Will Muscovy Females Fly Away?

[Miss Lydia]

Mine don’t seem to mind at all and they have been getting their wings clipped close to 8 yrs now.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

My Muscovy ducks used to fly on the shed and barn roof, as well as whatever else they could get on. None ever flyed away.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you live in the city? @Quacking Pigeon to me that’s the biggest problem with them flying.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

Do you live in the city? @Quacking Pigeon to me that’s the biggest problem with them flying.

Nope. And yeah it would definitely disturb neighbors if your ducks were flying onto their property and pooping everywhere, as well as destroying gardens.

 

[DukesDucks]

I have male and female Muscovy ducks. Most are about 4 months old. The females are great flyers and they are quite capable of landing on the roof of my house. The boys tend to run trying to keep up. Last week I watch on of the young drakes pull his sister out of the air by her foot as she flew over him. Jerk.

 

[Skippersnh]

your not clipping both wings they will still be able to fly if you do
you need to clip just one wing i made that mistake with my muscovies and they would fly to neighbors everyday

 

[Raenh]

I learned rather quickly to watch for them trying... while all my girls will come back to me, sugarbaby took off at night when we were still at my mom's. I drove up and down the streets looking for her. Talked to one of my neighbors, told them, and while I was out driving- he luckily saw her literally fly into the garage door of the lady across the street from us. He went to tell my mom, and ended up carrying my pit/lab back into the house cause my mom went to get sugar and Skye got out. I have never been so scared, not since I first clipped speedy's wings.

Speedy was a brat at my mom's... she flew out of the backyard the first time before the sugar episode <sugar didn't have her wings yet>, I grabbed my keys to go looking for her, opened the front door to run to my car, and there her little butt was at the door, wagging her cute little tail. She walked in like she owned the place, and went straight for the backdoor. The second time though, I went outside and she wasn't at the door and I got frantic calling her name, she landed in the neighbor's front yard two doors down, and was at their front door waiting for me to open it. When she heard me frantically calling her, she came running out of their yard and flew up onto my shoulder and wrapped/buried her head around my neck and under my shirt, shaking like a leaf.

My mom helped me clip their wings after that, and comes over to help me since then too. I'm gonna need to do it again soon because they are molting, and I live in downtown tomball, its dangerous for them to fly around here. Hawks, vultures, owls, dogs, coyotes, humans...

 

[CherpNPeep]

your not clipping both wings they will still be able to fly if you do
you need to clip just one wing i made that mistake with my muscovies and they would fly to neighbors everyday

Wait so do I clip one wing or two? I've heard If I clip only one they will lose balance..

 

[Raenh]

Only need to do 1, but about 7 to 9 feathers. @Miss Lydia does both. But she's a pro at it, I only do one because my mom helps me. I hold them, spread their wing, and guide her on where to cut.
I cut where line 5 is on the diagram.

 

[FortCluck]

I live in the country and allow my muscovy to fly. I have lots of land that allows her to free range and she stays close to the flock.

If you live in the city I suggest you keep them in an enclosed run or clip their wings. Muscovy will wander from their coop, but within city limits I don't think it's safe to free range anything.

Muscovy aren't a duck I'd suggest having if you live in the city.