Muscovy Duck Temperament

[SweetWaterRanch]

We are getting ready to get a female Muscovy and wanted to see what people thought of them. Any thoughts?????? Thanks! =]

 

[tmorgan46]

We have 6 Muscovies in our starter flock and couldn't be happier!! I am more and more amazed as we spend time with them. I think we have 2 drakes and 4 ducks, I think... They are quiet as church mice, the females offer a very quite pip while one drake makes more of a hissing sound. Not a mean goose like hiss but a very subtle one. We were looking for pest control and boy do we have pest control!! So far I've seen countless flies picked from mid-air, one small garden snake - swallowed whole, a few unfortunate frogs and two or three blue skinks (lizards) eaten like it was a holiday. Our largest drake, we call Fatty Duck, is the friendliest (or bravest of the bunch) and comes waddling right up to me the moment I get home. All of them have the cutest tail feather wag when they know I'm bringing out a treat for all of them. Two of the females have signed up for perpetual guard duty, they perch up on top of the covered chicken run and keep watch. They trained very easily to go into their coop at nightfall and are very curious by nature wanting to help me anytime I'm around. The rewards are almost limitless. Never thought an animal like a duck, could bring such pleasure. Stressfull day? I simply go out back and sit with the ducks for 15 minutes or so. The stress is gone without a care or a thought.
I hope this helps.

Troy & Tina

 

[DuckMamaorBust]

I'm also thinking of getting Muscovies. I've been watching a few threads on here that have been helping.

This one is regularly updated with great pictures and interesting facts:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=130753

This one highlights one drawback:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261402

For more specific info use the search feature.. .there is a LOT of info on here about Muscovies.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Females are okay. Certain lines can be horrid. Especially with very aggressive, killer males!

 

[momof247371]

Muscoveys are quiet, good egg layers, and great mothers. Their temperments are excellent from my experiences also..Here are a few of mine...

 

[SweetWaterRanch]

Thanks! We would be getting a female.... We have a male Cayuga which was raised with a IB peahen and they were best buds, that was until a male IB peacock showed up on our property and stole her away from him. So now the poor guy is sooooo lonely. We heard that any type of female duck would be fine, and have just been offered the female Muscovy. Just wanted to make sure that this would be a good match, and that they are friendly.
Thanks again,
Marija =]

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

momof247371 - that male is so very handsome.



I love scovies - do not currently have any, have had in the past and will be adding them this spring. The scovies I had were always gentle giants and soft story tellers.

My current ducks are call duck/call duck crosses -- very noisy, opinionated and sometimes obnoxious. (still lovable)

 

[Jess N Jeff]

I have a precious 7 month old female Muscovy. She is quiet...what a blessing...and just as sweet and gentle as can be. Even though they supposedly don't need a pond, my girl loves the water!!!

 

[SweetWaterRanch]

Thanks sooooooo much.... This is really helping.. We don't want a noisy bird, so it sounds like she is going to be perfect. =]

 

[lauralou]

I love my muscovies! They are really sweet birds, with funny personalities. I have 3 females. All are quiet and friendly. They do tend to be broody. I also have male muscovies, so I allow the females to sit on their eggs and hatch their ducklings. They are excellent mothers. One, the dominant hen, is quite territorial when she is brooding. She has never attacked a person, but she's hard on any other female ducks. Thus we have 2 pens.

If your drake mates with a muscovy hen, which I'm sure he will, the offspring will be sterile. Like a mule. That could be a good thing, of course. And if you don't want her to set on her eggs, you could just take the eggs as she lays them, and break her should she go broody. I assume this is similar to breaking a broody chicken, but I've never tried it.