Will Muscovy Females Fly Away?

[FortCluck]

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

You would need to clip both because of your location. Clipping one would just throw them off a bit, but you live in the city so you need to make sure they don't fly at all.

 

[FortCluck]

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.

Mine sleeps on the roof of the house.

 

[Raenh]

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.

Why not? They're quieter then their mallard counterparts, so they don't upset the neighbors, and they're able to jump up about 2-3 ft or more after clipped to get to a perch that they want to be on or to a pool/stock tank.

 

[Raenh]

I only clip one and mine don't fly off, they hop up on things, and off of them, too.

It's a preference thing, if they can still fly the feathers weren't cut short enough.

 

[FortCluck]

Why not? They're quieter then their mallard counterparts, so they don't upset the neighbors, and they're able to jump up about 2-3 ft or more after clipped to get to a perch that they want to be on or to a pool/stock tank.

They're not a city duck whether quiet or not. They're a duck that does well with lots of land. Yes, they can live in the city but aren't a duck that likes to have no land. It's just like a chicken... Yeah, you can lock them up in a small enclosure but they benefit more with lots of land and area.

 

[Raenh]

That's interesting, since we have several feral population of muscovys in many subdivisions within the city limits and they're rather content to stay on whatever bit of land has water for them to drink.
The holding pond here in town is home to a decent size flock, and probably only about half an acre of which the pond takes up about 85% of it. And they're perfectly happy with that little corner section that isn't even as big as most of the backyards. They don't leave, occasionally the black wild muscovy flock will come in to visit, though.

They do not need lots of land, they need water source, food, and shelter to keep them safe. That is if you only have a few as pets. If you have a huge flock of say 12 or more, it would be less crowded to have some land for them to not sit on each other and able to spread out.

My little bitty backyard was fine for my 9, and is perfect for my three. They are happy, and healthy pets that come inside to the room off the backyard and go into their little inside coop to sleep. They come in, play with their toys, cat balls and rubber ducks, sit with me, and then stalk me to let me know its bedtime.
I was going to say that mine aren't locked up, but yeah they are cause I have an enclosed backyard that I put awning covering over it to keep them safe from the hawks and eagles during the day. At dark, they are waiting at the gate for me to open it, and they walk right into their room.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

All the Muscovy females here are/have been fliers.
They don't fly more than a few kilometers and they do know their way home.
However, there is a problem. While they are keen on flying away. they all wanted to walk back. If a female here is missing when I check, I go to look for them. The drakes usually alert you because they look anxious and tend to look in the direction the hen flew off. I've found them eventually in some pretty strange places. They prefer to land on open ground, so around here that rules out the woodland which is great.
Most try to walk back up the track. Muscovies don't do uneven ground well.
I don't clip their wings, or keep them in pens.

I think they live in city limits so they don’t have the freedom to let them free range like many of us do, or fly.

with that being said, I live out on a farm and my birds free range. My original Muscovies fly and land within 50-75 ft. But I just got a new batch that we’re flying and landing on our new vehicles. Unfortunately, we had to make a tough decision and clip wings. They are the first, and I hope the last I clip, but sometimes we need to do what’s necessary. I love my ducks, but I can’t afford a new paint job on my vehicles.

 

[Sushiducks]

I live in suburbs and based on advice here clip. My Muscovy are happy and fine. We started doing one wing because unless you clip a lot they will be flying again shortly.

 

[FortCluck]

That's interesting, since we have several feral population of muscovys in many subdivisions within the city limits and they're rather content to stay on whatever bit of land has water for them to drink.
The holding pond here in town is home to a decent size flock, and probably only about half an acre of which the pond takes up about 85% of it. And they're perfectly happy with that little corner section that isn't even as big as most of the backyards. They don't leave, occasionally the black wild muscovy flock will come in to visit, though.

They do not need lots of land, they need water source, food, and shelter to keep them safe. That is if you only have a few as pets. If you have a huge flock of say 12 or more, it would be less crowded to have some land for them to not sit on each other and able to spread out.

My little bitty backyard was fine for my 9, and is perfect for my three. They are happy, and healthy pets that come inside to the room off the backyard and go into their little inside coop to sleep. They come in, play with their toys, cat balls and rubber ducks, sit with me, and then stalk me to let me know its bedtime.
I was going to say that mine aren't locked up, but yeah they are cause I have an enclosed backyard that I put awning covering over it to keep them safe from the hawks and eagles during the day. At dark, they are waiting at the gate for me to open it, and they walk right into their room.

Until they become a problem and they ask people to off them like they're doing in other states.

Ducks that are domesticated do not belong in subdivisions unless you properly care for them. Some people decide ducks are too much due to their messiness and set them free at these ponds. Then these poor ducks are killed because people start complaining about them being a nuisance. Ducks shouldn't be free ranging in a subdivisions with no land. You NEED land to be able to free range.

I'm glad that the breeder I got my muscovy from thoroughly questions people who buy her ducks. First question is... How much land do you have? If you have anything less than 3+ acres she will not sell to you. Next question is... How big is you coop? Next question is... Where are you located?

She came from an area where people set muscovy free or thought free ranging them in city limits is okay. She had to watch them all be put down. Muscovy become a nuisance when theyre allowed to be set free and mess with the current wildlife.

 

[FortCluck]

I think they live in city limits so they don’t have the freedom to let them free range like many of us do, or fly.

with that being said, I live out on a farm and my birds free range. My original Muscovies fly and land within 50-75 ft. But I just got a new batch that we’re flying and landing on our new vehicles. Unfortunately, we had to make a tough decision and clip wings. They are the first, and I hope the last I clip, but sometimes we need to do what’s necessary. I love my ducks, but I can’t afford a new paint job on my vehicles.

They definitely can fly on anything. I think clipping wings is a great idea especially if they're destroying your things. My muscovy walks on our roof and it makes the dogs go mental.