Will free range Muscovy ducks peacefully share a pond with wild wood ducks?

[TCCL]

I have one adult female Pekin and recently got two adult male Muscovys. They are free range. Despite it not being a ideal ratio of males to females everything is fine so far.

I have a very large spring fed pond and wood ducks come every year to nest.

I don’t have any experience with Muscovys so I am wondering what to expect in terms of interactions between them and the migratory wood ducks.

Does anyone here have experience with this scenario and have advise for me?
Xo

 

[Roosters110]

I’ve had several types of ducks one being Muscovy.Greay ducks but are territorial so you may wanna watch them,escpecially them being males.Also you don’t want wild animals and domesticated animals to mix,that’s asking for a disaster

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a beautiful place you have. I'd be more concerned about snapping turtles than the Muscovies and the wood ducks causing problems. My Muscovies don't have a beautiful pond to share with other wild life but they have multiple pools and we have Runners and Buff ducks also they all keep to their own kind. They don't even mate other than with their own..

I would def asap get at least 2-3 more domestic ducks for you drakes though.

 

[TCCL]

What a beautiful place you have. I'd be more concerned about snapping turtles than the Muscovies and the wood ducks causing problems. My Muscovies don't have a beautiful pond to share with other wild life but they have multiple pools and we have Runners and Buff ducks also they all keep to their own kind. They don't even mate other than with their own..

I would def asap get at least 2-3 more domestic ducks for you drakes though.

Bought this place 5 (or has it been 6??) years ago and our love for it constantly grows.

Pools are great for ducks! I am so happy you provide them! I saw a youtube vid of ducks going down a pool slide. Awesome!

We love runner ducks...first summer we had 4 of them. One lived on (free range mind you!) for 3 glorious years.

Re: snapping turtles. A couple years ago one of our runner duck legs was savaged by a snapping turtle. Duck was missing for 2 days, I figured he was picked off by something, then turns up out of the blue with a mangled leg. It was very very gruesome. After a little over a week when he didnt seem to be making progress, I took him to a a busy dog and cat clinic. They were the only vets that would even consider seeing a duck. There were lots of people with dogs and cats on leashes and in travel crates...I was the only one there with a duck in a tote bag. Everyone at the clinic, vet and fellow customers were super sympathetic twords my ducks pain and suffering and murderously angry at the snapping turtle. Each and every one of them strongly advocated a no mercy approach to the snapping turtles. All of them had suggestions on how to trap and then how to cook the snappers. Was a fun vet visit really.

So anyway..last summer I trapped a 20 pound snapping turtle!!!!! Just a week ago I saw another huge one making its way down the brook away from my property. Going to lay eggs I presume. I will be ready and waiting for it if it comes back.

ASAP is my timeline to get more ducks for the drakes for sure. I agree with 2-3 more at the minimum. Ideally would like 5 or 6 more. Muscovys.

Ok, to recap, What I am gathering here is that Muscovys are not known to be any more territorial than any other domestic waterfowl and not known to be a specific threat to wild ducklings. Of course I will monitor the interactions just in case.

Thanks so much!
Xo

 

[Miss Lydia]

Muscovie drakes can be rough to keep together especially if there a females. But as far as being a problem with wild water fowl I really don't think there would be a problem. Now saying that any drake can be a problem when it comes to ducklings some will even kill them even their own ducklings. So yes keeping an eye on things would be a good idea.

Sounds like you have a good plan and are a responsible person I think all will be well.

Keep us updated on it all.

Did your Runner recover from the snapper attack?

 

[casportpony]

I have Wild Mallards and Canadian Geese that come every year and my Muscovies ignore them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And some gorgeous pics too.

 

[TCCL]

Did your Runner recover from the snapper attack?

The injuries eventually stitiched themselves back together without complications.

After about a month he was mobile enough and eager to rejoin the others.

He never did fully regain his former level of agility but he was more than good to go. At the end of the day, I’d say he recovered to about 90% of the fit condition he was in before the attack.

I have Wild Mallards and Canadian Geese that come every year and my Muscovies ignore them.

Excellent. I shant worry about it then.

Thank you Miss Lydia and casportpony for your input.

I will keep you all posted on how it goes.
Xo

 

[AllenK RGV]

Bought this place 5 (or has it been 6??) years ago and our love for it constantly grows.

Pools are great for ducks! I am so happy you provide them! I saw a youtube vid of ducks going down a pool slide. Awesome!

We love runner ducks...first summer we had 4 of them. One lived on (free range mind you!) for 3 glorious years.

Re: snapping turtles. A couple years ago one of our runner duck legs was savaged by a snapping turtle. Duck was missing for 2 days, I figured he was picked off by something, then turns up out of the blue with a mangled leg. It was very very gruesome. After a little over a week when he didnt seem to be making progress, I took him to a a busy dog and cat clinic. They were the only vets that would even consider seeing a duck. There were lots of people with dogs and cats on leashes and in travel crates...I was the only one there with a duck in a tote bag. Everyone at the clinic, vet and fellow customers were super sympathetic twords my ducks pain and suffering and murderously angry at the snapping turtle. Each and every one of them strongly advocated a no mercy approach to the snapping turtles. All of them had suggestions on how to trap and then how to cook the snappers. Was a fun vet visit really.

So anyway..last summer I trapped a 20 pound snapping turtle!!!!! Just a week ago I saw another huge one making its way down the brook away from my property. Going to lay eggs I presume. I will be ready and waiting for it if it comes back.

ASAP is my timeline to get more ducks for the drakes for sure. I agree with 2-3 more at the minimum. Ideally would like 5 or 6 more. Muscovys.

Ok, to recap, What I am gathering here is that Muscovys are not known to be any more territorial than any other domestic waterfowl and not known to be a specific threat to wild ducklings. Of course I will monitor the interactions just in case.

Thanks so much!
Xo

You have a beautiful property, I am envious! Just don't let this be you!

 

[TCCL]

Just don't let this be you!

If I do become that, then this: