Runaway Muscovys. . . Any suggestions how to get them back?

[neverbdone]

I got a trio of black muscovys about three weeks ago. Two about 4 months old and one about 2 months old. Anyway at the urging of the BYC group, I decided to "free range" them as I do my chickens each day. My chickens go in their coup each night on their own.

Well, yesterday afternoon I let them out and was shewing them to the pond. When the drake got to the top of the steps leading to the pond he took off and flew down the hill across the road and into the ravine on the far side of my neighbors house.

The 4 month old hen was in hot pursuit. I managed to catch the younger one (I believe to be another drake) and put him back in the pen.

I went to try to locate them but couldn't find them in all the brush. I did see the hen once come up to the road last evening, but couldn't get to her fast enough to catch or shew her back. I have two ponds and one has feeder fish in it.. Do you think they will come back to the pond or to find the other muscy I caught? There is no water down in the ravine. Any suggestions for luring them back? I swear the first thing I am going to do is clip their wings.

 

[Wifezilla]

You could put the one you still have in a pet carrier and see if the others come to him.

 

[neverbdone]

I went outside to set up a cage to lure them back and there sat Daisy. I haven't gotten her in the pen yet, but she is headed that way herself.

Now I am hoping the big Drake comes back as well.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

put food out for them and hope for the best!

hee hee hee i'll never forget the stupid expression on my face when our enormous drake took off and flew in a beautiful arch.....directly into our neighbor's pond. not our pond. the pond that is RIGHT THERE on our property!

i was so mad i stomped over there with the dog and told him to get in there and get that duck.. like a great white after a california tri-athlete the trusty dog splashed after him.. the drake gracefully moving away just in the nick of time. i finally had to call the dog out before he drown and we stomped away.

that night, in what looked to be so many episodes of ScoobyDoo, we were back with a big net. it didnt work either. malcontents.

we finally gave up and then the ducks were back in our yard the next morning.

they finally figured out that they live here. and everyone lived happily ever after.

 

[neverbdone]

Thats a great story. It's a bit hard for me to get around chasing ducks right now because I sprained my ankle last week feeding the ducks.

Here I go out my back door down the steps with leftover tomato soup for yes, the ducks. Slipped on the bottom step, threw the soup all over the cement and was laying there in pain face to face with the ducks. They had to have been thinking - "what a duffus". As my 3 loyal loving dedicated golden retrievers were (no, not caring about me) - they were licking up the soup.

What happened to Lassie and Rin Tin Tin?

Anyway, I do have food out and am hoping that the drake has enough hormones to realize his lady is at home. His wings will definately be clipped if he comes back. I'm still debating on the others as Daffy even with the gate open just hangs out, and Daisy was willing and ready to return on her own. Donald seem to be the runaway.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

now THAT'S a pretty good story!

but so sorry about the ankle... boo. see? poultry are dangerous! hee hee hee and yep those no-good-nick dogs always looking out for themselves! hee hee hee

your mr duck will be back. i've decided that they can smell their mates - and other people's ponds - really well.

let us know how it goes!

and btw - the neighbors arent any help in this regard. they started feeding my ducks all kinds of snacks.. so basically they just flew themselves over there, giving me 'the feather' on the way.

malcontents!

 

[neverbdone]

Donald is Home !

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DH went on tradeo today (local radio that has buy, sell or trade 1 hour each weekday) asking if anyone had seen a large black duck. DH said he was embarrased and I owe him. I always owe him anyway.

Ten minutes later a neighbor called and he was in his backyard. Looks a little ragged, but no worse for wear in general. I have to trade one of the drakes back in for a girl anyway, so I think that Donald will be going back. Daffy and Daisy Duke seem pretty happy to hang around.

One quick question. I have to trim their wings (only one each). But I heard you should only trim the last 5 feathers. Is this right? And how close do I trim them to the wing?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey!

i LOVE that your hubby manned up and humiliated himself in the name of duckdom on the RADIO!!!

i'll give you a bump to see if anyone else has advice on the wing trimming. usually you can trim just the flight feathers - which are the long ones.. but i have inkling that waterfowl are different but i cant remember what it is...

anybody?


anyway i'm glad that you have your friends back and yay that he was in the neighborhood!

hows that ankle?

 

[neverbdone]

Thanks Ohio - The ankle is mending and I am finally of the crutches.

I got how to do the trimming, but I am concerned about only trimming 4-5 of the wing tip flying feathers or all of them. Seems Donald could fly pretty far down this hill of mine.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

honestly we've always found that more is better. i think its whatever it takes to convince them that they cant fly.

hee hee hee i keep thinking about your man on the radio. now THATS love!


let us know if you get that silly drake grounded!