Muscovy, the underground black market duck.. a rant

[gmendoza]

Im on the corner selling muscovy ducks...

Under my trenchcoat..

You wanna duck?

You'll by one,but will be back for more.....

mhwahahahahaha!!

Black market ducks

 

[Going Quackers]

While i don't think online buying of birds is something that common at least in the country i live, i did get my first batch from a hatchery(they deal through the farm supply i use).. they carry the breed ongoing.. finding them in colours proves a touch more difficult and i resorted to auctions/farmers market and private sales to gain my birds with colour.

 

[ultasol]

First off, the USDA has some awfully hefty fines associated with illegal activity. Please be careful, and don't encourage illegal activity. Secondly,.. there are hatcheries that sell them. Exhibition birds are also exempt, but be responsible and don't turn ducks loose, band your ducks with a permanent band (wing band or metal band) so they are clearly identifiable as a domestic duck. Also, either keep the wings trimmed or pinion.

It is birdkeepers that have caused this legislation as released or escaped birds have bred and threaten wild species and native ecosystems.


Also, you can buy muscovy ducklings from Mr. Urch of Turnland/Urch. It's a hatchery specializing in birds that tend towards exhibition.

Additionally, the reason hatcheries don't deal with muscovies is #1 the ducklings don't ship well- ask Metzer. #2 they are seasonal, and late, layers. People want ducklings in early spring.

I just want to make sure misinformation doesn't get spread.

- legal muscovy owner.

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

Quote:
Awesome Post....

I also am a Legal Muscovy owner, all my birds are metal banded and in covered pens.

 

[fowlman01]

I'm legal. Duane Urch has awesome Muscovies.

Walt

 

[Caprice_Acres]

Do you use permanent leg bands or wing bands? I believe 'legal' muscovies with leg bands MUST have SEAMLESS metal leg bands by 6 weeks OR at time of sale. This is, as you know, impossible, because muscovies grow a LOT even in the ankle region.

I have metal legbands but haven't banded my stock yet. They're the bands that you need an applicator tool to use, and are not seamless. It was the best I could do, as I'm not removing a toe or pinioning adult birds - I may consider tattooing their foot web but I haven't decided yet.

I had not seen that a wing band was a 'legal' form of marking domestic muscovy. I haven't read the regulations in a while but it WAS pinioning, removal of a toe, tattoo, or permanent seamless leg band for proper forms of ID. Other forms of seamed leg band and wing band were not considered permanent enough.

Last I heard, they were not enforcing anything anyways, and it's even better news that they've reversed the ruling.

My 'scovies all don't fly, maybe get about waist/head high on rare occassions. Otherwise they stay grounded. I trim all youngsters once they start flapping, and as they age they tend to loose the ability fly. Rarely a female will practice enough to sorta fly downhill towards the coop area, but I just scoop her up and trim feathers. Drakes usually only require the first wing trimming to stay grounded, and females usually only 2x at most, some once.

I think we're overwintering about 30, I would guesstimate. I haven't counted in a while but I should soon because we're finally down to our overwintering number.

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

http://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8_27&zenid=80d484e4529e5769f7a9f6953ba68f59
Those have a seam but are sealed. I am pretty sure they consider those to be ok. I use different metal bands on mine.

I would guess those should be fine.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
they are considered permanent. I was in on some of the original talks with fish and game and no one is going to have trouble raising them. They made a mistake based on lack of complete information when they pushed that through.

Walt

 

[Caprice_Acres]

Those are the kind I bought but haven't used yet because I didn't know if I should just tattoo instead. Good to know.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have those colored ties on my muscovies [tie wraps] I think is what they are called, thats all they get till someone drives back here and tells me different. And I mostly have them because I have 3 girls that are solid white and I can't tell them apart.