New to BYC, new to muscovies...

[mymoneypit]

I have raised chickens in the past, but stopped after a dog killed the last one. It's been quite a few years now. So I kindof impulsively bought 2 ducklings 3 weeks ago. Looked them up, they are muscovies. One refused to eat when I got them home, and died the next day, so I have one, named Duckie, left. Duckie is thriving, getting feathers, appears he will be all white. He lives in the house right now, and gets daily baths and trips to the yard to forage in the grass. He is quite friendly.

I call him HE but really, he's only 3.5 weeks old, I have no idea. I love that he's friendly with me, but I want to get him a friend or 2, as soon as I find out his sex. There is a farm an hour from me that has some muscovies for sale, but I think their babies are a little older than Duckie.

So I guess my question is, how big of an age difference is still OK? I would prefer Duckie's friends to still be young enough to be tamed as much as he is, he comes when called and will eat from our hands, and seems to actually enjoy being petted lol. If I could find someone that knows how to sex them accurately, I'd just have them give Duckie a look and take them along to pick up the others. But I guess that would be too easy lol. About when do they stop hatching in 4 season climates? I am also a little afraid that by the time it is evident that Duckie is a boy or girl, the baby season will be over and I'll have to wait till spring to get friends for him.

Also, how big of an enclosure is recommended? I plan to build a fenced "stray dog proof" run, with a house in it, as they will only be able to be loose in the yard under supervision.

Thanks.

 

[Going Quackers]

First off I'd probably recommend Storey's guide to ducks as it will help with housing and enclosures, my Muscovy have a 1/3 of an acre fenced around their barn BUT they free range the bulk of the day. They are big birds and need a lot of space especially if they are grassed areas and your trying to maintain any of it.

Aging, yeah, i'd say it depend on what "it" is, if he is a boy, he'll take to females males(drakes?) nah, wouldn't recommend that route. Drakes raised from the get-go are different, but older/younger drakes brings forth some rather complicated issues. Even being raised around each other guarantees nothing, my younger drake came in as a 2/3wk old and he and my older drake still do not get along, there a few months different in aging.

My ducks laid till Late Oct last year and then resumed in Feb, nests? depends, Muscovy females for brooding are like a dog with a bone, i had a duck set a nest in a cold Canadian Feb lol i did get 4 birds from that nest, how she managed i have no clue it was bitter cold but all survived and are nice looking 4+mth olds.

If your scovie is a duck(female) you'll need to make the choice on whether you really want to breed, if you do you need 2-3 ducks per drake, and even then i'd try for more frankly, 4-5 per is more ideal for breeding.

Quite a few of us own Muscovy here, so i am sure we can help you out. If you post a pic we maybe able to help with sex too, the size difference in a male vs female Muscovy is quite evident.

For example,



The duck in the pool on the right is a female, the rest males(drakes) this was my clutch from Mar lol

 

[mymoneypit]

I do have some pics, I will try to post later.

Another question, if Duckie is a girl, would I still get eggs, I mean are they like chickens that they"ll lay with no male present?

Of course I'm also a bit worried about how broody they can be, I once had a hen set on a basket of onions. I took those, and she moved to a tennis ball. After fighting her for weeks, I gave in and borrowed 2 peeps from a friend for her to raise so she would get off the nest.

Thanks.

 

[Going Quackers]

I do have some pics, I will try to post later.

Another question, if Duckie is a girl, would I still get eggs, I mean are they like chickens that they"ll lay with no male present?

Of course I'm also a bit worried about how broody they can be, I once had a hen set on a basket of onions. I took those, and she moved to a tennis ball. After fighting her for weeks, I gave in and borrowed 2 peeps from a friend for her to raise so she would get off the nest.

Thanks.

Yes, just like chickens, they just wouldn't be fertile. They are broody! determined little buggers that said i do have drakes which i have no doubt encourages the process.

 

[jdywntr]

GQ gave you some good advice. Post pics, it may help. I am horrible at sexing via pic unless there is more than 1 to compare. I find that my males feather out a little more slowly than the females. The females really start looking more "girly" by 4-5 weeks, at least to me. The younger you get others, the easier it will be to get them to trust you. You could talk to the people that are selling and ask them if they think that they could determine the gender of yours for you.

You will not likely get eggs this year, unless you get 4-6 month olds. You may, but I wouldn't hold out hope. They will be of laying age in the fall/winter.

 

[mymoneypit]

lol i got some pics to my computer, but i was wondering if maybe size reference in a pic would help, and then I looked around for something and didnt know what to use.

New questions, should his sleeping quarters have a grate on the bottom? I am worried about hurting his feet, but every morning, he is sooo nasty cause he poops and lays right in it. I fill up his pool every morning so he can bathe and he keeps out of the poo pretty well during the day. He has a 2 ft by 4 ft box he sleeps in, and always sleeps and poos in the same corner.

Also, when do I change him to bigger pieces of food? He is a little over a month old and still working on the bag of starter I bought, but it seems like the crumbles are too small now? He eats it but he kinda coughs while eating it until he gets a drink, I do have a little bucket of water in there and dont feed him without his drink.

Does grass have some nutrient he needs? When I let him out in the yard, I watch him due to the neighborhood dogs, and as soon as he gets the chance, he eats a lot of grass and other plants from the lawn. DH weed whacked the other day and Duckie had a virtual buffet chowing down on all the clippings on the driveway lol. Is it something they normally munch on, or is it just because its easier for him to eat than the crumbles?

Thanks.