Okies in the BYC The Original

[poultryand bees]

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one will suffice, and they are crested ducks, the mallard appearance, or penciled, is available in any domestic duck(As that is where they all trace back too. Same as the Wheaton or black breasted red is so common in chickens. muscovies and ducks can cross but they will be sterile hybrids. just like crossing a chicken with a guinea or pheasant.

So, Muscovy ducks are different somehow than other breeds of ducks so that crossing them yields a sterile hybrid? Are they closer to a goose or something?

 

[bigokie37]

ive read that they are a breed of goose.i had regular ducks an muscovies last year an they never crossed.ive always heard the will cross an be like a mule.ive seen some they make good meat ducks cause they get big
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one will suffice, and they are crested ducks, the mallard appearance, or penciled, is available in any domestic duck(As that is where they all trace back too. Same as the Wheaton or black breasted red is so common in chickens. muscovies and ducks can cross but they will be sterile hybrids. just like crossing a chicken with a guinea or pheasant.

So, Muscovy ducks are different somehow than other breeds of ducks so that crossing them yields a sterile hybrid? Are they closer to a goose or something?

 

[Buckguy20]

I know why Muscovey ducks only mate with each other. It is because they are so darned ugly, especially the males.
I can see a pretty Mallard hen looking at a skovey drake and saying, " Not in your lifetime buddy! Get lost!"

 

[bigokie37]

yes we are gettin some sleet right now but its dry an not stickin to anything but the ground.we got about a 1/4 inch of snow before the sleet
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[bigokie37]

i know they want them at around 4 months old.john is raising some an another lady so we all together my be able to fill the order.i hatched over 300 this past summer an sold them all here an there an through Craigs...
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[poultryand bees]

Been reading about Muskovy ducks, now that ya'll got me interested in the breed. This is what I found on Wikipedia

The Muscovy Duck can be crossed with the domestic duck in captivity to produce hybrids which are known as Mulard Duck ("mule duck") because they are sterile) and are often used in the production of foie gras.

Feral populations can be humanely managed to reduce the number of offspring produced by resident feral ducks, by interfering with a duck's natural nesting instinct. Simply destroying all nests or eggs will only result in the duck renesting in different locations until she has a successful hatch. This is the key consideration when managing active nests. The duck must be allowed to incubate and hatch at least 2 ducklings, otherwise she will abandon the nest and immediately start a new nest elsewhere. Allowing her 2 viable eggs will ensure that this duck will spend 3 weeks incubating and up to 12 weeks caring for her 2 ducklings.

The goal is normally to alter all but two of the eggs in a nest so that they are unable to hatch. Eggs are shaken vigorously prior to incubation to prevent them from developing.

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I find it interesting that to control the feral population, eggs are shaken prior to incubation by the hen, to prevent them from hatching. Probably explains why shipped chicken eggs don't always develop well in our incubators. If they have been tossed around too much, then even though they aren't broken, the inside of the egg could be scrambled.

 

[poultryand bees]

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Remember, this is the group with a bunch of hatching addicts. I suspect that if the incubator works and is a good value, you will find someone in this group who wants to buy it. (not me, I already have a generic sportsman style incubator and several Hovabators - and I am trying to kick or at least "manage my habit

)

 

[poultryand bees]

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Is it true, as reported on the Wikipedia site, that Muskovy ducks have a strong flavor - like roast beef? If so, that would certainly be a switch - to have poultry taste like beef.

 

[poultryand bees]

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BigOkie doesn't actually have the incubator yet - so it may still come available when you have $$$

 

[faerielady]

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Yeah. Turns out the furball found the cat food bag and gorged himself.

He won't be doing that again... right now he's sitting behind me on the couch begging for food because Mama is staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarving him.