Hi Everyone,
I have a really dumb problem... I bought 5 adult Muscovys (4 hens, 1 drake) to integrate into my flock of Pekins (2 drakes, 2 hens). It is not going swimmingly. The night I got them I put them in the duck house with the Pekins, and the next day turned everyone out thinking the Muscovies would hang by the house (the Pekins usually do.) All five ran away and I have only been able to re-capture 2 hens. The Pekins don't want anything to do with them and scold any Muscovy who tries to hang out with them. Now I have 3 Muscovies hiding in the woods behind my house, and they've been living out there since yesterday morning. I think they're ok, I've seen the Muscovy drake hanging out by the pond this am. I don't think he would have abandoned his flock. They are so much more agile and athletic than the Pekins, which makes them harder to capture. They can even fly 20-30 yards if they need to. I feel they have a decent chance of survival in the woods, at least for a little while.
Should I put out some food by the pond? Try to lure them into a chicken tractor? Wait it out a few days and hope they follow the Pekins back? Will holding 2 muscovy ducks hostage in the duck house bring the rest back?
I have a really dumb problem... I bought 5 adult Muscovys (4 hens, 1 drake) to integrate into my flock of Pekins (2 drakes, 2 hens). It is not going swimmingly. The night I got them I put them in the duck house with the Pekins, and the next day turned everyone out thinking the Muscovies would hang by the house (the Pekins usually do.) All five ran away and I have only been able to re-capture 2 hens. The Pekins don't want anything to do with them and scold any Muscovy who tries to hang out with them. Now I have 3 Muscovies hiding in the woods behind my house, and they've been living out there since yesterday morning. I think they're ok, I've seen the Muscovy drake hanging out by the pond this am. I don't think he would have abandoned his flock. They are so much more agile and athletic than the Pekins, which makes them harder to capture. They can even fly 20-30 yards if they need to. I feel they have a decent chance of survival in the woods, at least for a little while.
Should I put out some food by the pond? Try to lure them into a chicken tractor? Wait it out a few days and hope they follow the Pekins back? Will holding 2 muscovy ducks hostage in the duck house bring the rest back?