Muscovy Ducks

[Loriflynn]

I have 10 free range muscovy ducks, started with 2 drakes and 2 hen ducks, now I have 4 drakes and 6 hens. 2 of the hens and 1 of the drakes are the original ducks I started with.
I think one of my drakes, Blackie, one of the grown up ducklings, is killing ducklings from all the hens as they hatch ducklings. This has happened several times, when duckings are only 1 week old to killings happening when they are 3 weeks old. They have free range of our large property with 3 ponds with islands and lots of places to go. One of my original drakes was fighting with Blackie when I was around and I separated them and took Louie to a large outdoor kennel and an hour later he was dead. I believe he had been injured in his neck by a wing of Blackie and he died from asphyxiation, so this is why I think Blackie is the killer. He is my favorite duck, big and beautiful, but has been brave and a little aggressive since he was a ducking. He eats worms from my hand, as most of them do. What should I do. I have 3 hens sting on eggs, hatching soon, should I catch a,l the drakes and lock them up till the duckings are 3 weeks old, since I’m not 100% sure that Blackie is the killer?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

One, you have too many drakes. You might want to think about keeping just one drake - 2 at the most.
Two, I would separate the broody ducks and then their hatchlings from the drakes. Drakes will kill ducklings (not all will, but is always best to separate).

 

[tjo804]

One, you have too many drakes. You might want to think about keeping just one drake - 2 at the most.
Two, I would separate the broody ducks and then their hatchlings from the drakes. Drakes will kill ducklings (not all will, but is always best to separate).

At what age is ok for them to meet again? I have just been given 1 drake 1 hen and two ducklings I believe to be close to if not about 8weeks old. The drake chases them away from everything! He seems happiest when they are hiding behind house. Is that normal behavior? I do think one of the ducklings is a drakeling

Thanks in advance for any advice

Edit. The Drake and hen are said to be about 4 years old.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Your new Muscovies are intruders they need to be introduced with fencing in between a resident flock will rarely accept newbies right off set up 2 pens side by side keep new ones separated try letting them live side by side for at least a week then let them all out together there maybe some chest bumping or chasing but as long as it doesn’t get serious let them work it out. And yes keep all drakes separate from moms and ducklings mine are usually around 3 weeks old before all are allowed in the same area

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

At what age is ok for them to meet again? I have just been given 1 drake 1 hen and two ducklings I believe to be close to if not about 8weeks old. The drake chases them away from everything! He seems happiest when they are hiding behind house. Is that normal behavior? I do think one of the ducklings is a drakeling

Thanks in advance for any advice

Edit. The Drake and hen are said to be about 4 years old.

Eek. More drakes?
If the ducklings are 8 weeks old, they should look pretty big - if you post a pic, we can help sex them.
If introduced properly - with a fence in between so that they can see each other, it wouldn't take long to get them in with the adults.
The drake doesn't need or want more competition. Plus, he is showing them who is boss. Is this the new drake or a drake from your existing flock?
As far as the newly hatched ducklings, I would play it by ear. See what the older ducks do when they see them in a few weeks.
But, now you have introduced a new dynamic with the 8 week old ducklings.

 

[tjo804]

Pictures then explanation. This is an adopted family of 4. First pic is Drake, daddy, Wally

This is hen / Wanda, next to her I think is duckling / Wende then up closest to me for photo is I believe drakeling / Waldo

 

[Jpat]

Pretty birds!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Pictures then explanation. This is an adopted family of 4. First pic is Drake, daddy, Wally
View attachment 1436919 View attachment 1436920 This is hen / Wanda, next to her I think is duckling / Wende then up closest to me for photo is I believe drakeling / WaldoView attachment 1436921

Ooh sorry thought you were the OP. So, these are the only muscovy you have?
Was the drake with them before? It looks like the hen has some feather issues. Either lack of water or over mating? Do you know what their set up was before?
The ducklings look to be younger than 8 weeks? I will have to go look at mine when they were 8 week old. Also, are they the same size? A draklet would be obviously bigger especially from the same hatch.
The older drake is going to put them in their place.
@Miss Lydia has muscovies and more experience than I do.

 

[tjo804]

Ok explanation. Using my tablet as dos has temp taken over my comp and tablet resets itself a lot

I was told of a Silkie couple that needed to be re homed.
When we arrived to pick them up they were Cochins but that was ok she needed to be saved from him. He plucked her back and head bare! Any way they also had a Muscovy family to re home. My daughter wanted the babies. And I said I would take the parents. So that's what we did. 48 hours later I got a call that the Silkie I wanted could come to my house just come get her. So I went. They offered a mother Muscovy and 7 ducklings to my silly sweet daughter, who started crating them before I knew she said yes. We stopped 1st at her house to let momma duck see her new home. She refused to share space with the other ducklings! So after 48 hours the 2 ducklings in the picture came to my house to be back with mom and dad. Wanda was thrilled dancing and singing to see her duckies home! They were also thrilled to be back. Wally, not so much. He has not drawn blood but grabs Waldo by the wing if he catches him. That was 2 weeks ago and now I trade out pens but for safety at night for now they are all in a covered dog pen. I also suspect over sexing on Wanda with the way her feathers are shredded so I keep her mostly with the ducklings. I hope that explains things a bit more clearly.

 

[tjo804]

Before place had goats. They had 5 gallon buckets of water. And lots of dirt. We have a small stock tank in pen a kiddie pool in play area and pans of water everywhere here. I did not know lack of water caused feather issues, good to know. Not really grass, but they do have weeds and crab grass here and I bring watermelon and peas and carrots to them daily and some solder fly larva from the compost bin.