Yet another Muscovy breeding Question

[farmdude]

I just got muscovy duckings last summer, so this coming spring will be my first breeding season with them.
Do I need to keep them seperated from my other ducks? I don't want mules. I have read somewhere if you have muscovy hens, the muscovy drakes will only breed with them. Is this true?

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

He will breed them all, and you need to seperate them... Good luck!

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

Quote:
It really depends on the bird.. I have noticed.. I have drakes that were only raised with Muscovys ducklings that wolnt touch any other breed of duck.. but the ones I have had that were raised with other ducks will.. It really depends on the bird..

 

[farmdude]

Quote:
Oh Crap!

I was afraid of that! They are seperate and have been their entire short lives. I was hoping I could pen them together over winter to save on space and electricity on water heaters.

 

[Bleenie]

Mine also won't give a non-muscovy hen a second look. They very much prefer their own girls, so much so that i've had drakes sit with the hens while they were brooding. Mine have all been raised with muscovies though, no other duck breeds.

 

[farmdude]

Quote:
How old were they, (the muscovy drakes) before they came into contact with regular duck hens?

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

You can winter them together. Just when you want to breed the scovies put em in a differnt pen.

 

[Bleenie]

They're usually breeding age. I occasionally bring in a rescued duck and they're not always Muscovy. I learned fast it's best to find them a new home fast as possible because my flock completely ignores the poor things if they're not Muscovy.

Because mine have been raised with chickens though, I caught my "coming of age" drake chasing a hen a couple weeks ago. he got tossed away from her and i havent seen him do it again.