Muscovy Ducks

[Amax]

Hi everyone

I am new to Ducks (and chickens actually). And have some questions please.

About 16 weeks ago I acquired a breeding pair of muscovies and 6 ducklings.

The male breeder is the father of the ducklings but the female is not the mother, although she took them under her wing immediately and looked after them from little. Male breeder is a big boy but the female breeder is tiny, much smaller than even the smallest duckling now. Actually the ducklings are adults now (around 16 weeks?)

I have given the Ducklings extra time and am now preparing to dispatch them (probably tomorrow). I have several questions that I need answering please.

I do not know how old the breeding pair are. I was told that they could be about 2 years old, but the person I got them from was unsure as they got them from someone else and consequently it is like
chinese wispers I am afraid. Is there anyway of guesstimating their age?

Second question. I think that I have 3 males and 3 females ducklings. Two of the females are bigger than the other one though but smaller than the 3 definite male ducklings. Could the 2 big females be males?

I am planning to slaughter the males and keep the 3 females as layers but obviously I don't want to slaughter the males if I should be keeping one of the males to either replace the male breeder that I already have or keep him along side the male breeder. I know that this is probably not a good idea and really should only have one male although I have read mixed ideas about having two males. If it is not a good idea to keep two males, should I keep the original male or one of his male offspring?

I can send photos of the ducks if this helps?

Thanks so much for your help

Amax

 

[Amax]

All these duck experts and not advice?

 

[Going Quackers]

Hi everyone

I am new to Ducks (and chickens actually). And have some questions please.

About 16 weeks ago I acquired a breeding pair of muscovies and 6 ducklings.

The male breeder is the father of the ducklings but the female is not the mother, although she took them under her wing immediately and looked after them from little. Male breeder is a big boy but the female breeder is tiny, much smaller than even the smallest duckling now. Actually the ducklings are adults now (around 16 weeks?)

I have given the Ducklings extra time and am now preparing to dispatch them (probably tomorrow). I have several questions that I need answering please.

I do not know how old the breeding pair are. I was told that they could be about 2 years old, but the person I got them from was unsure as they got them from someone else and consequently it is like
chinese wispers I am afraid. Is there anyway of guesstimating their age?

Second question. I think that I have 3 males and 3 females ducklings. Two of the females are bigger than the other one though but smaller than the 3 definite male ducklings. Could the 2 big females be males?

I am planning to slaughter the males and keep the 3 females as layers but obviously I don't want to slaughter the males if I should be keeping one of the males to either replace the male breeder that I already have or keep him along side the male breeder. I know that this is probably not a good idea and really should only have one male although I have read mixed ideas about having two males. If it is not a good idea to keep two males, should I keep the original male or one of his male offspring?

I can send photos of the ducks if this helps?

Thanks so much for your help

Amax

No way to guess the age, after certain significant stages could be anybodies guess.

Scovies are all about size, drakes outsize females and females have a range of vocals from coos, trills to hiss and a quack where as drakes only hiss.

Here a young pair of mine, drakelet in behind, duck in front.


NO way would i keep 2 drakes and only 3 females.. the min per drake is at least 2-3 you'll have overbred females, fighting males and general discord.

If the ducklings were not even this pairs you have no idea what they'll produce i would breed them first before deciding on either of their merits as a breeding pair.

GL!