Muscovy hen trying again

[Miss Lydia]

We haven't tried the duck eggs yet, but we plan to soon. I hear muscovy eggs are delicious.

They are and so wonderful in baked goods too. Congrats on you new Mallards.

 

[horsemom1326]

Well, of the muscovies that hatched out on April 10, it appears that 2 are male muscovies, and I am assuming the female is a hinny. She's small like her mama, she's the softest solid light silver color, she has the bean on her bill and is developing the caruncles on the bill, but she honks like a female duck. I've never had a female Muscovy that honked. Mama just sat her third clutch this season, but only a few were fertilized, and all of those rotted. Saturday, my pekin hen, Margaret, hatched her eggs. Imagine my surprise when they turned out to be mallard crosses since we have a pekin drake, Dennis. She only hatched 3. At this point, there is one that has a black head with a yellow chest and yellow tips on its wings which I'm really excited about. The other 2 look just like the other 26 mallard ducklings that my mallard hen has hatched this season I know the female Muscovy cross will not be able to reproduce, but I'm wondering if the pekin/mallard crosses are considered mules as well. I'm also curious about identifiers that would indicate whether my male Muscovy juveniles are in fact full Muscovy or whether they may be crossbreeds as well. I have pictures, but have been unable to get them to post from my phone Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, of the muscovies that hatched out on April 10, it appears that 2 are male muscovies, and I am assuming the female is a hinny. She's small like her mama, she's the softest solid light silver color, she has the bean on her bill and is developing the caruncles on the bill, but she honks like a female duck. I've never had a female Muscovy that honked. Mama just sat her third clutch this season, but only a few were fertilized, and all of those rotted. Saturday, my pekin hen, Margaret, hatched her eggs. Imagine my surprise when they turned out to be mallard crosses since we have a pekin drake, Dennis. She only hatched 3. At this point, there is one that has a black head with a yellow chest and yellow tips on its wings which I'm really excited about. The other 2 look just like the other 26 mallard ducklings that my mallard hen has hatched this season I know the female Muscovy cross will not be able to reproduce, but I'm wondering if the pekin/mallard crosses are considered mules as well. I'm also curious about identifiers that would indicate whether my male Muscovy juveniles are in fact full Muscovy or whether they may be crossbreeds as well. I have pictures, but have been unable to get them to post from my phone Thanks!

Congrats to you for all the ducklings that have hatched. your Pekin/Mallard crosses will be able to reproduce since they come from the Mallard originally. Hope you can get pics uploaded would love to see these babies.

 

[horsemom1326]

I was able to load a few pictures from my computer












Female hinny?

Male muscovy?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was able to load a few pictures from my computer












Female hinny?

Male muscovy?

I love the pic of the mama Pekin and her babies, so precious. and your girl looks to be full Scovy looking at bean tip and carnuckles coming in. And that does look to be a drake Muscovy beautiful colors. Are those 2 from same hatch?

 

[horsemom1326]

Thanks so much for the helpful info, Miss Lydia. It makes sense. The pretty little dove gray is your name sake Her name is Lydia. Thank you so much for giving me the courage to help them hatch. So far, the muscovy is at a 0% success rate letting nature take it's course. Out of 3 clutches, these 3 are the only survivors, and they're the ones that I spent 29 hours peeling shell away I hope you're able to see the pictures. I would love to hear your thoughts!

 

[horsemom1326]

Yes, ma'am. All 3 are from the same hatch, the black, the gray and white, and the silver. So far, none of the 3 have started developing the red around the eye, and I'm telling you, Little Lydia, is honking like nobody's business! No hiss to her at all. She makes as much noise as either of my adult Pekin and Mallard hens... and she's learned to fly. She thinks she's tuff stuff Her brothers are too heavy to get off the ground. She's not flying distance yet, but she sure loves flying up to the roofs of all the structures around a farm.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, ma'am. All 3 are from the same hatch, the black, the gray and white, and the silver. So far, none of the 3 have started developing the red around the eye, and I'm telling you, Little Lydia, is honking like nobody's business! No hiss to her at all. She makes as much noise as either of my adult Pekin and Mallard hens... and she's learned to fly. She thinks she's tuff stuff Her brothers are too heavy to get off the ground. She's not flying distance yet, but she sure loves flying up to the roofs of all the structures around a farm.

I swear I see Carnuckles appearing

hmm must be mixed if your hearing more honking than an adult Pekin an Mallard. She sure is pretty all of them are, would you be terrible disappointed if they were?

 

[horsemom1326]

The newest hatch. Apparently, my Pekin hen cheated with the Mallard drakes

 

[Miss Lydia]

The newest hatch. Apparently, my Pekin hen cheated with the Mallard drakes

That is just adorable... I really like the 2nd on in the last pic almost completely blk head but not quite. Beautiful pics.