Muscovy Questions

[Miss Lydia]

Then of course as they mature 12 weeks on the females will trill and the drakes will huff an hiss and the drakes get their carnucles in quicker.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

My main concern is that the ducks would fly over the fence and into the neighbor’s yard. Should I provide a kiddie pool or pond or anything for the ducks when it gets colder? The water would probably just try to freeze over but I don’t know if ducks can get pneumonia or anything like that. Not sure what the lowest temperature tolerance is that they can handle. Regardless they would have shelter, of course, when the time comes. As of right now they are still ducklings - only two weeks old !

I have trimmed feathers - I just don't unless needed. Flying over a fence would need feathers trimmed.
I had a broody and she was not listening to me to not get broody in the chicken coop, so I trimmed her feathers so she would stay out of the coop. Somehow she still managed to get over the 4.5' fencing. But, eventually she quit trying.
As far as cold weather, I provide water deep enough for heads and rubber bowls, but no real bathing. I have a few heaters in the waterers to keep them from getting frozen.
Sometimes my ducks will still attempt to bathe when it's freezing out, but it doesn't hurt them.

 

[BlueHorse17]

I only tried vent sexing once on my gosling yep said it was a girl nope is a gander. Lol
About 4-6 weeks of age the drakes really start to out grow the females. They have a long stream lined look to them from top of head to tip of tail, legs sit farther apart than females too females look like they could step on their own feet but of course they don’t. Their legs just sit closer together they have rounded bodies like a football. Some Muscovy ducklings I can tell female by their faces they just look feminine but not at 2 weeks they all pretty much look the same.

What would you say is the earliest that you might be able to tell by looking at their faces? I might get back to you with some photos! It was pretty sad because I just got done incubating forty-two eggs and only five of them hatched! Two of them we had to help out of the shell.

Not sure what went wrong. I also incubated some other ducks and out of the sixteen eggs, twelve of them hatched. I heard Muscovies are difficult to incubate. Must be true then?

 

[BlueHorse17]

I have trimmed feathers - I just don't unless needed. Flying over a fence would need feathers trimmed.
I had a broody and she was not listening to me to not get broody in the chicken coop, so I trimmed her feathers so she would stay out of the coop. Somehow she still managed to get over the 4.5' fencing. But, eventually she quit trying.
As far as cold weather, I provide water deep enough for heads and rubber bowls, but no real bathing. I have a few heaters in the waterers to keep them from getting frozen.
Sometimes my ducks will still attempt to bathe when it's freezing out, but it doesn't hurt them.

This is my first time having ducks so it’s all brand new experiences for me! We have a six foot high fence around the perimeter of our backyard, but I was still thinking of having them in some sort of inclosure. Well, with plenty of room to still roam around and such. The wintertime was also another concern. That and we get rain like seven months out of the year, but I’m assuming rain is no problem for them? I know they like to play in it, but is mud bad long term for their hygiene?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here’s is info on hatching scovy eggs. I don’t Own an incubator I have Muscovy lol they have hatched for me A goose, Runners and Buffs and of course Muscovy. Usually by around 8-10-12 weeks in my own flock I’ve been able to pick out females https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubating-and-hatching-muscovy-eggs.63532/

 

[Crazy Maizie]

This is my first time having ducks so it’s all brand new experiences for me! We have a six foot high fence around the perimeter of our backyard, but I was still thinking of having them in some sort of inclosure. Well, with plenty of room to still roam around and such. The wintertime was also another concern. That and we get rain like seven months out of the year, but I’m assuming rain is no problem for them? I know they like to play in it, but is mud bad long term for their hygiene?

Long term it could be. But they do love to stand in the rain and love mud puddles.

 

[Miss Lydia]

When it rains instead of my Muscovy paying in the rain or mud they stand stalk still like statues. While the Runners and B uffs are having a blast.

 

[BlueHorse17]

Here’s is info on hatching scovy eggs. I don’t Own an incubator I have Muscovy lol they have hatched for me A goose, Runners and Buffs and of course Muscovy. Usually by around 8-10-12 weeks in my own flock I’ve been able to pick out females https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubating-and-hatching-muscovy-eggs.63532/

Thank you! I’ll read the article later today, and probably try another batch of eggs next month after I clean out the incubators. Can’t wait till one of my current little guys gets old enough to hatch their own eggs!

 

[BlueHorse17]

Long term it could be. But they do love to stand in the rain and love mud puddles.

Thanks! I’m just worried about bumble foot becoming an issue. I guess as long as sanitary things are kept up there shouldn’t be any issues.

 

[BlueHorse17]

Do either one of you have a chart or know how I can possibly tell what color my ducklings might be? Like for example one is black with black feet, and a little bit of brown on the chest. The other two have yellow bellies and dark brown backs.