Some general duck questions

[pauleberly]

Ok. The muscovys actually had a great attraction to me because they made almost no noise.
So if my criteria goes like this
No flying, quiet, big eggs, quantity, what breeds would you say would suit me the best

I have looked into the metzger hybrids as well. If I can't find anything at the animal auction it's what I'm going to order.

 

[ltsite6]

That's hard because I can't imagine finding any of those pure bred Ducks at my auction. Haha. Um. Rouen or Pekin. And of course once you get them continue on this forum for good advice that I can give you about how to raise them up from ducklings, (assuming you get ducklings because that's, In my opinion, the only way to ensure they will lay good for you)

 

[Ghibli]

Honestly I think for quiet Muscovies are the only certain choice. With ducks it depends on their personality from my experience, they're always capable of being loud, but some don't quack often, some are more demanding. If you keep them happy they're quieter, I have a loud Cayuga but usually she starts quacking because she saw someone and wants them to come out and bring treats or food. I have a chatty Muscovy but her loudest is still not loud at all, it isn't disturbing, wouldn't bother neighbours or anything like that.

They can fly, but clipping their wings is easy as long as you can handle them. I get about 75-85g eggs from them, only their first year of laying so I don't know how many yet. One of my Muscovy girls (everyone's favourite because she's a total sweetheart, follows us around the garden greeting us, very tolerant to being held) has laid around 70 eggs so far this year, started in winter (I'm in Australia), has only taken two days break since she started, one day of two eggs. They're not known to be the best for quantity, but out of two Cayugas, one Ancona and two Muscovies, the Muscovy who's laid 70 eggs is by far our best, then the Ancona, then I think the other Muscovy has started laying, and the Cayugas haven't consistently started, one got egg bound twice, the other has had a shell-less egg.

Good luck! I hope you're happy with whatever you end up choosing

 

[pauleberly]

The Muscovy sounds like the best choice. If the wings are clipped can they get over a 4 foot fence? I would really want them to follow me around outside, but when it's time to go back to the coup I want them to be easily handled.

So I usually weigh my eggs in oz and not grams. Are the Muscovy eggs significantly bigger than chicken eggs?

 

[ltsite6]

So if you clip one wing nice and short, or pinion them, they will get used to not really even trying to fly because they will fail. My don't attempt it, because, being Pinioned, they face plant quite quickly. So they stopped early on even attempting it. They are my favorites because they hatch out their own and they taste awesome. And their eggs have a cool waxy coating over it. Their eggs really aren't that much smaller than any other duck egg, but it still is smaller. And yes. Bigger than a chicken egg. Slightly smaller than a large duck egg.

 

[ltsite6]

Muscovy next to chicken egg.

 

[ltsite6]

And having them from ducklings, handling them a lot, and feeding them a curtain amount to keep them on the lean side, (helps egg production in adults) is many things you could do. Muscovy's also roost like a chicken. They are the only duck that is not a derivative of a mallard. They are actually closer related to a goose. They are wonderful and great mothers and super broody. The males can get upwards of 15 pounds and hens are normally 7. Maybe 8.

 

[Ghibli]

I believe 80g would be about 2.8oz. One of my Muscovies has a shortly clipped wing and she doesn't even attempt to get height, she can get a little distance if she's up on something already but she's super lopsided and often faceplants into the ground. The other has more of a beauty cut, more feathers left so it looks nicer, she can get up maybe 2-3 feet, she's not very graceful at it, and she still faceplants, so a 4 foot fence would probably be fine.

 

[pauleberly]

Ok sounds good. I'll try and find some
Muscovys at the animal auction house, if not I'll probably try my luck with the metzger hybrids. Thanks for all the help!

 

[pauleberly]

Well the animal auction is in a couple of hours. I got a small A-frame built for the ducks. I think I am going to go ahead and grab some Muscovy if they have them. I think that bird fits all my needs