Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[muscovy man14]

The little ones took selfies today! Lol!

For some reason they look like wood ducklings to me lol

 

[Jharper]

For some reason they look like wood ducklings to me lol

I know! They are sales than I thought they would be! I guess that's just what happens when you have a new layer.

 

[muscovy man14]

What do u mean by "sales" and a "new layer" lolol

 

[Alaskan]

I always have heard that the eggs don't start developing until the duck starts to sit 24/7

I actually don't know for sure. hummmmmm I guess I need to research that.

As for candling, a really strong flashlight up against your egg while you hold it. You cup your hand around the top of the flashlight, so that you both hold the egg steady and try to keep all of the light only going to the egg, none into the room. If the flashlight is super big, you can always tape over most of the light area to make it smaller.

This article has great pictures of candling eggs. I know they are chicken eggs, but they will look the same, just the growth will be a bit different since the incubation time is different, ducks are slower. I am remembering that correctly, right? Chickens are 21 days and ducks are 28?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs

 

[muscovy man14]

U

I actually don't know for sure.  hummmmmm  I guess I need to research that.

As for candling, a really strong flashlight up against your egg while you hold it.  You cup your hand around the top of the flashlight, so that you both hold the egg steady and try to keep all of the light only going to the egg, none into the room.  If the flashlight is super big, you can always tape over most of the light area to make it smaller.

This article has great pictures of candling eggs.  I know they are chicken eggs, but they will look the same, just the growth will be a bit different since the incubation time is different, ducks are slower.  I am remembering that correctly, right?  Chickens are 21 days and ducks are 28?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs

yes that's right but you also have to remember that Muscovys take 35 day not 28

 

[Alaskan]

Thanks! I couldn't remember off the top of my head, and didn't want to look it up.

 

[SouthernPride]

My smooshy has finally started sitting full time on a nest. There are a mixture of duck eggs under her so I'm really excited to see what hatches. I have a Pekin, black Swedish and a rouen. The drakes are blue Swedish, Cayuga, and rouen. Smooshy, the only Muscovy has been allowing all males to mate with her. Since I only have 2 nests with 40+ eggs between the two, it's a real mystery. My question for all who have been thru this, once they hatch, how will the other ducks treat the ducklings? Do I need to protect them or keep them separated from the others.

 

[MuscovyLover]

Thanks guys! I think I will give it just a few more day and see.
My biggest girl is going into the pen for an hour or so a few times a day and is moving the eggs around. They almost look like she's got them lined up in rows of sizes lol. She's the one who keeps throwing out the soft egs too so hopefully she turns full broody very soon. Oh how I'm hopeful!
I attempted candling but to be honest I only tried three and I couldn't see anything. I didn't want to take many away from the nest in case they caught me:-/ The three I looked at were clear? But one of the soft shell ones had something in it when it broke.
I'll upload the pic I took of it.

 

[MuscovyLover]

This was what was inside one of the soft eggs my girl tossed.
Is that fertile but just not yet developed?

 

[MuscovyLover]

The little ones took selfies today! Lol!

How adorable!!