New duck owner questions Help!

[jessicamelton]

So I rescued moscovy duck eggs because a predator got the mommy duck in a friends neighborhood. They think maybe an alligator. They all hatched after being incubated. Now I have 7 ducklings. I always wanted ducks. Being the type of ducks they are they already have all of their feathers. I have them inside in a brooder with a heat lamp. My questions are:

Should I keep all 7?
If I do not keep all 7 when should I adopt them out?
Can boys and girls be kept together?
Can I go ahead and put them outside in a chicken coop near my house, I live in florida and it's in the upper 90's here being summer and humid plus I still have the heat lamp for outside.

thank you

 

[sourland]

Keep as many as you have the space and resources for.
If they are fully feathered, they can be adopted out at any time - they no longer need supplemental heat.
Males and females can be kept together, but too many males may present a problem.
They are ready to go outside, and the heat lamp is probably not needed . I know what Florida is like in July.
Good luck with them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have found with having Muscovy since 2004 that having 1 drake to as many females as you want at least 4 then more if you want is best ratio... Muscovy drakes are very territorial and will fight like crazy if another drake is in their vicinity and it makes it really hard to keep peace in the flock.

 

[TyKyra Lancaster]

Ducklings can eat regular chick starter, but because they require more niacin than chicks, you can add brewer's yeast in their feed roughly 1/2 cup per 10 pounds of feed to help with bone growth, especially in their legs. Ducks are also very social, so make sure they have friends and are socialzed. They require fresh water all the time, do not offer food, unless they have access to water, or they will choke. Also watch the female to male ratio I'd say 7-10 females per drake (male). Look into what ducks can and can't eat, bread is a big nono, especially ducklings.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Ducklings can eat regular chick starter, but because they require more niacin than chicks, you can add brewer's yeast in their feed roughly 1/2 cup per 10 pounds of feed to help with bone growth, especially in their legs. Ducks are also very social, so make sure they have friends and are socialzed. They require fresh water all the time, do not offer food, unless they have access to water, or they will choke. Also watch the female to male ratio I'd say 7-10 females per drake (male). Look into what ducks can and can't eat, bread is a big nono, especially ducklings.

7-10? That is the ratio for hens to a rooster. Generally, the recommendation for drakes to ducks is 1:4.
With muscovies I know that people have lower ratios even 1:3. More is always a good thing of course.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

7-10? That is the ratio for hens to a rooster. Generally, the recommendation for drakes to ducks is 1:4.
With muscovies I know that people have lower ratios even 1:3. More is always a good thing of course.

You should show off your babies!

They really are adorable! We love pics!!!!! Can you post some of your rescued egg hatchouts?

I'm with soon2be..... 1:4 seems to be a working ratio with all my ducks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Yes, pics please.

 

[dotporter]

7-10? That is the ratio for hens to a rooster. Generally, the recommendation for drakes to ducks is 1:4.
With muscovies I know that people have lower ratios even 1:3. More is always a good thing of course.

One to four is if you Want them to have fertile eggs. Seven to ten per drake makes sense if you don't want a ton of chicks running around. It also makes for a VERY happy drake!!!!!

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Well..... She has 7 little ducks. We'll just all have to she only gets one male and the rest to be hens! that's a 1:6 ratio.... Happy in the middle!

I still want to see pics! Soon2B where are your Muscovites until the OP can post some?
Oh dang. I guess I should post mine too but mine aren't Muscovy.........

 

[jessicamelton]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I’m new to ducks so I really appreciate any advice. I see a lot of different opinions online. I’ve uploaded some pictures.