NY chicken lover!!!!

[LuvMyChicks1491]

A friend of mine has some muscoveys that they are trying to fine new homes for. I know that there are a few of them maybe 3 or 4 I'm waiting to hear back from them to find out the details. If anyone is interested in them let me know!

 

[rancher hicks]

I bought a magazine about ducks today, and I was surprized that Muscoveys are mostly meat birds. I thought they were good layers, but it says no.

I want to get some silver Appleyards. but the best egg layers are the Kacki Cambells, up to 320 a year. wow

Storey's says Campbells can lay 340. There are other good egg layers in ducks. Magpies they have at 290. Runners it says are prolific layers outperforming many chickens. The Saxony 200 or more large white eggs. Welsh Harlequin are "abundant" layers.

Of Appleyards: Reginald Appleyard did a good job of producing a bird that has excellent carcass traits, fast growth, good production of white eggs, and excellent foraging ability. The meat is flavorful but not too fatty. the appleyards are known for having a calm termperament, making them a nice choice fro small flock owners.

One thing I will mention is that just like chickens the show circuit has altered ducks. Case in point. "The production type Rouens are good foragers, with a calm and gentle disposition. They are unlikely to fly but they can wander great distances, which can make them easy prey for foxes, dogs, and large hawks or eagles. Though they aren't prolific layers, the ducks are often good mothers. On the other hand, the standard bred Rouens don't tend to forage as actively, nor wander far from their food and water supply. "

What's my point? Like chickens birds bred for the show ring, aren't likely to be as good a utility birds as those bred for the farm. IMHO. So far all I've heard talked about with regards to the "standard" is appearance.

 

[rancher hicks]

A friend of mine has some muscoveys that they are trying to fine new homes for. I know that there are a few of them maybe 3 or 4 I'm waiting to hear back from them to find out the details. If anyone is interested in them let me know!

At one time I considered them but after reading this. " Muscovies are also known to sometimes eat mich, rats, and other rodents. The Muscovy is a quiet and personable duck, though old drakes sometimes become extremely aggressive toward other fowl, animals and even humans.

I have enough trouble dealing with this mean rooster. He's going as soon as I hatch his replacement. I don't need to deal with mean ducks too. And I sure as heck ain't chasing them down out of the trees.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

I went out tonight to close up for the night and when I went to close up the duck hut the door came apart. The screws for the hinges came right out of the wood. I ended up moving my little frizzle coop over in front of he duck hut so that it was block and nothing can get in there over night. Not sure how I'm going to fix it. I may have to take the hair dryer out to defrost all the ice and snow around the bottom of the door so that I can get a better look at it. It just sucks that it is supposed to be so cold out tomorrow. I was planning on building a better bigger duck hut later in spring, but I may have to do it sooner then I thought.

 

[Coop de Cuse]

Did you raise your guineas from keets, or just get them? Every time I bought adult guineas, they walked down the road never to be seen again. Only the keets I raised here stayed around.

I had them since the day after they were hatched. It is sad that the two have disappeared...no tracks, no feathers, no sounds

 

[Coop de Cuse]

I have been keeping an eye out, thinking they might hear my roosters crow and come this way.

Not they I want them mind you but at least I'd know what to do with them.

That would be awesome if they were found and caught

 

[Coop de Cuse]

I have 3 guineas left and love them too! I raised mine with chickens also and they go into the coop at night. Mine are free range and never go to far. I have lost 3 in the last year to predators but that's what they are for! I no longer have woodchucks in my yard as the guineas chase them out. They can be noisy but when I hear them, I know to run and check on my chickens.

That is what I was hoping for...free range and they do what they want, but I was going to wait till spring...

 

[payner59]

That is what I was hoping for...free range and they do what they want, but I was going to wait till spring... 

I raised mine from keets too! They are a lot of fun to watch but also are the most aggressive towards newcomers. Aka new chickens. I am nervous this year as they should start laying. I'm told that's when they take off sometimes. Perhaps yours are in the woods on a nest somewhere rancher?

 

[payner59]

I bought a magazine about ducks today, and I was surprized that Muscoveys are mostly meat birds. I thought they were good layers, but it says no.

I want to get some silver Appleyards. but the best egg layers are the Kacki Cambells, up to 320 a year. wow

I want silver apple yards too! Please let me know if you find any. Apparently they are hard to come by....

 

[Cass]

At one time I considered them but after reading this. " Muscovies are also known to sometimes eat mich, rats, and other rodents. The Muscovy is a quiet and personable duck, though old drakes sometimes become extremely aggressive toward other fowl, animals and even humans.

I have enough trouble dealing with this mean rooster. He's going as soon as I hatch his replacement. I don't need to deal with mean ducks too. And I sure as heck ain't chasing them down out of the trees.

Now, now do you really beleive everything you read? And do you think that an old drake wouldn't back down from a shovel or booted foot. My drake is afraid of his own shadow and his hens and the roosters. And Ray. He runs the other way when Ray yells "get off the deck"....doesn't even have to move toward him. Now he is young, but if he tries anything he is just a bird, without a beak for that matter, and I will knock some sense into him. But for now he is a very respectful, to large to fly up and hurt me, duck.

And as far as roosting in trees, mine don't even roost on the rail of my deck or the chicken roosts, much less a tree. They sleep on the floor of the coop or the top of the table in the coop.

I got them to eat the flies. They are supposed to like flies. I guess if they don't like flies then I guess I won't hatch any more of them....but they are good foragers. So soon my feed bill will go down.

If they also eat mice and voles THAT would be a wonderful bonus.