Hey everyone! I went to get a scovy today and ended up getting a mateing pair of magpies. I brought them home and put them in my fenced in garden with my 3 Rouen ducks. The male magpie made a dash and started mounting my female Rouen and my 2 male Rouen ran up and started attacking the magpie. The magpie stop and ran back to the other magpie. Now there kinda getting along but the Rouen males nip at the magpies once in a while. Also I'm not 100% there a mateing pair. I can tell the one is def a male, but i'm not sure about the other one. One is a black and one is a chocolate from what I have been reading. The male has that tail curl and the others tail is straight. Other than that and the color they look exactly alike. Their wings are cut too like someone Streched out there wings and cut all the feathers shorter. It's like someone took a pair of sissors and trimed up the wings. They look kinda funny when will they grow back? Thanks! ~Bryan
Yes the feathers will grow back. You usually do the first 10 feathers up to the axle feather on one side to ground them. I dont think magpies are generally a flying breed, but maybe they escpaping the other person's pen! If they did both wings, then that defeats the purpose! Most male ducks will mate with any female ducks. They don't generally care what breed they are. There will be some nit picking to establish pecking order when you introduce new ducks, that is always normal. To keep the peace with multiple male ducks, you should have 2-3 females per male. Good luck with your new duckies. I really like the magpie breed. Oh and that curly tail feather and a raspy quack is the only way to tell the difference with the males and females, unless you can vent sex.
Sounds Normal. Your new male sees some new females so he feels like he has to dominate his spot - the usual males didnt like it andwanted him off their hen. You probably saw some chest pulling and pecking around the eyes. It might take a while but once everyone is used to the new commers and they become part of the flock im sure you'llsee them trying to mate the same hen- at the same time. Its a funny picture, this duck tower, lol. My magpie hen is loud when beikng bothered or broody or agitated- but if she is being left alone she isnt very loud. I would LOVE to see pictures of them, I want chocolate and blue magpies but all I have is a black hen. They might have beensold to you as a mating pair if its a random male and female . I know my drakes have their favorites and wont mate anyone else where as some drakes dont care who it is. As for the wings beingclipped - Sounds like someone did a choppy job from your description. Ive clipped the wings before so my scovie hens wouldnt fly off. But you shouldnt have to clip a magpies wings at all - they dont fly but maybe 30 feet when they are excited. They are a heavier breed but the BEST moms I have ever had besides my buff hen. They will grow back next molt.
Thanks guys! I let all 5 ducks out again today but let them free range. The 3 rouens took over the pond and the 2 magpies are just chillin by the coop. I'll take some pictures now
