muscovey drake feed

[Muscoveyman]

I'm getting a breeding pair of Muscovy's and ill be feeding the duck layers mash pellets but I've heard if the drake eats them he can suffer internal damage because of the high calcium intake is this true or can he eat away at the same stuff the duck has? There going to be run with chhickens who get layers mash

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm getting a breeding pair of Muscovy's and ill be feeding the duck layers mash pellets but I've heard if the drake eats them he can suffer internal damage because of the high calcium intake is this true or can he eat away at the same stuff the duck has? There going to be run with chhickens who get layers mash

I mix layer 50/50 with Flock raiser crumble that way my layers are getting calcium but the drakes aren't getting full dose and I also put out oyster shell never had a soft egg from any of my Muscovy girls

Welcome to BYC

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

-Kathy

 

[Muscoveyman]

Could I mix it 50/50 with wheat?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Could I mix it 50/50 with wheat?

I'm not sure but I saved this and maybe it would help.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/li...ltry/poultry-rations-and-feeding-methods.html

 

[Muscoveyman]

Thanks! Picked them up today there a kind of brown colour and the drake has white down his chest,really nervous but hopefully they'll settle down once they know I mean no harm! Jesus can they scratch though nearly tore holes in my hand! The man I got them off said they would start laying in February can't wait! I'm in Ireland so it'll still be cold in February so will they be ok to hatch chicks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks! Picked them up today there a kind of brown colour and the drake has white down his chest,really nervous but hopefully they'll settle down once they know I mean no harm! Jesus can they scratch though nearly tore holes in my hand! The man I got them off said they would start laying in February can't wait! I'm in Ireland so it'll still be cold in February so will they be ok to hatch chicks?

How old are they now? Mine sometimes start laying in Feb but they don't start brooding right away Ducks know when the best time to brood is so I don't think you'll have ducklings in Feb. I usually have my first broody in April. Look forward to some pics when you can. Oh yes they have some claws.

 

[Muscoveyman]

About two months I think, the drake still has a bit of chick fuzz on top off his head will they stay this colour or change? There a brown colour

 

[Miss Lydia]

About two months I think, the drake still has a bit of chick fuzz on top off his head will they stay this colour or change? There a brown colour

Where are the pics? lol They can change alot over the course of fuzz to feathers but sounds like you may have chocolates. lovely color. If your in summer now you won't see eggs until next spring. possibly Feb , sometimes if we have a mild feb mine will begin mating and I'll have a few begin laying but when winter comes back they stop. Most of the time it's march before it all begins. One year I had a Muscovy duck begin brooding in March then when hatch day came we had a cold front move in I had to bring her and her 3 ducklings inside for 2 nights. I set them up in the hallway since we don't have heat in it so they would be out of the worst cold outside but not in the heat of the wood stove. They did great. But these are the kind of things you run into sometimes when you let them brood too early. Hopefully they won't start till weather is warmer. like April- May.
Keep us updated on how they are doing.

 

[Muscoveyman]

My phone won't upload them for some reason! We have plenty of stables and sheds so if it got to cold for early chicks bringing them in would be no problem there still very nervous so I'm just doing my best to get them used to me and show them I'm not a threat, I'll take some pics today and put them up! The only other problem I have is the hens are running at them and bullying them a bit, we bought a bantam cockerel at the same time we bought the ducks and the hens just attacked him the whole time at night so he's now in with the ducks