New Muscovy momma

[TwistedTayy]

I just brought home two Muscovy hens and they are currently in quarantine away from my birds.

The lady that I got them from has her flock free ranging full time so these girls were pretty dirty when I picked them up and thought nothing of it.

Once I got them home I noticed that the dirtier one’s caruncles are more of an orange color. Then I thought that with chickens the comb color indicates health so I looked it up and low and behold it’s the same for muscovies. I started to wonder about wet feather. I gave her a bath in my tub (they are very wild) and lots of mud came off with the exception of her wing tips. I’ll do the wet feather bathing protocol (no soap). But in case that’s not the reason for the pale caruncles what should I be on the look out for?

I don’t know what they were getting fed or if they were getting fed at all besides foraging. I normally feed my free range flock kalmbach all flock pellets (because extra nutrition comes from that). I also have feather fixer and starter. I also have FAD brewers yeast and garlic supplement and FAD kelp supplement if that would help them boost their immune system. What would be the best to help them?

This is them. The one in the back is the one I was referring to with the wet feather (pic is post bath). The one in the foreground is in better condition but her feathers aren’t great either. Unsure of whether she merits wet feather protocol as well. I’m hoping she can manage to preen herself with the dish they have (it’s a 10.5g galvanized tub from tsc).

 

[Canadian Wind]

Welcome to the crazily addictive world of Muscovy ownership! And congrats!

Yeah, my adult hens are looking very much like this right now. They are starting to go into moult, thank goodness, but the brooding season was rough on them. I'm thinking this is probably what happened to yours, too. And by the amount of feathers already on the ground, they are probably going through the start of their moult.

The lighter, more orangey caruncles can indicate broodiness in a female. It's an indicator to the drakes that they are 'not available at this time'. She may have recently come off a nest, of even have been pulled off by the previous owner.

Sounds like you're all set up for them. Extra protein to help with new feather development is good, as are the other goodies you have.

Hard to tell what colour they actually are right now in their condition, but I'd guess the back one is a blue pied and the front one a silver pied.

Let us know how they do!

 

[TwistedTayy]

Welcome to the crazily addictive world of Muscovy ownership! And congrats!

Yeah, my adult hens are looking very much like this right now. They are starting to go into moult, thank goodness, but the brooding season was rough on them. I'm thinking this is probably what happened to yours, too. And by the amount of feathers already on the ground, they are probably going through the start of their moult.

The lighter, more orangey caruncles can indicate broodiness in a female. It's an indicator to the drakes that they are 'not available at this time'. She may have recently come off a nest, of even have been pulled off by the previous owner.

Sounds like you're all set up for them. Extra protein to help with new feather development is good, as are the other goodies you have.

Hard to tell what colour they actually are right now in their condition, but I'd guess the back one is a blue pied and the front one a silver pied.

Let us know how they do!

Haha I know just what I need… another poultry addiction. I’m considering transitioning from welsh to Muscovies

Ok well that’s good I’ll refrain from bathing them then (they’re pretty wild and stressed but at least I got the dirtiest one done once). They’ll have a pool once I move them to their large “look but no touch” pen in a couple weeks after quarantine.

I was told they were both blues but the. As I was leaving she said one might be lavender or silver. I can’t tell the difference as they are but step one is getting them acclimated And making sure they’re healthy. Also I assume the only way to know is after they’re bred. I was kind of hoping it was wet feather rather than molting so I could get some fertile eggs to hatch and jump start the flock (basically the last chance for ducklings right now) but I’ll live.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Haha I know just what I need… another poultry addiction. I’m considering transitioning from welsh to Muscovies

Ok well that’s good I’ll refrain from bathing them then (they’re pretty wild and stressed but at least I got the dirtiest one done once). They’ll have a pool once I move them to their large “look but no touch” pen in a couple weeks after quarantine.

I was told they were both blues but the. As I was leaving she said one might be lavender or silver. I can’t tell the difference as they are but step one is getting them acclimated And making sure they’re healthy. Also I assume the only way to know is after they’re bred. I was kind of hoping it was wet feather rather than molting so I could get some fertile eggs to hatch and jump start the flock (basically the last chance for ducklings right now) but I’ll live.

And here I am picking up 24 Welsh Harlequin eggs tomorrow! Not that I'm getting out of Muscovy, I just love them too much.

I've found mine do not use the pools apart from drinking and dunking their heads in. They aren't as fond of water as the mallard-types are. But that may just be my bunch of weirdos, lol! They'll know what they need.

Let me know how they're doing! I really want to see post-moult pics of them!

 

[TwistedTayy]

And here I am picking up 24 Welsh Harlequin eggs tomorrow! Not that I'm getting out of Muscovy, I just love them too much.

I've found mine do not use the pools apart from drinking and dunking their heads in. They aren't as fond of water as the mallard-types are. But that may just be my bunch of weirdos, lol! They'll know what they need.

Let me know how they're doing! I really want to see post-moult pics of them!

I’ve heard the same thing. Maybe it’ll help me save on my water bill too!

I love my welsh and I’ll probably hang on to my original hens but get rid of this years babies. And all drakes (in favor of Muscovy). I started with hatchery birds and because of that I find that not only were they you know hatchery quality but I’m not confident they are pure based on second and third generations. I heard rumors of them mixing up small SA drakes in their pens (they look identical so it’s not unreasonable).

I just don’t feel good about selling birds/eggs that I’m not sure are what I’m selling. Plus with the variety of Muscovy and the other pros (and cons) they may just be a better fit for me anyways.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm lucky here that we don't pay for water, just the electricity to run the pump from our well.

I'm a bit nervous about the eggs I'm picking up today, as they do seem to be too much of a good deal (24 for $10??) and hopefully I'll be able to see the ducks and reassure myself that I am indeed getting pure birds. I'm mostly interested in getting females, to up my ratio vs males, and I love how the hens look. Not so much the drakes, they are too mallard-y

 

[Newbie6789]

Muskovies are hilarious birds! Very different from your Welshies. They do not need as much water and are TONS quieter with funny head bobbing antics. I have a variety of breeds and love 'em all

 

[Miss Lydia]

When my Muscovy females aren't laying their caruncles get pale like your females. It doesn't have to mean sickness with Muscovy.
You have 2 very pretty Muscovy.

 

[TwistedTayy]

Some updated pics with questions… (copy and pasted from Facebook).

I recently posted a question about muscovies and mosquitoes with a picture of out two new hens. I had them quarantining and they have now moved out into one of my pens (but not released with my flock). They are looking much better but obviously molting. I have a couple questions regarding them.

They were living near-feral so when I picked them up they were covered in our delightful red Georgia clay that has a tendency to stain. They’re clean but just look dirty I promise. I included a picture of the day I brought them home (the blue one in the back had just had a bath indoors, she was reeeeeeallllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy dirty, so that photo actually an improvement) but as you can see they look much better than day 1.

1. Colors. I was told one was blue and one was silver or lavender. Is there a way to tell which before breeding them? Can you maybe tell? The colors look almost identical to me.

2. Diet. I have them on a mixture of feather fixer pellets (18% with calcium but not enough to be considered a layer pellet) and supplements I feed to boost immunity (kelp, brewers yeast, garlic, etc). They are not currently laying as they are molting and on another site someone had said due to the orange caruncles that one hen had likely recently been broody. The seller was selling ducklings so they could have been hers. Should I bother with oyster shell or wait until they begin laying? Is there anything else I can do to boost feather condition? I heard Muscovy require higher daily protein… I have non medicated chick starter as well that I can mix in. As they are not free ranging should be giving alfalfa pellets (I do this for my geese in winter).

3. Molting, Bonding and wing clipping. I don’t require my ducks to be friendly. They free range so I want them to have a healthy fear. But these guys can fly so what’s a good way to bond with them? I’ve been trying mealworms but they don’t even seem to recognize them as a treat or food. I also clipped the flight feathers off one wing but because they are molting I realize I’ll have to do it again soon. How long does the molt usually last?

4. Behavior. The blue hen almost always has her tail fanned out. Is that normal or indicative of something? I can’t tell because the other hens tail appears to have broken feathers there. As far as broodiness goes, are they like chickens in that if I give them enough eggs, they’ll just go broody? Or like ducks where it’s more of a mood?

5. Housing. Is there any danger in housing them with some chickens? I have some birds I need to shuffle around so it would be helpful to double up the pen.

Is there anything else I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Canadian Wind]

1- The one with the 'mohawk' is the blue, and I would have to say the other is either also blue (due to those dark feathers on her shoulders) or silver.

2- You can still offer them oyster shell even if they aren't laying. They might appreciate some alfalfa pellets in the winter, but no more than 10% of their regular diet. A good duck pellet should be sufficient to fill their needs any other time, but a bit of variety is always welcome for sure!

3- You could try just sitting down on the ground with them and let them get used to you. Maybe some live mealworms (so that they are moving), although personally I would not hold them (I'm squeamish when it comes to bugs, lol!). Or maybe try some peas. Bring whichever treat you want with you in a bowl, place it on the ground as you sit with them. Gradually bring the bowl closer to you over a period of days.

4- They can be very expressive with their tails! They will even wag them when you come visit! As for broodiness, I only have one season to judge by, and I left their eggs in the nest boxes (Muscovy will use them and prefer something deep and covered), and they all went broody. After I figured the eggs weren't hatching, I had to force them off their nests. My drake had shot blanks. I don't know how it would go if you removed eggs daily.

5- I am not sure about this. It would depend on the size of the coop. Muscovy can and will perch, they are wood ducks.