New home for my 3 muscovys

[muscovy573]

I will be picking up my lovely birds this Saturday and cannot wait! I am currently in the process of building a home and have a temp area built for my new ducks. I have a bag of feed (to help establish them in specific location), a kiddy pool, and a re-purposed dog shelter. My question is: what kind of bedding should i use for the floor? I have heard pine shavings, straw and other sorts of wood shavings. Whats the best route? I know they love to roost and forage so they will eventually be free ranging but for now a large dog pen will have to suffice.
Do you still lock up your birds at night or do you let them roost in a tree??? My chickens will be locked up at night in a 6'x12" coop (will have pictures when complete!) and i should have room for the ducks but will have to redesign to possibly accommodate the new ducks.

Any advice would be great for this (soon to be) first time Muscovy owner!

 

[CarleeAnn]

Don’t believe ducks roost in trees, at least not domesticated ones. Maybe because muscovies might fly they can but I would put them away at night just to be safe!

I only have two ducks so having a dirt and grass yard with pine shavings in their coop works well for me. Pine shavings are what I used in their brooder too- smells nice, easy to clean, absorbent.

It also seems most people keep their chickens and ducks separate, but I am not one to advise on that community, I will leave it to someone who is more experienced.

Good luck!

 

[chickens really]

Congrats on the new Ducks....I would lock them in at night...Too many Predators could get them....Also I use pine shavings in their house during summer and winter I mix in straw to hold in heat...

 

[Bridger Davis]

I agree! Use pine shavings and lock them in a coop at night. This way, by the time you let them out in the morning, they will have been safe all night and you will probably have eggs. The issue with predators would be an issue, and btw, wood ducks are the only roosting ducks that I know of. Hope this helps!!

 

[Bridger Davis]

Very sorry! Just checked my info and it said muscovies do roost! I would suggest putting a perch IN their coop so they can still be safe. Sorry about before!

 

[chickens really]

I agree! Use pine shavings and lock them in a coop at night. This way, by the time you let them out in the morning, they will have been safe all night and you will probably have eggs. The issue with predators would be an issue, and btw, wood ducks are the only roosting ducks that I know of. Hope this helps!!

Muscovy also roost....

 

[Chickiemom25]

figuring my duck math, I have had 9 muscovies.. Not one roosts in the trees despite lots of trees. Now they do roost on top the chicken run and chicken coop. They will roost on top the duck house at the pond but that is only 4' high and I have lost 3 out there to I think predators. Currently I made a hoop coop and most are sleeping in there at night. They free range during the day. I have 2 drakes so sometimes if Jade is annoying the girls I dont let him in and he has to roost someplace else. One has a clutch of eggs right now and I am letting her stay in her hiding hole as it took me 3 weeks to find her in plain view. I do not have roosts in my hoop coop and they dont seem to mind. I do put staw down for them. I feed at sunset in the coop and that gets them back in after their evening flight around the property. Do give the girls a way to get away from the boys in tighter confinement. I have 2 boxes the girls can get in that the boys cant breed them when they are in there. I think I may set up some bales that will prevent the boys from jumping on the girls as well at night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy's roost on 2X4's same as the chickens.

They will sleep on the shavings if there isn't a roost available.

 

[muscovy573]

Awesome, thank you guys so much for all the advice! Once i am able to get everybody transferred to the new home (sits on 4 acres) i believe they will live a Very happy life. I will just accommodate more roosts in the coop! Will they make their nests in the coop or given the chance make one outside? should i offer some sort of ground level nesting box?

As far as feeding goes, i have been told a pellet, mixed flock feed will do for winters. I want my birds to be free ranging as much as possible and the area they have to forage is excellent! should i feed them at night just to get them to come in or should i have feed out during the day. Also, whats everybody's watering system like? will they take from the kiddy pool and should i also have a different area set up for JUST drinking water? chickens have tub with nipples tapped in.

 

[chickens really]

My Ducks have free choice feed inside their run....During free range time they all waddle back for a few mouthfuls of feed...I feed Duck finisher, Oat and Barley crumble and classic scratch grain with less corn....That's all year around unless I have Ducklings too....I use rubber stock bowls for drinking water in my run and placed around the yard as they free range...