Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[Pyxis]

Well, I now know I was right to clip their wings. Couldn't find the escaped birds last night so I called it quits and went over today and asked the neighbors if they had seen them. They had - someone came barreling up the road way too fast and hit them both. He had pulled them out of the road and set them off to the side in a little area to give to me, since he was planning on telling me later. He offered to bury them for me which was nice. So my poor little girls did get hit by a car. The person never even stopped. Apparently someone also hit the neighbor's dog the other day too and he's worried about his young son, as I would be. So now I know I made the right choice with my drake and my last duck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, I now know I was right to clip their wings. Couldn't find the escaped birds last night so I called it quits and went over today and asked the neighbors if they had seen them. They had - someone came barreling up the road way too fast and hit them both. He had pulled them out of the road and set them off to the side in a little area to give to me, since he was planning on telling me later. He offered to bury them for me which was nice. So my poor little girls did get hit by a car. The person never even stopped. Apparently someone also hit the neighbor's dog the other day too and he's worried about his young son, as I would be. So now I know I made the right choice with my drake and my last duck.

I am so sorry to hear this,

Yes you did do the right things or it could have been all 4 of them.

 

[Double Kindness]

I can't even seem to be able to catch one of my muscovies to put in the coop, much less clip their wings. Today made me nervous, it looked like they were all about to take flight out of the run. I need to do something to prevent escapes and losing any. We have lots of raccoon, skunk and foxes, I don't want to lose my birds.

Best way to catch muscovy ducks? My bf tried to pick up one of my silver ones, and it ripped him up really well and he was dripping blood and has a good sized scar.

I just spent 2 hours digging up the raised garden bed working in some compost which they loved. All the rain we've gotten all year has made the earthworms prolific.

About how much does each adult duck eat a day? I seem to be going through the 18% protein all flock pellets I ferment VERY FAST! Am I feeding them too much, or do they really eat this much at this size?

I only should over winter 3-4, but I have 10. I would like to have sex linked ducklings, but idk if the chocolates are drakes or ducks?

 

[Onlyducks]

I use a butterfly net to catch my Muscovies (it's often one-time use only—a fishing net would work too). I have to get them cornered to do it and it usually takes both my husband and I to get them cornered and caught. You do need to be careful of those very sharp claws—maybe wear welding gloves to hang on to them. When we clipped wings, my husband would hold the duck, while wearing a heavy shirt, and I clipped the wings. I know when we bought them up, the breeder was afraid I was not paying attention to the claws—but I had a parka on and was very aware of the location of the feet. The breeder used a modified golf club that hooked their legs and then pulled them up and held them upside down by one leg to get ahold of them. I didn't really like the looks of that procedure, but it was effective. He had been using that method for years.

I last bought Layer and Scratch grain (40 to 50 lb bags each) on 9/9. There's about 10 to 12 lbs remaining. I have 6 full grown muscovies. Before that, when I had these ducks and two Pekins, I bought about 50 lbs per month. My ducks just eat what they seem to need. My best estimate is I feed 2 to 3 cups of layer feed and a cup or so of scratch at night. Many mornings there is still food in the pan and I don't add more if there's food left. When there were bugs and vegetation available, they ate less. It's going into winter now and they don't forage much.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I use a butterfly net to catch my Muscovies (it's often one-time use only—a fishing net would work too). I have to get them cornered to do it and it usually takes both my husband and I to get them cornered and caught. You do need to be careful of those very sharp claws—maybe wear welding gloves to hang on to them. When we clipped wings, my husband would hold the duck, while wearing a heavy shirt, and I clipped the wings. I know when we bought them up, the breeder was afraid I was not paying attention to the claws—but I had a parka on and was very aware of the location of the feet. The breeder used a modified golf club that hooked their legs and then pulled them up and held them upside down by one leg to get ahold of them. I didn't really like the looks of that procedure, but it was effective. He had been using that method for years.

I last bought Layer and Scratch grain (40 to 50 lb bags each) on 9/9. There's about 10 to 12 lbs remaining. I have 6 full grown muscovies. Before that, when I had these ducks and two Pekins, I bought about 50 lbs per month. My ducks just eat what they seem to need. My best estimate is I feed 2 to 3 cups of layer feed and a cup or so of scratch at night. Many mornings there is still food in the pan and I don't add more if there's food left. When there were bugs and vegetation available, they ate less. It's going into winter now and they don't forage much.

Ducks or geese[water fowl ]should never be caught or hung upside down by their legs, their too heavy for it and can get injured.

 

[Onlyducks]

I had read that grabbing or lifting ducks by their legs is a very bad practice. It's not something I would do, but the breeder used this method exclusively. I prefer the butterfly net because once you have it over their heads, they often just stop moving. I would bet a blanket would work in much the same way if you could toss it over them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had read that grabbing or lifting ducks by their legs is a very bad practice. It's not something I would do, but the breeder used this method exclusively. I prefer the butterfly net because once you have it over their heads, they often just stop moving. I would bet a blanket would work in much the same way if you could toss it over them.

I've used a large fishing net but really like to herd them into a small area and catch, less stress for the duck and me. A blanket would probably work too.

 

[Onlyducks]

I've used a large fishing net but really like to herd them into a small area and catch, less stress for the duck and me. A blanket would probably work too.

Whatever works. In my case, and others probably, my ducks are very rarely handled so any chance of catching them is nonexistent. They are well-trained and will follow voice commands when I tell them to go to their pen, etc. The only time I handle them is to clip wings or if one is injured. If I handled them more, catching no doubt would be easier. Again, whatever works for each person.

 

[txcarl1258]

My black female from show stock. She is my favorite with her beautiful green sheen.

 

[Going Quackers]

Once you grow accustomed to catching Muscovy it's not that hard, main keys are strong, heavy sleeved coat(i have a carhartt) and gloves..thick ones. I get the bird into a corner and ensure i have the wings down, i often tuck them under one arm.

FWIW i am small, like 5'2.. under 100lbs so this is very doable is you do it often enough, i started in scovies and have raised them for years so i have a solid method down, i would NEVER grab by legs and nets with those claws? i see trouble, be very careful, the breeder i got a duck off years ago ripped her claws permanently out readying her for me.