Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[blueoval1]

I just got a few muscovies and was wondering to I need to clip theri wings.

 

[conny63malies]

Quote:
Is this what you call "having your ducks in a row?" He haw! I'm sorry I simply could not resist. Beautiful Muscovy's. I have a breeding pair with two more hens on the way, and I can't wait!

THey used to do this because of the dog. THe dogs chain ends about 3ft sort of them and they line up right in front of the dog just being pests.

 

[farmertank]

Muscovies do fly, but it's mostly females when they are young. The older females and the males are too heavy to fly high of far. They may fly a little, but not usually to high off the gorund. all though I had one female that insisted on roosting and even though it took alot of effort she would roost up high everynight. then my male got jealouse and he some how managed to get up next to her and roost.

If they are flyers, you can clip one wing and this stops it.

keeperofthehearth ,

I would let the wings grow out, I doubt they will fly or fly far.

 

[conny63malies]

my females dont take off either, they just waddle into their shelter at night.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Here are a few pictures of my Mucovey. I have a Brown Drake, a Black Female. I also have a Brown female who has a bad leg. She gets around, but now well I have thought about culling her, but I am not breeding and she hangs with the other ducks and geese, just not as graceful.

When they arrived last year.

The drake when he was young. You can see the red on his face is still small.

The Black female

The drake all grown up, hanging with the Geese.

 

[AhBee01]

Thanks Conny!
Squeaker and her broad, Paddle looking at his youngens!

Paddle my male

Here is the clutch of 22 that were born last spring. The momma in the first pic hatched them all!

 

[theOEGBman]

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I think your last pic wins as the cutest so far! 22 babies, that is insane! Sometimes Im glad Sadie doesnt lay eggs.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Wow, 22. Wonderful clutch! AbBee01, do you have Paddle in the pen to keep him away fm Squeaker and her brood?

Question: If you only have one Drake do you need to worry that he will hurt or kill the ducklings? I've been thinking(and hoping) that if there weren't any other drakes around to compete with then you wouldn't need to worry that the male would hurt his own ducklings.

 

[farmertank]

wonder full pics. I want them all lol. Males won't hurt the babies. They will hang around while she is setting, to protect her. But, when the babies come I think he's scared of Momma, because they tend to keep their distance. They male follow them, but they never get close.

I felt bad for Max last year lol. it was really hot and everytime he got in the pool to cool down, here came Mrs. Muscovy with her 18 babies in tow.

I swear you could see a defeated expression on his face and hear him swearing under his breath, but every time he would leave and let them have all the fun. Now mind you I have 3 pools and he didn't dare get in any of them when the babies were near.

By the time the babies get their feathers, the male will be in the picture more. By then Momma wants to have a break and tends to leave the babies

and seek out adult conversation

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Thanks Farmer!

Poooor Max!

I bet he was so relieved when he had the chance to take a bath/cool off again.
had read that the male, when competing with other males, would try to hurt/kill the ducklings so that the duck would be ready to mate and lay sooner. I'd rather not have to separtate them if possible which is why I have 4 ducks to one drake right now.
I can hardly wait till my girls start laying.