Muscovy questions

Thank you all.
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I don't mind if they fly I just don't want them to fly away...
Have any of you ever tried/use the deep litter method? How would it work with creatures as messy as ducks?

I have used deep litter for going on 9 years, started with my ducks then started using it with my chickens 21/2 years ago, it works great, what i do is scrape off the nasties from the top everyday. then I use a pitch fork and turn the bedding over real good, once every two weeks I add more bedding and mix that in with the old. I use 1 of those pine shavings bales that you can get from TSC and thats for 10 ducks and 1 gander. for the chickens I usually add new bedding every 3 weeks because they aren't as messy as the ducks. I also use ag. lime mixed real good into the bedding to keep up with freshness and helps keep it drier. Then in the spring i remove about half only of the old bedding and then add new I don't remove all to keep the microbes going for the new bedding. I have about 10-12 " of bedding in the duck/goose area. about 12" in the chickens side.
Very good reading: http://www.plamondon.com/faq_deep_litter.html
 
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I think I might try the deep litter method. We garden with our own compost and I think that would be a lovely addition. (Last two words said with English accent for added flair) Thank you for all your info, guys. I don't know what I would do without this forum!!
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<--- I would probably be making faces like that at Google...
 
The only thing I would like to add to the great advice you have received is that:

1. You should not feed layer mash to growing ducklings but once grown it is fine.

2. Muscovy can be a problem with chickens if you have too many drakes. They may then try to mate with your chickens which is dangerous for the girls. On the positive side, if you end up with too many drakes you can fill your freezer, thats what I did.
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I really enjoy my Muscovy (both the pair outside and the ones I've had for dinner)
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1) Should I clip their wings? Do muscovies ever leave home after they are settled in?

No, They normally do not, They are pretty smart. I had a female who dissapeared all day and came back at night. (They fly VERY well..) Later I learned she was going about 3-4 blocks away to someones swimming pool all day then coming home at night to eat.

2) I feed my chickens 20% laying mash, can ducks eat that? do/can they eat scratch grains? Do they need any special feed?

Yes they can eat that, They can also eat scratch, but not as a only food source. Nothing special for them.

3) How much of their food do muscovies really forage for?

We have a 7 acre Olive orchard where some of My muscovies free range, but I dont suggest only letting them forage,... They should be fed.

4) Have you ever had problems housing your muscovies and chickens together?

I wouldnt put Chickens in with my Muscovies, but ours do free range together. I have males that can be pretty mean to just about any bird.

5) How do you take eggs from them to eat/keep them from going broody without killing the broody instinct completely? I let mine hatch their own and sometimes incubate them. Not sure you can kill the broody instinct out of a Muscovy.. lol I want them to hatch out clutches every so often but I don't need to be overrun with ducks! Why not?!?! I hatch a good 100-200 a year, sometimes more. I have lots of customers that buy mine to eat though, almost all the ones I sell are for food, I show mine so I keep all mine to atleast 5-6 months before I pick through them.


Hope that helps!

Ryan
 
Thank you, jdywntr. Trust me, I don't plan on keeping to many drakes.
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As for duckling, I was wondering about that, too. I know they can't have laying mash, so (I plan on letting mama raise them) should I set out other feed more acceptable for ducklings?
 
Well, If your layer cumbles is actually 20% protein, to me that would be a little high for ducklings. I start mine on Flock Raiser - 18% then switch them to 1/2 Layer crumbles and 1/2 flock raiser when they start to feather out to keep them from getting angel wing.
 
To Ryan: Lol about your duck using a neighbors pool! I'm not sure my neighbors would be too thrilled about that...
As for selling them as meat, I could do with some extra income...

But, if the mama duck is raising them, there is no guaranty they will eat separate feed from everyone... :hmm These are the questions that haunt me.
 
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