Muscovy questions

[Bclikeman]

I purchased some Muscovy Ducks about two or three weeks ago and I have some questions about them. Ive read that they like to perch and have things to roost on so I found some scrap wood and made a place for them to perch. (They have wooden fence beam 4in x 4in x 8ft to perch on outside and a 2x8 in the coop.) Ive never seen them roost or even try. They have zero interest in roosting. Is this normal? I also heard that they are a very broody duck but my two females won't sit on their eggs at all. Is there anything I can do to encourage broodiness and roosting? Any help is appreciated!

Are they very young? First year they are a little unpredictable

 

[Shadrach]

The Muscovies here seem to be broody the minute they lay an egg.
The females perch but the males aren't quite so good at the hopping up stuff.
Given a big enough pen or free range makes a difference to their sleeping habits.

 

[Bclikeman]

The Muscovies here seem to be broody the minute they lay an egg.
The females perch but the males aren't quite so good at the hopping up stuff.
Given a big enough pen or free range makes a difference to their sleeping habits.

If I don't clip the primary feathers on one side.they will fly circles around the farm. The males much shorter flights.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I clip one wing on my females to keep them inside their fenced property. It's very scary outside of their area. All wooded.

 

[SkyeT]

My Muscovies didn't start truly perching until about the time they all turned 1 year old. And they won't perch on logs, poles, etc. They love to hop up on the old duck house and sit up there. Since there is a brood box to the side, even the boy can hop up on that and then hop up on the roof. They love it. We tried giving them perching logs and beams but that was not preferred.

As to broody, oh my goodness. All of my girls are so moody when they begin to really make their nests, when the fluff comes out and the hole is deep. Until then, there are eggs everywhere in my backyard. But, the moment I notice one of the girls has disappeared for half the day, I go searching. Sure enough, she's confiscated other people's eggs that were laid that day and is sitting. If I go near, she yells at me, fluffs her wings and gets agitated. Hilariously, she is so agitated, that I can pick her up, in broody-sitting mode and all, and gather the eggs under her. We leave surrogates, but holy moly, the talking to that I get for even coming near is probably in need of bleeping. I have one that will get so broody that completely destroying the nest is the only way I can get her to get up and go. She would be a good momma if we ever allow her to hatch.

 

[Klutch]

Muskies originate from the amazon with all it's predators, I thinking perching is a smart thing.

 

[Klutch]

My females get a clip or otherwise they will be flying and perching (neighbor rooftop) everywhere, I had one taken in flight by a swainson's hawk.

 

[DukesDucks]

I collected some long thick old tree branches for my Muscovys. Nailed them diagonally across the frame of my coop. Them seem to love them, especially the ones by the windows so they can glare at me if I am late letting them out in the morning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My scovys roost on 2x4 so their big feet won’t get frost bite.