Muscovy Pros and Cons?

[Peep boy]

Just seen this.
Pros.:
They his and peep not quack
They arn't as fond of water like common ducks are
They are good brooders
They are excellent mothers
They taste great meat wise.
They get along great will other poultry and even cats and dogs!
Cons.:
They have CLAWS and will use them if needed!
They are very aggressive towards humans when they have babies.
They can fly.
They like to eat until theres no more food.

What do you as far as water in the wintertime?

 

[Nyla]

I used heated water buckets. Or you can use a normal bucket with a de-icer. Both work the same. I live near lake Michigan, so winters get cold. Also I don't give them water to bathe in during winter. I take out all kiddie pools and fence off the lake so they can't get in the water.

 

[FLChickens]

So glad you heard from someone else. My thought was that they probably shouldn't get in the water (I drained all my pools in winter, though I still had large water troughs for the goats, llamas, etc ... but the waterfowl didn't get in them in winter).

Your winters are very different from any I've had with poultry.

 

[hmarg06]

Last winter was my first winter with Scovies in MN, but it went pretty well. They wanted to be out no matter how cold it was. They'd much rather go out and stand in the snow, than stay in their run. I used those rubber feed pans for water and just made sure to bring out nice hot stuff twice a day. I'd think a heated bowl or bucket would work as well, you'll just have to keep the outside thawed. The downside to them is that they don't keep splashed out water from freezing, and you can get a nice little ice build up all around the outside. I had one of my Mandarins actually get his feathers frozen into it during the day. They splashed it out and then like to lay next to the dish and he was froze down. That's the only thing I've ever had an issue with in winter with the ducks, and it only happened once. Just something to be aware of.

I didn't have any issues with frostbite or anything like that. As long as they had the option to go lay inside if they got cold. They also get locked in at night, otherwise sometimes on really snowy, full moon nights when it's really bright they'd lay out there all night long.

 

[Peep boy]

Thanks all! I love all your advice! I'll provide a kiddie pool until winter, and then give them a bucket with a de-icer. Not quite sure where to put it so the birds don't poop in it, but I'm going to move some perches around to make room.

 

[FLChickens]

If you're planning to put water inside the coop itself, I'd try first for another option. Muscovies aren't quite as bad as some but waterfowl in general can create conditions that are far too wet to be healthy if given water inside a coop.

 

[Peep boy]

Don't worry. I'm planning and always have kept water out of the coop. I have some outside perches that are above it.

 

[Meg Muir]

Scovies rock! I keep mine with wings clipped so they don't roost on the roof of their shelter in their pen anymore (it's about waist height stable style) but I change their bedding where they sleep at night because they are so messy. I don't have aggression issues unless hand feeding meal worms, they can get a bit snappy but think that's more because they want them so badly and not from aggression. I have 3 girlies and they started laying August 3rd and to date I have had on average 3 eggs a day with one girl taking 3 days off but she has started up again. We don't eat the eggs as quickly as they are being laid, but we try do alot of baking. They are quiet, great foragers and weeders (in the drought that's the only thing that seems to have survived!) They dont spend as much time in the water as other ducks so my bio filter system in the bath tub I have set up in their pen is not under as much strain as it should be. The only disadvantage I have is their claws, they can be quite hectic, so I learnt to clip wings at night while they are passive to save my arms. Oh and another disadvantage is that indefinitely don't have enough of them!

 

[Peep boy]

Scovies rock! I keep mine with wings clipped so they don't roost on the roof of their shelter in their pen anymore (it's about waist height stable style) but I change their bedding where they sleep at night because they are so messy. I don't have aggression issues unless hand feeding meal worms, they can get a bit snappy but think that's more because they want them so badly and not from aggression. I have 3 girlies and they started laying August 3rd and to date I have had on average 3 eggs a day with one girl taking 3 days off but she has started up again. We don't eat the eggs as quickly as they are being laid, but we try do alot of baking. They are quiet, great foragers and weeders (in the drought that's the only thing that seems to have survived!) They dont spend as much time in the water as other ducks so my bio filter system in the bath tub I have set up in their pen is not under as much strain as it should be. The only disadvantage I have is their claws, they can be quite hectic, so I learnt to clip wings at night while they are passive to save my arms. Oh and another disadvantage is that indefinitely don't have enough of them!

Thanks! Mine will be allowed to range sometimes, otherwise kept in a fenced in area with a 6 foot fence. What is your bio filter system for your pond like?

 

[Meg Muir]

I have a plastic 20ltr feed bucket with a decent sized pond pump to keep the water from the bath tub circulating quickly. It works really well. I only put it in about 3 weeks ago but it's looking better and better every day. I haven't had to do a water change since. But again the scovies are only in there 2hrs before sunset to around 9 in the morning. Might be a different story if it was full time. Would have to rig up another 20ltr bucket or two me thinks....