Re: DUCKS: Introducing new ducks


"Jill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
Glad the first introductions have gone well.
Its common for new Muscovies to take their time getting their feet under
the table!!
They are more considered birds we have found.
You are mid, going into later summer, so the chances are most breeding and
laying is over.
Its a mellow time of year in the duck world. Birds usually start to moult
and go into eclipse.

You are right about keeping your Muscovies in for a bit, until you are
confident they are sure about who and what is what.
Did the previous owner have the birds wingclipped?
It would be a good idea to do, soonish before they settle themselves in.
Although they may like where they are now the instinct to explore is quite
strong, especially in the girls and they do not always find their way
home.
You want to clip the far outer feathers of just one wing.
Many male muscovies are too big and too lazy to fly !!! but the younger,
smaller fitter ones are just as capable as the girls.

As to aggression that goes with the breeding.
Many of us have had birds which are completely non-aggressive, others have
known Muscovies who can be real brutes and plenty in between.
Like all animals maintain good discipline, certainly Muscovies have more
potential to follow any thoughts of dominance up as they are big enough
and they have claws.
As long as the humans they meet are always considered top of the pack then
any genetic predisposition will be less likely to emerge.

You may have problems however in the spring.
You have introduce a settled trio, This is going to cause ructions in the
Spring when the two existing males want their turn with the girls.
Your male muscovy is possibly not going to take kindly to this!
While the Muscovies are in a reasonable balance of sexes, the other ducks
are usually best kept in a ratio of 3-5 ducks to each drake.
regards
Jill Bowis

Hi Jill,

Thank you for your message, its good to read some practical stuff, I've been
reading some information about muschovies but what I really want to know is
how will they get on with my two other ducks, so far so good, however today
my two khaki campbell drakes had their beaks around the muchovy drake's
head, all ducks are well and no harm done, the muchovy drake did not become
aggressive at all, I'm hoping they are just trying to work out who is boss,
normally my khaki drakes are not aggressive at all.

The muchovies have been in their pen, along with my khaki's now for about 5
days, the khaki's are used to roaming around out in the field, do you think
its time to let them all out now?, normally my ducks roam about all day long
and then return to their pen late afternoon or early evening before it gets
dark.

I cannot seem to find anything that mentions how long to keep a new duck in
a pen for.

Thanks for your help.

cheers


Linda


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