Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, Miss Lydia,

It is heartbreaking and continues to be as we have two more that likely won't make it.

We choose to free range our birds as we don't like to coop them all up (and we have about 160 right now) except at night. We like to have our birds be birds, swim in the creeks, forage, play and do whatever they like. But we also realize that that opens them up to disease, as anything could be in the woods or the water. The truth is that migrating birds flying over could let disease fly as they happen to be passing. So unless you keep your birds in an absolutely sterile indoor environment, you're never going to be without risk. But we can actively keep our birds away from others as much as possible and use a quarantine regimen anytime we introduce new birds. I even ask any visitors who also keep birds to spray down the bottoms of their shoes with bleach water before they walk on the grounds, and have them spray again as they get into their vehicles so they don't bring anything home with them.

We started on January 1 with four and worked our way up to a proper flock. For the most part, we have happy, healthy birds. And we work hard to keep them that way.

That's the way it is here to, If I have to sell a duckling I will meet some one instead of anyone coming here, Just better to be safe than sorry. I use Oxine AH when I go to a show or to someones house who has poultry and wash off my shoes and myself with spray before coming home. I'm sorry there are still 2 of your flock that may not make it. My flock lives as natural as possible also I don't think I'd want to keep them if they had to be closed up in a pen most of their lives. Thank you so much again for sharing this with us.

 

[Miss Lydia]

blue pullet that won reserve champion waterfowl

Gorgeous Zach.

 

[daffyduck10]

i feed daffy flock raiser ive tried the oyster shell but she wouldnt eat them and she free ranges for most of the day

 

[Miss Lydia]

i feed daffy flock raiser ive tried the oyster shell but she wouldnt eat them and she free ranges for most of the day

I don't always see my ducks etc eating it but it goes down so they must be. I put it in a separate bowl and they eat it as needed. since you just have daffy it will probably not show usage as much but I'd keep it out for her because when her body is ready to begin laying she'll probably seek it out. I feed FR too. and since she is still young you probably won't see an egg till spring. Funny my 7 month old was laying in a nest box the other day like she was practicing. So cute.

 

[daffyduck10]

every now and then she'll look like shes making a nest in her pen and sometimes she does this weird thing were she lays down and kicks her legs back i dont know if that has anything to do with laying but its cute lol

 

[The Howards]

every now and then she'll look like shes making a nest in her pen and sometimes she does this weird thing were she lays down and kicks her legs back i dont know if that has anything to do with laying but its cute lol

Sounds like she is practicing making nests. Our other breed ducks did it and the chickens all practiced making nests before they started laying. It is fun to watch them do it because they seem so serious and intent on the process. One of ours will get out look around it and then hop back in to make changes she determines is necessary.

 

[muskuslove]

Finally some sun over here...




And finally my youngest duck understands the benefits of a duckhouse...




And some food is always good...


Or eating some mealworms as fast as you can...


Moooooore please......


Oh, someone is pulling my sleeve...


And last but not least... a funny pic...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Finally some sun over here...




And finally my youngest duck understands the benefits of a duckhouse...




And some food is always good...


Or eating some mealworms as fast as you can...


Moooooore please......


Oh, someone is pulling my sleeve...


And last but not least... a funny pic...

Gorgeous pics as always, and what a beautiful place you live in.

 

[muskuslove]

Thanks Miss Lydia! I love looking at your pics too. And Keeperofthearth. But all the credits go to the ducks! They are truly top models!!

And ofcourse everyone elses muscovy`s! Just can`t get enough of looking at those pictures!!

 

[daffyduck10]

daffy has become unbareable everytime i try to feed her or touch her she bites me very hard its become every single time i do anything with her. i dont want to leave her at the park because shes not wild obviously. there are farms nearby that would probably take her but im so afraid they wont treat her the same as we do or they might even eat her. does anyone have any advice of anything i could to do to make her stop biting or a good place to take her? she is a good, sweet duck sometimes though and very trusting of people she just gets crazy sometimes. she also only acts like this with me and sometimes she'll attack our cat the same way.