Muscovy keepers share your pics!

[tmorgan46]

My opinion isn't as experience based as others here, but this is what I've found so far. Our drakes are getting very randy these days. So much so that for now I've separated them from the ducks and will probably have to do the same thing with our goose. She's getting chased all over the place!! I put our ducks in with our chickens for now to keep them from getting more harassed than they were. We need to increase the number of ducks we have so the ratio is better. I'm thinking of taking one of our drakes and trading him in on two females; but that comes with a whole other set of challenges (integrating new into an existing flock). Our ducks are three of the sweetest little things and have just started laying egggs as well and seem to be getting along just fine with the chickens, in fact they all share the same nesting box! So I typically collect three chicken eggs and one duck egg at the same time. One of the other ducks doesn't use the nesting box and I find her eggs in random places throughout the coop or enclosed chicken run. So, I think if you take it slow and easy and keep them separate at first but able to see each other, then integrate them you'll be fine. But that's a very rookie opinion on the matter. And yes, I think drakes will attempt to mate anything they can... If it wasn't so serious, I'd probably chuckle a little bit watching their antics. So instead, I catch them and firmly press them to the ground until whoever is being chased is safely out of range.... Your mileage may vary ;-)

Troy & Tina

 

[Danragg]

Okay thank you for all your help! as long as they are able to fly away from the foxes that is great!

 

[chickengr]

thanks for the response! I have silkie bantams at the moment, do you think that the scovies would terrorise them when free ranging? and if not would there be any possibly of sharing a large coup? ( the chickens coop is made for 15 standards and I only have four bantams in there so plenty of room..
I was also wondering if I was to get a drake also would he attempt to mate with my silkies as I can imagine that would be fatal

What are your opinions? thanks!

I keep chickens and muscovies together. although I have a coop for ducks they prefer to sleep in the chicken's coop. there are some of them:

 

[Danragg]

I keep chickens and muscovies together. although I have a coop for ducks they prefer to sleep in the chicken's coop. there are some of them:

Hello, When people say that scovies or ducks in general are messy what is meant by this? Is it food waste or eating habits etc? Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

Dusky black:

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay thank you for all your help! as long as they are able to fly away from the foxes that is great!

I think a fox would sneak up on one before it had a chance to get away. just my opinion though.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Hello, When people say that scovies or ducks in general are messy what is meant by this? Is it food waste or eating habits etc? Thanks!

Ducks are mostly messy with their water. Any water they have access too they will foul up, so you will have to change it on a regular basis. Also they poop. A lot. Which is why I don't recommend leaving them (especially if you have larger flock) in one place for long as they will denude it in a short period of time.

Dusky black:

Cute!

I think a fox would sneak up on one before it had a chance to get away. just my opinion though.

This has been my experience. I lost a couple of ducks earlier this year, and both had unclipped wings. The culprit (I think fox) was able to sneak up on the duck and catch it before it could get away. @Danragg , I think you are better off clipping their wings, and keeping them up at night. Just my opinion though. Also, if you leave their wings unclipped, you run the risk of them flying away. I lost the first two scovy hens, when they decided to fly away one morning. I have really wild, skidish scovys, so that way not be a problem with tamer ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ducks are mostly messy with their water. Any water they have access too they will foul up, so you will have to change it on a regular basis. Also they poop. A lot. Which is why I don't recommend leaving them (especially if you have larger flock) in one place for long as they will denude it in a short period of time.

Cute!



This has been my experience. I lost a couple of ducks earlier this year, and both had unclipped wings. The culprit (I think fox) was able to sneak up on the duck and catch it before it could get away. @Danragg , I think you are better off clipping their wings, and keeping them up at night. Just my opinion though. Also, if you leave their wings unclipped, you run the risk of them flying away. I lost the first two scovy hens, when they decided to fly away one morning. I have really wild, skidish scovys, so that way not be a problem with tamer ducks.

My ducks are pretty tame but if they take a notion to fly they will so I chose to clip one wing rather than lose any and we have a very enticing mt river down below us that I have had to go down and get a few of mine off of when they were un clipped. Not always easy.

 

[Danragg]

I have a stream running through the property so fresh water is not a problem. I am slightly concerned that you all believe a fox could grab one before it could fly away.. This would mean no free ranging as I have seen foxes about in the day unfortunately, one of the only reasons I considered purchasing scovies us because of the water source and the abundance of flies and mosquitos but if they would be unable to fly to safety I belive I may have to reconsider.

 

[MandyJ]

Your 3 month drake tried to mate another drake or your older drake tried? I have no idea at that age if a drake knows another drake but he may. I usually don't see any mating behavior until following year with mine. Even having an older drake he doesn't mess with the young ducks until following year after hatch. Having warm temps year round may have something to do with it.

I have 2 female pekins they are 7 months old. They are continually "mating". Someone on this forum said they are doing this for dominance. Go figure! It is usually when they get clean water in their pool, which is each day. I don't see them doing anything while they are out and about.

My girls are real layers, I get 2 eggs a day from them. Will they stop laying in the winter? Our winters are mild in Texas. Do they determine whether they lay or not by the number of daylight hours? Thanks for the information.