Muscovy....Or....Cayuga?

[SamG347]

Which would be better for the backyard? I want a bird that has the following characteristics...

Doesn't make too much of a mess
Can live with my chickens
Lays eggs and can be used for meat
Can roam around the yard and come back to the coop
Can avoid neighbhorhood dog
Friendly and Quiet

I was just visiting with a friend today that had a trio fo Cayugas. They are awesome and very quiet. But also love scovys.
HELP PLEASE

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Mallards. They lay green eggs and can be used for meat, but it has a gamey taste. They are very self-sufficient.

 

[poultrykeeper08]

well both breeds are good for what you want but withthe dog i think he could get both or the muscoveys would fly away from the dog if they werent to heavy . All ducks are messy

 

[SamG347]

The dog is just this fat little female dog that walks around. She killed some juvenile pheasants that got out of my one pen but that was it. I might just keep them in the pen. Mallards are way too loud for my neighbhor. And I don't really mind the mess....just thinking about the chickens.

 

[theOEGBman]

Your description is Scovies, all the way! And you know I love em.

 

[poultrykeeper08]

Muscoveys are selent except for a hiss every now and then . Go with them but stick with the solid colors . I dont like pieds but that is just me

 

[farmertank]

Muscovys sound good for you,
they are good meat birds and also have the light skin. and they lay lots of eggs.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Sam, your wish list is the same as mine! Do all muscovies have that blistery red beaky thing?

 

[lowcountrypoultry]

Muscovies all they way!

They are VERY quiet, and only make this "chirp" once in awhile.

They lay lots of eggs, and if you let them keep their own eggs they will set and hatch out their own babies, they are awesome parents!

Muscovies are better at coming back to their pen then my chickens! And I let my Muscovies free roam every day and only lock them up at night, they are very good at getting away from Predators, because the females love you "fly around" more than "fly away"

They are awesome meat ducks also! If you are looking for Muscovies for meat, I suggest J.M Hatchery, the males from them grow like weeds! My drake was 10lbs in about 5 months.

Best Of Luck

-Austin

 

[SamG347]

Thanks everyone! I found a member with some scovy eggs...and snatched them up!