Muscovy owners, I need your help

[MallardDuckling]

I've been looking into Muscovy Ducks today. They are really growing on me.

All I really know is they don't quack. I know they hiss (can't remember if this was just males, or males and females).

They wag their tails. I know it's communication with others, but is there other reasons why?

They can fly, females better than males.

They like to perch.

They have sharp claws.

I know their origin and that they are a meat bird, but that's really about it.


Is there a way to sex them when they are ducklings? I'd really like a couple females, as I read a lot of people have had problems with the males.

How are their personalities? Are they friendly, outgoing, love attention? Or are the shy, nervous and timmid?

I found someone not too far from where I live that just hatched some recently.

 

[Going Quackers]

Let's see...

The hens do quack they just don't do it very often, they also peep and chirp, there is a trilling sound almost like a mourning dove. The drakes hiss which at first can be a bit startling but you get used to it.

They do wag there tags, both genders.. i really don't know if it's a genuine form of communication.. but all mine do it when I speak to them LoL

Yep, they can fly.. the drakes are usually to heavy to get far off the ground, either way all my birds are un-clipped.

They do like to roost, i have a shelf in my barn for them they are always up on it in the mornings.

Sharp claws? you bet, drakes have the longest .. they shred your clothes like a razor so caution must be used.. like i would never pick up one of my birds without gloves.

Some can vent sex, otherwise it's trickier usually dependent upon a few features.. males will outsize.outgrow the females.. they make different sounds and legs/feet sizing varies. I knew by about 3mths what i had first go round.. after awhile you tend to spot it better but i think Muscovy are one of the more difficult breeds to sex.

I am unaware that the drakes of this breed are anymore difficult than any other? I have 3 drakes, one is a real sweetie.. he likes to be petted the other two are of no concern in the least..

I find them middle of the road, they are neither timid nor in your pocket but i don't raise my birds to be, they all herd for us and i can pick up any bird if necessary. I find mine quite outgoing and curious, good foragers and generally well behaved(not destructive)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Let's see...

The hens do quack they just don't do it very often, they also peep and chirp, there is a trilling sound almost like a mourning dove. The drakes hiss which at first can be a bit startling but you get used to it.

They do wag there tags, both genders.. i really don't know if it's a genuine form of communication.. but all mine do it when I speak to them LoL

Yep, they can fly.. the drakes are usually to heavy to get far off the ground, either way all my birds are un-clipped.

They do like to roost, i have a shelf in my barn for them they are always up on it in the mornings.

Sharp claws? you bet, drakes have the longest .. they shred your clothes like a razor so caution must be used.. like i would never pick up one of my birds without gloves.

Some can vent sex, otherwise it's trickier usually dependent upon a few features.. males will outsize.outgrow the females.. they make different sounds and legs/feet sizing varies. I knew by about 3mths what i had first go round.. after awhile you tend to spot it better but i think Muscovy are one of the more difficult breeds to sex.

I am unaware that the drakes of this breed are anymore difficult than any other? I have 3 drakes, one is a real sweetie.. he likes to be petted the other two are of no concern in the least..

I find them middle of the road, they are neither timid nor in your pocket but i don't raise my birds to be, they all herd for us and i can pick up any bird if necessary. I find mine quite outgoing and curious, good foragers and generally well behaved(not destructive)

Very good description.

 

[MallardDuckling]

Let's see...

The hens do quack they just don't do it very often, they also peep and chirp, there is a trilling sound almost like a mourning dove. The drakes hiss which at first can be a bit startling but you get used to it.

They do wag there tags, both genders.. i really don't know if it's a genuine form of communication.. but all mine do it when I speak to them LoL

Yep, they can fly.. the drakes are usually to heavy to get far off the ground, either way all my birds are un-clipped.

They do like to roost, i have a shelf in my barn for them they are always up on it in the mornings.

Sharp claws? you bet, drakes have the longest .. they shred your clothes like a razor so caution must be used.. like i would never pick up one of my birds without gloves.

Some can vent sex, otherwise it's trickier usually dependent upon a few features.. males will outsize.outgrow the females.. they make different sounds and legs/feet sizing varies. I knew by about 3mths what i had first go round.. after awhile you tend to spot it better but i think Muscovy are one of the more difficult breeds to sex.

I am unaware that the drakes of this breed are anymore difficult than any other? I have 3 drakes, one is a real sweetie.. he likes to be petted the other two are of no concern in the least..

I find them middle of the road, they are neither timid nor in your pocket but i don't raise my birds to be, they all herd for us and i can pick up any bird if necessary. I find mine quite outgoing and curious, good foragers and generally well behaved(not destructive)

Thank you so much, that's just what I needed. From what I've read and learned about them, I think I would really enjoy this breed.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I just got my first trio of muscovies today. I already love them! They are very quiet. (which the neighbors will appreciate, much more than the guineas I wanted at first.) So far they seem pretty tame, but I haven't really gotten to know them yet.

 

[PlumTuckered]

I've got Mallards, Pekin, Runner and Muscovies. The Muscovy is by far my favorite duck! The Gals' talking is a wonderful sing song trilling and the Drakes huff when they talk. The only time my girls have actually quacked was when startled by something but the quack is no where near as loud as a Mallard or Pekin. I've been very fortunate with my scovies, I'm pretty much a hands on person with them and they accept it. One of my scovey gals is what I call my lapduck...I can pick her up at anytime, she'll often even step up on my feet and look up as if to say aren't you gonna snuggle me? LOL My other's just put up with me picking them up. So far 2 of my 3 scovey Gals have hatched babies out (7 and 19), they're amazing Mammas, my Drake is even wonderful with the babies. I have vent sexed scovey ducklings before but I usually just wait until they are 3 weeks old to decide by the difference in their head shape and foot size. So far I've been lucky and 100% right. My Drake and 2 of my Gals decided at the age of 11 months that they no longer wanted to sleep in the duck house and chose a limb high up in one of my big pine trees...they are now almost 15 months old and to this day roost on that limb every night. My other Gal ( my lapduck) still insists on sleeping in the duck house with my non flying ducks every night. My Drake will stand by the duck pen every evening until he sees all the girls head into the house then he stands beside the house until I lock it up, he then gets the other gals and they fly up into the pine tree. I can set a clock by my scovies LOL

I handle all of my ducklings from the moment I buy them or they hatch and must say that I find the Muscovy by far the best "pet" type of duck. They've got the most wonderful personalities

Michelle

 

[MallardDuckling]

I just got my first trio of muscovies today. I already love them! They are very quiet. (which the neighbors will appreciate, much more than the guineas I wanted at first.) So far they seem pretty tame, but I haven't really gotten to know them yet.

I must say I cannot wait till I am able to get mine!
I am takling with 3 people about their ducks. I have one person in perticular I'm waiting for a relpy back to know when they hatched and when I can come out.

 

[MallardDuckling]

I've got Mallards, Pekin, Runner and Muscovies. The Muscovy is by far my favorite duck! The Gals' talking is a wonderful sing song trilling and the Drakes huff when they talk. The only time my girls have actually quacked was when startled by something but the quack is no where near as loud as a Mallard or Pekin. I've been very fortunate with my scovies, I'm pretty much a hands on person with them and they accept it. One of my scovey gals is what I call my lapduck...I can pick her up at anytime, she'll often even step up on my feet and look up as if to say aren't you gonna snuggle me? LOL My other's just put up with me picking them up. So far 2 of my 3 scovey Gals have hatched babies out (7 and 19), they're amazing Mammas, my Drake is even wonderful with the babies. I have vent sexed scovey ducklings before but I usually just wait until they are 3 weeks old to decide by the difference in their head shape and foot size. So far I've been lucky and 100% right. My Drake and 2 of my Gals decided at the age of 11 months that they no longer wanted to sleep in the duck house and chose a limb high up in one of my big pine trees...they are now almost 15 months old and to this day roost on that limb every night. My other Gal ( my lapduck) still insists on sleeping in the duck house with my non flying ducks every night. My Drake will stand by the duck pen every evening until he sees all the girls head into the house then he stands beside the house until I lock it up, he then gets the other gals and they fly up into the pine tree. I can set a clock by my scovies LOL

I handle all of my ducklings from the moment I buy them or they hatch and must say that I find the Muscovy by far the best "pet" type of duck. They've got the most wonderful personalities

Michelle

I'm so glad to hear that. Each time I see someone talk about their Muscovy or I read about them, I fall more in love with the breed. I can't wait to bring mine home and interact with them. Like you I'm a hands on person with anything, so I'm glad to know that yours accept it. I'm hoping that with a lot of work and dedication mine will too.

 

[Going Quackers]

I must say I cannot wait till I am able to get mine!
I am takling with 3 people about their ducks. I have one person in perticular I'm waiting for a relpy back to know when they hatched and when I can come out.

Good luck! hopefully, you can find some. I had a very hard time locating any, especially when i needed more hens that is why i have allowed several of my hens to starts nests.. i will increase my girls by my own ducks lol

 

[MallardDuckling]

Good luck! hopefully, you can find some. I had a very hard time locating any, especially when i needed more hens that is why i have allowed several of my hens to starts nests.. i will increase my girls by my own ducks lol

I thought I would have a harder time finding Muscovies. Within 2 days of looking, I have found 3 people who claim to have Muscovies.