm weather?) and see if things pick up. Maybe they were just on strike from being moved. What, in an ideal situation, would the younger muscovies be on?
Mine love it. In fact, my brother accidentally put out dry food the other day and only a handful of my birds would touch it. I wetted it down and they attacked it. I'll PM Miss Lydia, thanks.

I don't have Muscovies, but my ducks have always loved wet food.

In my experience, moving ducks to a new home (even on the same property) can put a stop to laying.

If you're ordering ducks from a hatchery, I would definitely recommend Metzer Farms over Ideal. Metzer specializes in waterfowl and I don't think I've ever heard a valid complaint against them. As long as you're just looking for pet ducks and not show quality, they are great.

If you're looking for an egg laying breed, Khaki Campbells, Welsh Harlequins, or Anconas are great breeds. I'd wait and see what happens in the spring, though. Yours may start laying and breeding and be fine.

What did the vet say about the Aspergillosis? He did suggest how they may have been exposed?

 

[LaynaDon95]

I don't have Muscovies, but my ducks have always loved wet food.

In my experience, moving ducks to a new home (even on the same property) can put a stop to laying.

If you're ordering ducks from a hatchery, I would definitely recommend Metzer Farms over Ideal. Metzer specializes in waterfowl and I don't think I've ever heard a valid complaint against them. As long as you're just looking for pet ducks and not show quality, they are great.

If you're looking for an egg laying breed, Khaki Campbells, Welsh Harlequins, or Anconas are great breeds. I'd wait and see what happens in the spring, though. Yours may start laying and breeding and be fine.

What did the vet say about the Aspergillosis? He did suggest how they may have been exposed?

I get from Ideal for the free shipping. I don't have a job, so if I choose to order, that's all on me. I can't afford to order from somewhere that I have to pay shipping.
About the vet; No. We actually didn't talk to him directly. I had a friend who worked at a vet office and she had another friend who was a vet, so I emailed her pics, and she emailed them to him. I think it either came from the compost bins or the spot I kept them when they were babies. I recently put some sick chickens there (in a tractor) and within 2 days there was mold under the waterer, the feeder, everything. That EXACTLY where the ducklings were when they were babies, but I didn't notice any mold then that I remember. The remaining 4 seem fine. 3 girls and 1 boy, I'm pretty sure. Also, at least one of the ducklings that died had a heart problem. We opened her up and found a tiny, shriveled heart. And we opened her only minutes after she died. All 3 to die were very small, with very minimal feather development compared to their still living siblings. I suspect they had something very wrong with them for quite some time. It was weird.