Things I should know about getting and keeping Muscovies

[Wokawidget]

Hi,

I am picking up a 2 week old or 6-7 week old Muscovy this evening as a friend for my runner and campbell.
Parents are both black and white in color.

Here's what I've learnt from the interweb:

1) Sexing can be done by the following methods:
a) vent Sexing at 1-2 days old
b) at about 6-7 weeks females start getting wing feathers and males start having visably thicker legs. male flight feathers appear at around 10 weeks
c) This isn't 100% accurate but a rough way to do it would be the female ducks have a grey and yellow colored down and the makes a blacker and yellow colored down when they're a week or so old.

2) They can climb!!! Apparently they can climb 6 foot fences with their beaks and claws.

3) They can fly. Males get too big to fly at around 2 years old.

4) They don't quack, but instead make a low rasping sound...which is brilliant because my runner duck quacks enough for them put together and then some.

5) Eggs can vary from 20-30 / yr up to 70-80 / yr.

6) They eat mice and rats

7) They are not related to te marlard in any way, unlike every other domestic duck breed.

8) they don't snuffle up your garden when it's wet like malard ducks do.



So he main questions I have are:

The sexing by colored down (1c)...is this true of all colors of Muscovies? I know the sources said it's not 100% accurate, but a good guess without vent sexing.

Will it climb my 6-7 foot fences? they are standard wooden fences, not wire mess?

Is there a chance it will fly off? Or if they are content and happy will they just fly up and down the garden?

cheers,

Woka

 

[karimw]

I've been learning a lot about them this summer. I have 3 males and 3 females that are very entertaining.The black and white male seems lighter than the two white males and he's more athletic.The females are all white and they've been hopping the fence for quite a while now. Your wood fence won't keep them in once they start flying. I grew mine out in a pen with electric netting. That did a good job when they were little. Mine go every where, but that's OK with me since they don't hurt anything. They know where home is and I haven't had one leave yet. I did lose one to a raccoon because she preferred to sleep on the ground but no problems since. I know some people clip their flight feathers if they really need to be contained. I love mine, good luck with yours!

 

[downsm75]

My female was flying so I clipped her wing (you only have to do one) when she was 2 1/2 months old. You CAN make a female quack, just move her out of sight from any friends and you'll her the classic famale quack. My female also climbs CHAIN LINK fence, but only when she's scared. My girl is my fav duck because she's friendly...

 

[downsm75]

When I clipped her wing, I clipped all but the top 3 and clipped about 3-4 inches. When they molt, you have to do it again

 

[jdywntr]

Hi,

I am picking up a 2 week old or 6-7 week old Muscovy this evening as a friend for my runner and campbell.
Parents are both black and white in color.

Here's what I've learnt from the interweb:

1) Sexing can be done by the following methods:
a) vent Sexing at 1-2 days old
b) at about 6-7 weeks females start getting wing feathers and males start having visably thicker legs. male flight feathers appear at around 10 weeks
c) This isn't 100% accurate but a rough way to do it would be the female ducks have a grey and yellow colored down and the makes a blacker and yellow colored down when they're a week or so old.
I have never heard that you can color sex. Some of my last ducklings looked identical and ended up being male and female.
2) They can climb!!! Apparently they can climb 6 foot fences with their beaks and claws.
they can climb, usually only if being pursued
3) They can fly. Males get too big to fly at around 2 years old.
some males can fly forever, depends on how big they get.
4) They don't quack, but instead make a low rasping sound...which is brilliant because my runner duck quacks enough for them put together and then some.
they can quack but don't very often
5) Eggs can vary from 20-30 / yr up to 70-80 / yr.
they are seasonal layers so it depends on where you are.
6) They eat mice and rats
so will most other ducks and chickens too
7) They are not related to te marlard in any way, unlike every other domestic duck breed.
correct. If bred with other ducks, the offspring will be infertile
8) they don't snuffle up your garden when it's wet like malard ducks do.
they don't dabble as much as other ducks but mine are more than happy to dig about in a puddle


So he main questions I have are:

The sexing by colored down (1c)...is this true of all colors of Muscovies? I know the sources said it's not 100% accurate, but a good guess without vent sexing.
i say no for any. i have heard vent sexing is more difficult in muscovy but i've never tried.
Will it climb my 6-7 foot fences? they are standard wooden fences, not wire mess?
most likely not climb but may fly over
Is there a chance it will fly off? Or if they are content and happy will they just fly up and down the garden?
yes there is a chance. Less likely too if raised from a young age.
cheers,

Woka

Your best bet in trying to get males or females is to look at what is available and pick either the largest or the smallest depending on what sex you want. I noticed a difference in size at about 2 weeks but it would be much more accurate in the 6-7 week olds. Also, make sure that all of the ducklings are from the same hatch. I made the mistake of not asking and picked 4 little and 1 big and ended up with 4 males because they were not all from the same hatch.

 

[WillsC]

I love my muscovy ducks, I think I have 25 of them now and have 4 ducks currently sitting on nests. I also have 3 pekin ducks and while they are nice all that loud quacking drives me nuts at times and makes me appreciate just how quiet the muscovy are.

I have two acres fenced off they can roam. I live on a lake and have them fenced off so they can't get to it.....the lake has a healthy alligator population so you can see why I don't want them on it. The original 4 ducks had their wings clipped and I was worried that the ducks would fly over the fence to the lake which is about 200 feet beyond their area. In reality they pay it no attention at all and I don't clip the wings and while the ducks will fly the entire length of their fenced in yard they have never once went over the fence.

Mine have never once tried to climb over any of the fences.

They do dabble in wet ground some.

They eat about everything....frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, roaches all are fair game.

They are almost self sustaining and in fact they probably are but I give them 1 scoop of pelleted feed a day, would be a quart I guess and for all those ducks it isn't much.

They have their own duck house and every night they put themselves to bed, all I have to do is close the door.