Muscovy/magpie

[Jed MacPhee]

Hi we have a Muscovy drake and a female magpie the magpie is sitting on a clutch just now and it has seemed a lot longer than the suggested hatching times I’m wondering if they will take longer to hatch as she mated with a Muscovy?
She had kicked an egg out last week which I opened and the duckling was just about formed?

 

[SolarDuck]

Yes Muscovy eggs take longer to hatch than mallard derived eggs

I never get to see many pictures of muscovy hybrids so please keep us updated with pics when they hatch if you can

 

[Jed MacPhee]

Thanks for your reply if they are laid by a magpie but the drakes a Muscovy I was just wondering if they would take longer to hatch than a regular magpie clutch as it’s becoming concerning that they haven’t hatched yet she’s sitting on 13 so it’ll be a shame if maybe because the nights are getting quite cold that they are maybe gone?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

It's a myth that they kick out bad eggs sometimes it just happens. How long has she been nesting? Muscovy do take longer. I would imagine muscovy mules would take longer as well. But, all of the eggs might not be viable. Have you candled them at all?

 

[Jed MacPhee]

She’s probably been sitting for around 30 days I candled them recently and they looked fine still a clear air pocket and the one that she kicked out I opened to see how far on it was and it was maybe 3/4 formed possibly so I’m hoping if they are going to hatch it will be soon

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Wishing the best.

 

[SolarDuck]

Muscovy usually take 35 days so I'd wait until then before giving up

 

[Jed MacPhee]

our Muscovy was sitting on 9 eggs last time but only 4 hatched our magpie is sitting on 13 or 14 just now is it normal for a few not to hatch or do they normally all manage to hatch?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

our Muscovy was sitting on 9 eggs last time but only 4 hatched our magpie is sitting on 13 or 14 just now is it normal for a few not to hatch or do they normally all manage to hatch?

Hatch rates are affected by multiple things - the broody, if all eggs are fertile, viability due to genetics, etc... It's not "normal" when every single egg hatches if that makes sense.

 

[Jed MacPhee]

Thanks I was thinking not to expect a full hatching when only 4 from 9 hatched last time and we only have one survivor from our first brood a crow went off with one first week and we think an otter killed 2 next to the burn we live beside so only 1 left hopefully have more luck if some of these ones hatch