What color are these muscovies? Best way to deworm?

[Steffanyace]

I am new to duck ownership. I have been wanting some muscovies for a while and finally found someone with some adults for sale. We picked them up today. I have two questions for y'all:

1). What colors are they? I'm guessing buff, chocolate, and maybe a blue. One hen and the drake looked like blacks, but on closer inspection when I got them home, one looks like a chocolate and the other a blue. Has the sun fade them, or is that what they really are? Or, do I have it all wrong? I'm new, but anxious to learn.

2). How do I (or should I) worm the ducks? Is there anything else I should do with them to make sure they have a healthy start here (vaccines, meds, etc?). We live in TX.

Duck pics:

Drake:

Thanks in advance!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

First picture has a black and a chocolate, the second has a typical wild coloration black and white. Black ducks typically have a sheen about them when the light hits their feathers they will shimmer green/blue. Yes the sun can and will fade them as well.

 

[jdywntr]

X2 on colors. I wouldn't worry about deworming them unless you have a reason to. Just make sure they have a save night time pen and I would keep them locked up for a week or 2 so they know where home is.
Otherwise, quality feed, fresh water.

 

[Steffanyace]

There was a bunch of wormy dogs among the ducks at the place I got them. I don't know if the ducks could have picked up worms from them or not. I thought I would worm them just in case. I built a coop for them to be in at night with plans to keep them up for a few weeks. I also clipped a wing. The guy I got them from said they are laying, so I got them layer pellets. Is that what they should be eating? It isn't medicated. Is it okay for the drake to eat it too, or should I separate them when eating? What would I feed him?

 

[PetesMom]

That drake is going to be gorgeous!!!

Maybe it's the picture but they look like chocolates to me

But I am no expert...new to ducks myself lol

 

[Steffanyace]

Thanks PetesMom!

The dark hen is a real dark brown right now. She has a sheen to her though, so maybe she is just a faded black. The drake doesn't have a sheen. I was looking at the area underneith where the clipped wing was where it isn't as faded, and those feathers are a gray color too. Do blacks fade out that much? Why do you suppose the hen would fade to a brown and the drake would fade to a gray? Could that possibly be an indicator of being a carrier for the blue or chocolate gene?

Here is a closer shot of the drake where I clipped his wing. Sorry it is a little fuzzy. He kept wagging his tail.

 

[Going Quackers]

I'm terrible with 'scovie colours so i'll leave that to the experts lol As for layer i don't use that here as i have many drakes, i just keep free choice oyster shell available and use a flock raiser as i have several ages. Layer isn't good for drakes too much calcium.

 

[Steffanyace]

I thought I would post a couple pics of the ducks now that they have molted. Their flight feathers haven't come in yet, but I thought I would go ahead and post some after pics.

 

[Steffanyace]

I thought it was interesting to see the chocolate had this white pattern on her neck after the molt. Also the drake seems to be a blue but has a couple black/green feathers.