Muscovy Chat

[Jjfester]

Does anyone know of anyone in Washington State? I bought a pair and although they are only about 4 Weeks old I am starting to think they may both be Drakes. They have hugely thick legs, I am still waiting to see, but since I can only have 2 I would like a male/female pair or a female/female and was hoping there may be someone nearby to trade with if they both end up being Drakes.

 

[muscovymomma]

Does anyone have any muscovy with black bills? I have 2 that have black on their bill and one other that has a whole black bill and his caruncle even looks like it is going to be black?

Thanks,

 

[Jjfester]

My two 8 Week old Muscovy both have been developing small black patches on their bill near the front.

 

[muscovymomma]

My two 8 Week old Muscovy both have been developing small black patches on their bill near the front.

Yes!! Mine too! They are 8 weeks as well and and their bills are so different from everyone elses.

 

[muscovymomma]

Also, I am needing to transport 10 8 week old babies this weekend. I am hoping that I can put them in their old coop from when they were babies and put it in the bed of the truck. My concern is that the coop is exposed on all sides and top and just has chicken wire around it. What is the best way for me to keep them from getting wind blown? Should I tarp the coop? Shade cloth?

 

[kikitheduck]

Would anyone here happen to have some extra muscovy or Muscovy eggs? I lost my drake today due to illness.

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also, I am needing to transport 10 8 week old babies this weekend. I am hoping that I can put them in their old coop from when they were babies and put it in the bed of the truck. My concern is that the coop is exposed on all sides and top and just has chicken wire around it. What is the best way for me to keep them from getting wind blown? Should I tarp the coop? Shade cloth?

I'd wrap in a tarp with a way for them to still get fresh air. and make sure top is covered at 8 weeks they could get out if scared enough. You don't want to cook them if it's extremely hot and you have a long way to go so plenty of ventilation is important.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hey everybody! I don't have ducks yet, but I hope to soon. We are moving from the suburbs to the country in about a month. So far we have only had some illegal backyard chickens. . I saw an ad on Craigslist about adopting two make Muscovys. I was already interested in this breed, so I responded to the ad with lots of details. I received this in response. Is this an issue to have chickens and ducks mixed? Is I a problem if you have male and female ducks? Thanks in advance, here's the response to my email:


Hi, Anne Marie! Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful reply. Certainly it would be no trouble for them to stay here until you move to your new place (congratulations!). I am sorry for my delayed reply. The thing I have been wondering about is how these ducks would be with your chickens. I have been warned that they must be kept separate in breeding season (early spring to fall) from chickens; otherwise, they will attempt to mate with the chickens and cause their death from internal injuries. I believe that it is because the breed of drake (Muscovy) is so big that their "attentions" can do such damage. I am not sure you want to have this issue to worry about for so many months of the year (they are too young this year to be showing mating behaviors; I believe they are at most three months of age - juveniles still). It would take a lot of work to have everybody separate, and I don't think that the presence of female Muscovies would protect the chickens from the male Muscovies' "interest". That's what I am thinking about...so, unless you have ideas of solutions, I think the adoption wouldn't work. But thank you for adopting rescue ducks rather than paying breeders!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey everybody! I don't have ducks yet, but I hope to soon. We are moving from the suburbs to the country in about a month. So far we have only had some illegal backyard chickens.

. I saw an ad on Craigslist about adopting two make Muscovys. I was already interested in this breed, so I responded to the ad with lots of details. I received this in response. Is this an issue to have chickens and ducks mixed? Is I a problem if you have male and female ducks? Thanks in advance, here's the response to my email:


Hi, Anne Marie! Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful reply. Certainly it would be no trouble for them to stay here until you move to your new place (congratulations!). I am sorry for my delayed reply. The thing I have been wondering about is how these ducks would be with your chickens. I have been warned that they must be kept separate in breeding season (early spring to fall) from chickens; otherwise, they will attempt to mate with the chickens and cause their death from internal injuries. I believe that it is because the breed of drake (Muscovy) is so big that their "attentions" can do such damage. I am not sure you want to have this issue to worry about for so many months of the year (they are too young this year to be showing mating behaviors; I believe they are at most three months of age - juveniles still). It would take a lot of work to have everybody separate, and I don't think that the presence of female Muscovies would protect the chickens from the male Muscovies' "interest". That's what I am thinking about...so, unless you have ideas of solutions, I think the adoption wouldn't work. But thank you for adopting rescue ducks rather than paying breeders!

I am impressed with their response and their concern about the drakes wanting to mate with your hens. That is a very real concern especially if you don't have any female ducks. But I have to say i have had Muscovy's since 2004 and chickens since 2009 and have never had a drake try to mate with a hen. Reason? They have had plenty of female ducks to lavish their attention on. You can of course have an all drake flock separate from chickens but if your going to have them living all together I would consider getting them female ducks preferably Muscovy's to keep them happy.I am still not sure I'd have them inside a pen together. But free ranging in a large back yard or acreage would be fine. The best ratio is 2-4 female ducks to each drake. @AnneInTheBurbs

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hey everybody! I don't have ducks yet, but I hope to soon. We are moving from the suburbs to the country in about a month. So far we have only had some illegal backyard chickens. . I saw an ad on Craigslist about adopting two make Muscovys. I was already interested in this breed, so I responded to the ad with lots of details. I received this in response. Is this an issue to have chickens and ducks mixed? Is I a problem if you have male and female ducks? Thanks in advance, here's the response to my email:



Hi, Anne Marie! Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful reply. Certainly it would be no trouble for them to stay here until you move to your new place (congratulations!). I am sorry for my delayed reply. The thing I have been wondering about is how these ducks would be with your chickens. I have been warned that they must be kept separate in breeding season (early spring to fall) from chickens; otherwise, they will attempt to mate with the chickens and cause their death from internal injuries. I believe that it is because the breed of drake (Muscovy) is so big that their "attentions" can do such damage. I am not sure you want to have this issue to worry about for so many months of the year (they are too young this year to be showing mating behaviors; I believe they are at most three months of age - juveniles still). It would take a lot of work to have everybody separate, and I don't think that the presence of female Muscovies would protect the chickens from the male Muscovies' "interest". That's what I am thinking about...so, unless you have ideas of solutions, I think the adoption wouldn't work. But thank you for adopting rescue ducks rather than paying breeders!

I  am impressed with their response and their concern about the drakes wanting to mate with your hens. That is a very real concern especially if you don't have any female ducks. But I have to say i have had Muscovy's since 2004 and chickens since 2009 and have never had a drake try to mate with a hen. Reason? They have had plenty of female ducks to lavish their attention on. You can of course have an all drake flock separate from chickens but if your going to have them living all together I would consider getting them female ducks preferably Muscovy's to keep them happy.I am still not sure I'd have them inside a pen together. But free ranging in a large back yard or acreage would be fine. The best ratio is 2-4 female ducks to each drake. @AnneInTheBurbs

Thanks for your help! I wasn't aware this could be a problem. I guess I will try to start with some eggs next year for my duck collection.