Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[Buck Oakes]

Aww cute babies hope for the best

 

[Alaskan]

OK, better pictures, give me name suggestions please. The group shot is my breeding flock, the one without a name in the group shot is the one on the right and in the front.

And, her toe looks PERFECT today, no more blood, so whew! I am very happy about that.

 

[Flappers]

I got a hint that this may be the best place to get opinions on whether or not my Muscovy is male or female

I got a Muscovy for the first time and thought it was a female since it was much smaller than the others in the bunch. She/he is now going on 7 months and still hasn't laid an egg. I am starting to think "she" is really a "he"! She doesn't really make any noises unless she is alarmed and then she hisses quietly (which I have heard is a male trait). She also has what I would consider thick legs which is a male character as well (but again, I am no expert). Overall, she is still fairly small and her caruncles are just now coming in. Since females tend to get their caruncles later than males I am still crossing my fingers

. Is it still too early for laying? Today is the first official day of Spring, so it should be about that time. I have included a picture from when I got her (she is the only one with brown coloring as a duckling) as well as some current photos. She does have "angel wing" so don't be alarmed by her appearance! So... what do you think?
Thanks for the help!

 

[DaisyMeadow]

So pretty! I would lean toward female, but I'm not a seasoned expert. The last muscovy that I had with angel wing I had to use the top part of a boot sock as she wouldn't keep the tape on long enough to do anything with it. Tucked those wings right back under her, though, even if she didn't appreciate the efforts.

 

[Flappers]

I definitely would have tried the sock method had I been home. Unfortunately, she didn't show any signs of angel wing before I left on vacation and the bird watcher didn't realize it was abnormal. When I came home I was shocked by the wings since I had never seen it before. I think it gives her a bit of personality though. They wiggle all over the place when she walks

. She really doesn't seem to mind at all though.

 

[Buck Oakes]

What is angel wing?

And it's female , I live in the south so my females have more time to lay, first eggs at 6 months and first fertile eggs at 7 months so it's just depends in te climate and the duck

 

[Flappers]

"Angel wing, also known as slipped wing, crooked wing or drooped wing, is a condition of ducks and geese where the last joint of the wing is twisted and the wing feathers point out, and do not lay smooth against the body." More info is at: http://www.metzerfarms.com/AngelWing.cfm

The cause of angel wing is still unknown. Many think it is from a high protein diet, but the food I fed was specific for ducks and I have never had a problem. Other people think it's from growing up in a hot environment which is funny because this duck, Tundra, was raised in the snow! I am thinking it may be genetic, but more research is needed. You can stop it from developing by taping the wings when they start to turn out. In her case, she developed it when I was on break.

I attached a few more pictures from today since her/his caruncles have developed a bit more. Let me know if these pictures change your opinion. I am hoping its a girl though!

 

[Buck Oakes]

Deff female

 

[Flappers]

Awesome! I really hope you are right

. When should I expect eggs? I am located in Northern Oregon. Thanks!

 

[DaisyMeadow]

Awesome! I really hope you are right

. When should I expect eggs? I am located in Northern Oregon. Thanks!

Flappers, I am also in Oregon. My girl, Dinah, was hatched in October. Still no eggs from her, even though she lives in the house, where it's always room temp. So I have no thoughts on that. My older girls have already started laying for the season, though, as my first batch of ducklings arrived in mid-January. So the weather's not what's stopping her.