Quarantining new breeding pair before adding to flock

[MuslinOpera]

Hey there. We are looking at adding a breeding pair of muscovies to our flock. They are both one year old. We currently have two adult ducks (not muscovies) and five ducklings that are straight run (the ducklings are separated in the brooder and will be for 8 weeks total). We also have five chickens. The current flocks coexists together very well.

We will quarantine the new pair but wanted insight Into if they should be quarantined separately, as I worry about a drake with only one female for several weeks. We haven’t had drakes before but are wanting to breed muscovies. We also have no idea how many drakes will be in our straight run of ducklings (runners) but will find good homes for any extra drakes to keep the peace.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@Isaac 0

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy drake has no problem with other drakes unless it's another Miuscovy drake then he will fight as for quarantine if you can set them up where they can all see each other it will make it easier to combine when time comes. If you know where they came from and they are healthy I don't worry much about quarantine But you do want to give everyone time to get use to each other So keeping them where they can all see each other at first is best.

 

[Quatie]

How one drake will do with one female has a lot to do with the Drake. Each one is different. If you are worried, you may want to get more females if you can. If you are getting it from someone who only has just those two and are doing fine together, then they probably will continue to.

It is always good to have a backup plan for drakes, if things don't go well. I had a muscovy drake that got along ok with my Saxony drake, but he was an issue for the rest of my flock, so I had to cull him. Especially if you end up with too many drakes. It is not always possible to rehome drakes, because a lot of people don't want them. It is just good to have a plan b.

I hope everything goes well with your new additions. Muscovy are a fun duck to own.

 

[Yardmom]

I keep my muscovy in a 1:1 ratio without any issues. They are completely free range. It may be different if space is an issue. Muscovies are a different subspecies. My Muscovies do not mix with my mallard derived ducks any more than they do with my chickens. Not sure if that is true for everyones birds.

 

[ruthhope]

My Muscovies do not mix with my mallard derived ducks any more than they do with my chickens. Not sure if that is true for everyones birds.

My 2 muscovy do everything with my 2 pekins! If one goes off the others follow. If one is naughty and climbs on my raised beds, the other three follow! One muscovy and one pekin are big buddies, the other muscovy prefers human company but is compelled to dash off to the other three ducks if they go off together. While muscovy and pekin don't speak the same language, mine clearly understand the general gist of the meaning of the other ducks: if they are excited, they are all excited together! My son has two pekins and a muscovy that are also very close.