| Marvelous Muscovies Cherie Langlois Visit Cherie's website: HERE |
Fun, easy to care for and a great source of meat, Muscovy ducks also can help control
flies and other pests on your homestead.
With its head dominated by brilliant red, fleshy outgrowths called caruncles, the male Muscovy
probably wouldn't win a beauty pagent for domestic ducks. But that doesn't bother fans like
Corine de Wit of Reva, Va., who began raising this unusual species of waterfowl in the 1970s,
when she lived in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. "Muscovies are perfect
for the small farmer," she says. "They multiply fast - a drake and five ducks can produce 100
birds a year for consumption - and Muscovies are super bug-killers, so they convert pesty protein
into tasty protein. Plus, they're fun, friendly, and more fun. I just love having these ducks around."
The Muscovy found on farms today traces its ancestry back to the wild Muscovy, a perching duck
indigenous to the tropical regions of Mexico, and Central and South America. All other domestic
ducks - including the white Pekin and the comical Runner - are derived from Mallard stock.
According to some sources, the Incas of Peru domesticated Muscovies centuries ago, keeping
them as pest-controlling pets and suppliers of feathers, eggs, and meat. Conquistadors brought
these ducks from Columbia to Spain during the 1500s, and from Europe, the birds eventually
traveled to Africa, Asia, Australia, and back to North America. Today, Muscovy ducks can be
found hunting bugs in Asian rice paddies and on American farms, and they're served up for dinner
in villages and gourmet restaurants around the world.
Domestic Muscovies are large, well-muscled ducks. Females weigh about 8 pounds and drakes
can reach 15 pounds. Extremely self-reliant, these birds will forage for tender grasses, and pond
and dry-land weeds, and their healthy appetite for flies, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, and even mice
make them very handy to have on a homestead. Just be careful to protect young plants:
Muscovies sometimes uproot flowers and vegetables in their zeal to locate worms and other
soil-dwelling delicacies. They also love reaching up to pluck ripe blueberries and raspberries
from bushes.
Muscovies have powerful legs, sharp claws, long tails and rounded wings to help them navigate
around trees. If left unclipped, many females and juvenile males fly very well and enjoy roosting
on lofty perches such as barn roofs. Given an appropriate diet, uncrowded conditions and
protection from predators, they're unlikely to fly off in search of greener pastures. The adult
drakes, on the other hand, are basically grounded by their hefty size. They also have feisty
temperaments that can sometimes lead them to pick fights with each other when territory or
females are at a premium. Many plucky drakes will even try standing up to predators much larger
than themselves.
For folks accustomed to the noisy quacking of a flock of Pekins or Mallards, the vocalizations of
the Muscovy may come as a pleasant surprise. Drakes emit a breathy whistle while the females
normally make a soft squealing noise unless they're frightened or angry. This can be an
advantageous trait if you have close neighbors who don't appreciate ducks as much as you do.
Brian Witt, of Cassatt, S.C., secretary/treasurer of the International Muscovy Breeders
Association, was drawn to the breed in part by their size and soft calls. He and his wife, Wanda,
keep several hundred Muscovies for showing and selective breeding, and they sell many for the
table.
"I like big ducks - the bigger the better," he says. "Muscovies are also quiet and not as messy as
other duck breeds, and they're the best mothers for setting. They also take care of themselves
and don't need much human intervention." Although these waterfowl relish swimming when given
the opportunity, they tend to be more terrestrial than other domestic ducks and their feathers
seem to have less waterproofing. As a consequence, a pond isn't necessary for Muscovies and
can even posse a hazard during icy winters, when these ducks of tropical origin may become
chilled or suffer frostbite.
When considering whether to add Muscovies to your poultry menagerie, keep in mind that, like
most waterfowl, they are messy. Ducks produce copious soft, smelly droppings (which do a great
job of fertilizing the grass or garden) and they scatter feathers far and wide during molting periods.
Also, the Muscovy's large size, strong wings and sharp claws can make capturing and holding the
birds a challenge. Duck-catchers should wear heavy gloves and a long-sleeved jacket for
protection, and always hold the bird's beak away from the face. To avoid injuries to your duck,
never catch them by the legs.
Duck eggs can be used in cooking just like chicken eggs; they have a somewhat firmer texture
when cooked (making them ideal for angel food cakes) and a slightly higher cholesterol content.
Although Muscovies don't produce as many eggs or ducklings as most Mallard derivatives, their
meat fetches more per pound and is leaner due to the species' terrestrial nature. "People are
often rather dismayed that I would eat my Muscovies, since I enjoy watching them so much," de
Wit says. "My answer to them is that I have provided my animals with the happiest possible duck
life. I slaughter them humanely and when all is said and done, I know that the Muscovies I'm
consuming are far better off than any commercially produced chicken, duck, or turkey, most of
which are raised under inhumane conditions."
Basic Muscovy Care
Enthusiasts value this species for its self-reliance, but Muscovies do need proper daily care to
thrive and reproduce. Many duck raisers purchase a balanced commercial diet formulated for
waterfowl or poultry; others create their own concentrated feed from various grains. The Witts do
both: they mix their own feed from grains and sunflower seeds, and serve unmedicated layer
pellets to their adult ducks at laying time. "Medicated feeds aren't necessary for ducks and can
cause health problems," Brian Witt says.
Such a basic diet as the Witts use can be supplemented with vegetables, fruit, and other table
scraps, however, never feed moldy food items, a practice that can cause your birds - particularly
ducklings - to develop the lung disease aspergillosis. Ducks also need access to grit or coarse
sand to help them digest their food, and they must have fresh, clean drinking water each day, in
containers deep enough to allow them to submerge and clean their nostrils, but not so deep that
they can swim in the container. If you do not have a pond, consider providing a child's plastic
wading pool for your ducks during the warmer months. Set up some way for them to get in and
out of the pool, such as several large rocks or a concrete block step, and be sure to change the
pool water regularly to prevent stagnant, unsanitary conditions.
Muscovies are strong, hardy waterfowl that don't require elaborate housing like chickens, but they
do need protection from freezing or extremely wet weather, and from predators such as coyotes,
foxes, and owls. If your ducks roam free during the day, luring them into an enclosed shed,
covered pen or other animal-proof enclosure at night will go a long way toward preventing losses
from predation. In colder climates, a well-bedded shelter will also help protect these ducks from
frostbite.
"I leave my ducks unclipped, so they can at least have a chance of getting away from dogs and
foxes," de Wit says. "At dusk, we lead them into a pen with a 5-foot wire-mesh fence around it."
She considers roaming dogs to be Muscovy enemy No. 1.
When kept under clean (for a duck), uncrowded conditions, and given a proper diet, Muscovies
are very resistant to parasites and infectious diseases. Vaccinations usually aren't necessary in a
small flock, but you may want to ask a local veterinarian experienced in Avian medicine for his or
her recommendations, especially if certain diseases are prevalent in your area. Routinely, watch
your ducks for signs of sickness such as fluffed feathers, lethargy or poor appetite, and promptly
separate sick birds for treatment. Any newcomers brought in from other farms should be
quarantined for a month before joining your permanent flock.
Broody Muscovies
Choosing a secluded spot, a female Muscovy usually makes a simple hollow in the straw or dirt
for a nest, and lines it with her own soft down. (If available, she'll use a box or another cavity).
She'll lay a clutch of up to 20 large, creamy eggs and incubate them for approximately 35 days,
only leaving the nest briefly to eat and drink. When her downy ducklings hatch, the duck gathers
them under her wings and breast to keep them warm and safe while they're sleeping. She leads
them on forays to search for small insects and new grass, and she'll bravely try to protect them
from perceived predators - including you. Because female Muscovies make such marvelous
setters and diligent mothers, they're used to hatch-out other species of waterfowl and poultry.
They'll even set on geese and swan eggs!
Make Way for Ducklings
What could be cuter than a fuzzy flock of peeping ducklings? If you're just starting out, you can
purchase ducklings from local breeders, feed stores, hatcheries or animal auctions. Avoid buying
a commercial strain of Muscovies that has been bred exclusively for meat production; the birds
may have lost their self-reliant traits.
Muscovy females mature at about five months and will lay up to three clutches a year. They are
known for being good brooders and protective mothers, so many raisers let their ducks do the
setting rather than artificially incubating the eggs (see "Broody Muscovies"). De Wit, who keeps
about 50 Muscovies, says Mrs. Duck does such a good job, it's just not worth the trouble to pull
her eggs.
After hatchings occur, however, you should make sure the babies have extra protection from a
host of predators that include crows, weasels, dogs, and even Muscovy drakes. "As soon as a
mom is spotted with 'yellows,' we catch them all up (she follows), and put them in a duckling pen
that's placed within the night pen," de Wit says. "This is a 3-by-6-by-2-foot-tall cage with small
chicken wire on the sides and top, and a hinged lid. The mother enjoys protection from drakes
and family squabbles, but still has company. The young family stays in there four to six weeks -
until they don't fit anymore - and then they're set loose. Mortality is greatly reduced this way."
The Witts also let the female Muscovies incubate their eggs - until just prior to hatching when they
move the eggs to protect the ducklings from being killed by fire ants, a common pest in the South.
The ducklings stay in brooders until they're 1 month old; then they go into outdoor pens protected
by electric fencing.
Whether the ducklings are reared by their mothers or in brooder boxes, they'll need fresh, clean
drinking water in a shallow container - a chicken waterer is ideal - so they don't drown. Also,
water pans shouldn't be so large that the female can climb in with her brood and accidentally
crush or drown them.
Young ducklings do well on moistened, unmedicated chick-starter crumbles or crushed waterfowl
pellets, and finely cut fresh grass, dark green lettuce or chard. A mesh bag filled with leftover fruit
and hung out of reach will attract small flies for the young to feed on and, if you have a worm bin,
you can toss some worms to the birds as a special treat. Ducklings frequently hand-fed a small
amount of bread or other tasty tidbit become tame and friendly.
Because young Muscovy ducklings are so susceptible to chilling, if they're in a brooder box it must
be kept at 85 to 90 degrees the first week. Then the temperature can be lowered gradually, by
5-degree intervals, during the following weeks. Check the temperature with a brooder
thermometer and watch the ducklings for signs that they might be too cold (huddling) or too hot
(panting, avoiding the light). The bedding, which could be clean, absorbent wood shavings or
straw, should be free of mold and changed frequently.
Never rear a duckling alone, de Wit advises, citing her African-born foundation drake, Couak, who
grew up without other ducks. "He imprinted on me," she says. "Never having to interact with his
species while growing up, he was incapable of doing so as an adult. He became vicious and
bad-tempered, attacking everyone in my family constantly." if you want to raise ducks who will
become attached to you, try getting three or four to rear together, de Wit suggests. The ducklings
will grow up imprinted on you and others of their own kind, plus they'll keep each other company
when you're not home.
Before you know it, you'll be treated to one of the most satisfying of rural scenes: a little flock of
tail-wagging Muscovies rooting through the emerald grass for bugs, perhaps with a glistening
string of slug slime dripping from their crimson beaks. Now that is a lovely site.
flies and other pests on your homestead.
With its head dominated by brilliant red, fleshy outgrowths called caruncles, the male Muscovy
probably wouldn't win a beauty pagent for domestic ducks. But that doesn't bother fans like
Corine de Wit of Reva, Va., who began raising this unusual species of waterfowl in the 1970s,
when she lived in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. "Muscovies are perfect
for the small farmer," she says. "They multiply fast - a drake and five ducks can produce 100
birds a year for consumption - and Muscovies are super bug-killers, so they convert pesty protein
into tasty protein. Plus, they're fun, friendly, and more fun. I just love having these ducks around."
The Muscovy found on farms today traces its ancestry back to the wild Muscovy, a perching duck
indigenous to the tropical regions of Mexico, and Central and South America. All other domestic
ducks - including the white Pekin and the comical Runner - are derived from Mallard stock.
According to some sources, the Incas of Peru domesticated Muscovies centuries ago, keeping
them as pest-controlling pets and suppliers of feathers, eggs, and meat. Conquistadors brought
these ducks from Columbia to Spain during the 1500s, and from Europe, the birds eventually
traveled to Africa, Asia, Australia, and back to North America. Today, Muscovy ducks can be
found hunting bugs in Asian rice paddies and on American farms, and they're served up for dinner
in villages and gourmet restaurants around the world.
Domestic Muscovies are large, well-muscled ducks. Females weigh about 8 pounds and drakes
can reach 15 pounds. Extremely self-reliant, these birds will forage for tender grasses, and pond
and dry-land weeds, and their healthy appetite for flies, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, and even mice
make them very handy to have on a homestead. Just be careful to protect young plants:
Muscovies sometimes uproot flowers and vegetables in their zeal to locate worms and other
soil-dwelling delicacies. They also love reaching up to pluck ripe blueberries and raspberries
from bushes.
Muscovies have powerful legs, sharp claws, long tails and rounded wings to help them navigate
around trees. If left unclipped, many females and juvenile males fly very well and enjoy roosting
on lofty perches such as barn roofs. Given an appropriate diet, uncrowded conditions and
protection from predators, they're unlikely to fly off in search of greener pastures. The adult
drakes, on the other hand, are basically grounded by their hefty size. They also have feisty
temperaments that can sometimes lead them to pick fights with each other when territory or
females are at a premium. Many plucky drakes will even try standing up to predators much larger
than themselves.
For folks accustomed to the noisy quacking of a flock of Pekins or Mallards, the vocalizations of
the Muscovy may come as a pleasant surprise. Drakes emit a breathy whistle while the females
normally make a soft squealing noise unless they're frightened or angry. This can be an
advantageous trait if you have close neighbors who don't appreciate ducks as much as you do.
Brian Witt, of Cassatt, S.C., secretary/treasurer of the International Muscovy Breeders
Association, was drawn to the breed in part by their size and soft calls. He and his wife, Wanda,
keep several hundred Muscovies for showing and selective breeding, and they sell many for the
table.
"I like big ducks - the bigger the better," he says. "Muscovies are also quiet and not as messy as
other duck breeds, and they're the best mothers for setting. They also take care of themselves
and don't need much human intervention." Although these waterfowl relish swimming when given
the opportunity, they tend to be more terrestrial than other domestic ducks and their feathers
seem to have less waterproofing. As a consequence, a pond isn't necessary for Muscovies and
can even posse a hazard during icy winters, when these ducks of tropical origin may become
chilled or suffer frostbite.
When considering whether to add Muscovies to your poultry menagerie, keep in mind that, like
most waterfowl, they are messy. Ducks produce copious soft, smelly droppings (which do a great
job of fertilizing the grass or garden) and they scatter feathers far and wide during molting periods.
Also, the Muscovy's large size, strong wings and sharp claws can make capturing and holding the
birds a challenge. Duck-catchers should wear heavy gloves and a long-sleeved jacket for
protection, and always hold the bird's beak away from the face. To avoid injuries to your duck,
never catch them by the legs.
Duck eggs can be used in cooking just like chicken eggs; they have a somewhat firmer texture
when cooked (making them ideal for angel food cakes) and a slightly higher cholesterol content.
Although Muscovies don't produce as many eggs or ducklings as most Mallard derivatives, their
meat fetches more per pound and is leaner due to the species' terrestrial nature. "People are
often rather dismayed that I would eat my Muscovies, since I enjoy watching them so much," de
Wit says. "My answer to them is that I have provided my animals with the happiest possible duck
life. I slaughter them humanely and when all is said and done, I know that the Muscovies I'm
consuming are far better off than any commercially produced chicken, duck, or turkey, most of
which are raised under inhumane conditions."
Basic Muscovy Care
Enthusiasts value this species for its self-reliance, but Muscovies do need proper daily care to
thrive and reproduce. Many duck raisers purchase a balanced commercial diet formulated for
waterfowl or poultry; others create their own concentrated feed from various grains. The Witts do
both: they mix their own feed from grains and sunflower seeds, and serve unmedicated layer
pellets to their adult ducks at laying time. "Medicated feeds aren't necessary for ducks and can
cause health problems," Brian Witt says.
Such a basic diet as the Witts use can be supplemented with vegetables, fruit, and other table
scraps, however, never feed moldy food items, a practice that can cause your birds - particularly
ducklings - to develop the lung disease aspergillosis. Ducks also need access to grit or coarse
sand to help them digest their food, and they must have fresh, clean drinking water each day, in
containers deep enough to allow them to submerge and clean their nostrils, but not so deep that
they can swim in the container. If you do not have a pond, consider providing a child's plastic
wading pool for your ducks during the warmer months. Set up some way for them to get in and
out of the pool, such as several large rocks or a concrete block step, and be sure to change the
pool water regularly to prevent stagnant, unsanitary conditions.
Muscovies are strong, hardy waterfowl that don't require elaborate housing like chickens, but they
do need protection from freezing or extremely wet weather, and from predators such as coyotes,
foxes, and owls. If your ducks roam free during the day, luring them into an enclosed shed,
covered pen or other animal-proof enclosure at night will go a long way toward preventing losses
from predation. In colder climates, a well-bedded shelter will also help protect these ducks from
frostbite.
"I leave my ducks unclipped, so they can at least have a chance of getting away from dogs and
foxes," de Wit says. "At dusk, we lead them into a pen with a 5-foot wire-mesh fence around it."
She considers roaming dogs to be Muscovy enemy No. 1.
When kept under clean (for a duck), uncrowded conditions, and given a proper diet, Muscovies
are very resistant to parasites and infectious diseases. Vaccinations usually aren't necessary in a
small flock, but you may want to ask a local veterinarian experienced in Avian medicine for his or
her recommendations, especially if certain diseases are prevalent in your area. Routinely, watch
your ducks for signs of sickness such as fluffed feathers, lethargy or poor appetite, and promptly
separate sick birds for treatment. Any newcomers brought in from other farms should be
quarantined for a month before joining your permanent flock.
Broody Muscovies
Choosing a secluded spot, a female Muscovy usually makes a simple hollow in the straw or dirt
for a nest, and lines it with her own soft down. (If available, she'll use a box or another cavity).
She'll lay a clutch of up to 20 large, creamy eggs and incubate them for approximately 35 days,
only leaving the nest briefly to eat and drink. When her downy ducklings hatch, the duck gathers
them under her wings and breast to keep them warm and safe while they're sleeping. She leads
them on forays to search for small insects and new grass, and she'll bravely try to protect them
from perceived predators - including you. Because female Muscovies make such marvelous
setters and diligent mothers, they're used to hatch-out other species of waterfowl and poultry.
They'll even set on geese and swan eggs!
Make Way for Ducklings
What could be cuter than a fuzzy flock of peeping ducklings? If you're just starting out, you can
purchase ducklings from local breeders, feed stores, hatcheries or animal auctions. Avoid buying
a commercial strain of Muscovies that has been bred exclusively for meat production; the birds
may have lost their self-reliant traits.
Muscovy females mature at about five months and will lay up to three clutches a year. They are
known for being good brooders and protective mothers, so many raisers let their ducks do the
setting rather than artificially incubating the eggs (see "Broody Muscovies"). De Wit, who keeps
about 50 Muscovies, says Mrs. Duck does such a good job, it's just not worth the trouble to pull
her eggs.
After hatchings occur, however, you should make sure the babies have extra protection from a
host of predators that include crows, weasels, dogs, and even Muscovy drakes. "As soon as a
mom is spotted with 'yellows,' we catch them all up (she follows), and put them in a duckling pen
that's placed within the night pen," de Wit says. "This is a 3-by-6-by-2-foot-tall cage with small
chicken wire on the sides and top, and a hinged lid. The mother enjoys protection from drakes
and family squabbles, but still has company. The young family stays in there four to six weeks -
until they don't fit anymore - and then they're set loose. Mortality is greatly reduced this way."
The Witts also let the female Muscovies incubate their eggs - until just prior to hatching when they
move the eggs to protect the ducklings from being killed by fire ants, a common pest in the South.
The ducklings stay in brooders until they're 1 month old; then they go into outdoor pens protected
by electric fencing.
Whether the ducklings are reared by their mothers or in brooder boxes, they'll need fresh, clean
drinking water in a shallow container - a chicken waterer is ideal - so they don't drown. Also,
water pans shouldn't be so large that the female can climb in with her brood and accidentally
crush or drown them.
Young ducklings do well on moistened, unmedicated chick-starter crumbles or crushed waterfowl
pellets, and finely cut fresh grass, dark green lettuce or chard. A mesh bag filled with leftover fruit
and hung out of reach will attract small flies for the young to feed on and, if you have a worm bin,
you can toss some worms to the birds as a special treat. Ducklings frequently hand-fed a small
amount of bread or other tasty tidbit become tame and friendly.
Because young Muscovy ducklings are so susceptible to chilling, if they're in a brooder box it must
be kept at 85 to 90 degrees the first week. Then the temperature can be lowered gradually, by
5-degree intervals, during the following weeks. Check the temperature with a brooder
thermometer and watch the ducklings for signs that they might be too cold (huddling) or too hot
(panting, avoiding the light). The bedding, which could be clean, absorbent wood shavings or
straw, should be free of mold and changed frequently.
Never rear a duckling alone, de Wit advises, citing her African-born foundation drake, Couak, who
grew up without other ducks. "He imprinted on me," she says. "Never having to interact with his
species while growing up, he was incapable of doing so as an adult. He became vicious and
bad-tempered, attacking everyone in my family constantly." if you want to raise ducks who will
become attached to you, try getting three or four to rear together, de Wit suggests. The ducklings
will grow up imprinted on you and others of their own kind, plus they'll keep each other company
when you're not home.
Before you know it, you'll be treated to one of the most satisfying of rural scenes: a little flock of
tail-wagging Muscovies rooting through the emerald grass for bugs, perhaps with a glistening
string of slug slime dripping from their crimson beaks. Now that is a lovely site.
