Muscovy drake

[pauleberly]

I have a flock of 10 chickens (hens) and 3 muscovy (2 hens 1 drake)

My red sexlink has always been the boss. The drake never stood up to her, they quite frankly they were bullied.

Yesterday, I saw my drake and sexlink fighting and the drake has finally realized he is the boss. All the the chickens have came through and no longer pick on him, or the other female ducks.

Well right after this fight, he went and had himself a victory mating session. Now he has been mating nonstop with the two females.

So my questions are
1. Should I be expecting duck eggs soon? (They are approximately 7-8 months old)
2. Will the chickens accept my drake as the alpha
3. Will my drake try and mate with my chickens?

Thanks for all the help

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have a flock of 10 chickens (hens) and 3 muscovy (2 hens 1 drake)

My red sexlink has always been the boss. The drake never stood up to her, they quite frankly they were bullied.

Yesterday, I saw my drake and sexlink fighting and the drake has finally realized he is the boss. All the the chickens have came through and no longer pick on him, or the other female ducks.

Well right after this fight, he went and had himself a victory mating session. Now he has been mating nonstop with the two females.

So my questions are
1. Should I be expecting duck eggs soon? (They are approximately 7-8 months old)
2. Will the chickens accept my drake as the alpha
3. Will my drake try and mate with my chickens?

Thanks for all the help

My answers:
1. Maybe. Muscovy are seasonal layers - I'm in KY and I don't expect mine to start laying again until spring.
2. I'm not sure they view him the way that they would a rooster, but they probably won't bully him anymore.
3. Other duck keepers have reported that this is possible - I have more than 20 Muscovy that free range with a chicken flock of about the same size and I've never seen a drake try to breed a hen. 3-4 ducks per drake is the general recommendation.

Tagging fellow Muscovy keepers @Miss Lydia and @oldhenlikesdogs for their input.

 

[pauleberly]

Ok, I'm in TN so they probably won't lay till April at the earliest. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to make accommodation for ducklings yet lol

Now will my chickens pick on ducklings? Or will the drake defend the ducklings as well?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, I'm in TN so they probably won't lay till April at the earliest. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to make accommodation for ducklings yet lol

Now will my chickens pick on ducklings? Or will the drake defend the ducklings as well?

The drake will not defend the ducklings and mama duck may not be able to. Chickens can be hateful to ducklings so what I do when I have mamas and ducklings they get to have their own space where all the rest of the flock including dear old dad can see them but they get time to grow some and be able to keep away from a mean hen or a drake who may not take to the kids. Drakes have been known to kill ducklings too. I usually keep separated for a couple weeks. I am in Western NC and usually my Muscovy's are around 8-9 months old before breeding and laying begins. If your seeing breeding and it's as warm there as it is here high 50's we may see eggs earlier this year. No breeding from My Muscovy's yet.

My drake has 4 females and he has never tried to mate with a hen[chicken]

 

[slkyldy4evr]

If he does try to make with the chickens, he could kill them so be careful!

 

[pauleberly]

I Am assuming it is mating, i did provide pictures for reference.

It has been high 50s and low 60s a lot this week. I didn't know if that was supposed to trigger some sort of "it's spring" response.

My drake has not been aggressive with any of the animals of yet. I was hoping he will be the calm and collective sort of alpha

I think In the spring I will build a seperate duck pen , but I'm worried that my current ducks will not take to it since they are already accumulated to the sharing the chicken pen

 

[slkyldy4evr]

That is mating for sure.
And they should be fine if the ducks already separate themselves from the chickens

 

[Ren2014]

Ditto what others have said.

My chickens boss the ducks around.

I would recommend you get more female Muscovies for your drake. That way he will have plenty to keep him busy and not get interested in your chickens. Chickens are not built internally like ducks and a drake will kill one if trying to mate it.