Muscovy duckling questions!

[tofuii]

Hello! So I am incredibly new at this and hatched 4 Muscovy ducks myself in an incubator. I've always wanted ducks and since I live alone, now was my time to try it out!

My first question: I had a late hatcher, she (assumed sex) hatched on day 38 and needed help getting out of her egg. She did not absorb all of her yolk but her membrane had dried up after me giving her about 24 hours to try peck her way out herself. She had what looked like a niacin deficiency after a few hours of drying off and puffy eyes. I quickly acted and made sure to do as much research as possible to make her feel better and she has thrived! My question here is she is MUCH smaller than the other three ducklings, and they're only 1-2 days older than her. Will she always be smaller or perhaps did I get a different breed of duck on accident?

Second question: is there anyway to sex a Muscovy without vent sexing them? I know how to vent sex reptiles but not ducks and was wondering if coloration or behavior or size could have anything to do with it.

Third question: what is the ABSOLUTE best things I can do for them regarding well being and life? (all opinions are welcomed) They're currently about a week and a few days old and I want the best possible life for them.

 

[Ratchnick]

Your duckling will probably catch up just fine if it stays healthy. My ducks enjoy being out on the grass and a good swim.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Welcome to BYC can you post some pictures? Is this duckling eating well? If you put them in water make sure they have a way in an out if this is a pool and at 1 week they can chill quickly since they only have down and no oils yet to be water proof. I give my ducklings a rubber stock feeder or bottom of cat litter container to swim in since it’s easier for them to get in an out of. You can sit it out in the sun and let the water warm some too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here are mine in their first pool lol

 

[tofuii]

I have a lot of pictures and video of them! She is eating very well, though because she is so small the others tend to accidentally push her around and squish her at the feeding bowl - I've been making sure she gets her helping of wheatgrass clippings and their usual feed. I've been slowly introducing them to water in my tub and it's never too deep and I'm always available (plus a small step stool with a towel on top to get out when they're ready), they're still inside ducks as I have a lot of foxes in the area and my husband and I are working on the backyard fence and a small pond for them. The tub they're in is temporary and I'm aware of the water tin (needs to be deeper so they can dunk their heads) and they have constant access to fresh water, grit, duck feed, and a heat lamp at one end. The gold one without any markings is the late hatch.

Your babies are so adorable! I have one who looks just like them!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you and yours too. Sounds like your doing really a great job with them and also sounds like they will have a nice outdoors area when they are ready. Making sure your little one can get to the food and water is important and sounds like your keeping that good too. Hopefully they will all keep thriving and give you many years of joy. My Muscovy are 1 female 12 yrs old 1 drake an 2 females 9 yrs old and 1 female 8 yrs old so you can see they can lives long lives. Keep us updated on yours please.

 

[tofuii]

I will be sure to keep updating on them! I was so shocked to have hatched 4 out of 6 eggs from everything I read about how finicky they are in incubation. I think all four are girls but I could be wrong; when I first tried to sex them I thought I sexed the yellow and brown as male but I have yet to see a little penis again in my attempts - I'm in this for the long haul and they're all very hand social at this point which makes me happy, two are even cuddlers.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well that would be a miracle to have all girls I hope you do!