Newbies 1st Ducklings (Moscovies) from Metzer

Sosalty · May 19, 2023

The flea market ducklings idea was a bust; heavy traffic backed up for 3 miles. Made the plunge and ordered the minimum 15 white muscovies from Metzer. Later I requested and they agreed to ship only 6 mixed run but charge for the 15. Somehow missed that ducklings ship right after hatching. So I made a crash study on raising 'em from newborns, mostly here on Backyard Ducks. Whew! I spent in the neighborhood of $600 getting ready. They shipped Tues. 5/16 at 1:37pm. At 7:55am Thur. 5/18 postal lady calls, come get 'em. Opened the box at 8:15 and called wife; "I can't believe how indescribably adorable they are!" All 6 were cheeping loudly complaining about the Post Office being well air conditioned. Put 'em on the heated passenger seat and they calmed to lo subtle cheeps. At 1st 4 were strong and 2 moved about wobbly. Put 'em in a 4' square heated enclosure with warm water dotted with finely chopped dandelion leaves. 45 min. later added 'show flock' crumbles (w/niacin) from a new feed company that just hit the market at nearby Guntersville, AL. Now all 6 are sprinting the diagonal of their 4' enclosure; sticking their comical 1" wings out as if to take off. Temps in the shop basement are low 80s with a 16" x 18" pet warming pad and 150w infrared lamp above. All's well until the introduction of our 10-month-old tabby kitty. Man, does he ever have instincts! About his 3rd visit he gave up wanting to flip 'em backwards over his head into walls, like he does chipmunks, and is considering them possible friends. The ducklings are curious about him and peck at him thru the nylon. He's tightly supervised. 2nd day they've grown but we can't recognize 'em individually. Enjoy the pics. We've got 6 black Muscovies coming from Metzer in July.

Miss Lydia · May 19, 2023

Precious

Sosalty · May 21, 2023

Thanks Ms Lydia. I hope with black & white muskvies we'll have some as handsome as yours. 1st is a vid (I hope) of these 3day olds after we expanded their pen and were putting in fresh linen. 2nd; they prefer cantaloupe rinds over chopped cantaloupe, barely touched the strawberries. 3rd this one bravely pecks alot, he jumped into Ms W's hand and remained. I've been forbidden to process that one into meat. 4th Here's the Tucker Milling feed mentioned before. Seem to love it. Dropped temps to mid & low 80s. Hope to have an outdoor pen for 'em in a few days. Oh, and we're adding 1/4 a dropper B3 niacin to a pint of their water just for this 1st 2 weeks. It is a part time job to clean up after 'em. https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media/?attachment_id=1331997257673832&message_id=mid.$cAABa9FgPZ_mObW_9gWIPCn8GnlM4&thread_id=1377771871

Miss Lydia · May 21, 2023

My Muscovy are getting old 1 is 11 yrs the other 3 are going to be 12 in June and July. I can't imagine eating any of them.

Awaytome · May 22, 2023

Miss Lydia said:
My Muscovy are getting old 1 is 11 yrs the other 3 are going to be 12 in June and July. I can't imagine eating any of them.

What's the oldest duck you've ever had, breed and age? I am impressed with the longevity of your ducks! :thumbsup

Miss Lydia · May 22, 2023

I lost my one female Muscovy at age 15 this past Oct. She was one that was left when my first Muscovy drake passed away at a month shy of 12. She was accepted by my old drakes son and his girls and had a wonderful life, boy I sure miss her.
I'm amazed at how long they live too. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact they are their own species and haven't had man interfering with the breed.

Sosalty · Jun 21, 2023

5 week update: These Muscovy birds are all baby Hueys, as big as chickens. Daily there are changes but we still can't tell 'em apart, much less if they're drakes or hens. From my 5th grade math teaching days; chances are 32% 3 males - 3 females; 'bout 48% 2 of 1 sex 4 the other; 18% they'll be 5 to 1 sex, and 2% all 6 single sex. They've gone from a 4'x4' nylon pen in the basement to a predator resistant pen next to the 100'x80' pond where they free range during the day. At 2 weeks they splashed and swam in a plastic kiddie pool. Then hiked to the pond to play in the mud a few times. A few would get 2' from shore then all 6 would panic back to the bank. When we least expected it, we looked out the window to see 'em gliding from bank to bank. Our 11month old tabby cat, started off wanting to kill the little morsels. His 2nd introduction was a peck to his soft nose followed by a fast attempt to peck his eye out, the beginning of a long lasting friendship. The pen sits on hardwire cloth with 5 strands of poly electric rope. Outside are 2 motion sensors, 2 motion lights, and a bobcat trap, mostly for racoons/possums. An auto coop door is on its way.