Muscovy Ducks
Chocolate
History
The Muscovy was originally a wild bird from Central / South America and it is the only domesticated duck that is not derived from the Mallard. Muscovy\'s are non-migratory birds and like to roost in trees at night. The Muscovy was one of the first ducks to be domesticated but didn\'t come to the UK or North America until the Twentieth Century. It is thought that the Muscovy got its name from Muscovite Company which traded the ducks during the 1500s.
Behaviour
They are generally gentle birds unless the female is sitting or has a young brood. Muscovy drakes don\'t quack, but instead product a low hiss. The females only make a short, weak quack and this is what makes them the quietest of all the ducks. They can fly well and are good escape artists so they will need to be wing-clipped. They do not swim as much as other breeds because their oil glands are under developed. This means that they do not require a large source of water. The drakes can be quite large weighing 4.5 - 5.5 kg while the females weigh 2-3 kg. They also occasionally like eating some vermin and should not be kept with guinea pigs or rabbits.
Varieties
There are a wide range of colours, White, Blue, Black and Chocolate are recognized colours but you can find a wide range of other colours.
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Muscovys For Sale
There are no breeds of this type currently available for sale
Latest Reviews For Muscovys (3 of 6)
- Glenna, 15 October 2011
My ducks were fine through the harsh winter, they sheltered under shrubs in the garden and took refuge in the porch at night. They free-range over the paddock and the field next door, never fly away even though they could, make no noise, are great with my small grandchildren and get on with the sheep, the pony, the hens and the dogs. They are the nicest ducks and very easy to keep. They are very tasty too, although don't bother plucking them, just use the breast as there is not much on the legs and wings and my friend the gamekeepers wife said she had never plucked anything so problematic. I can never find the eggs as they go off and lay in old tree stumps 2 or 3 fields away and come back pleased as punch with between 10 and 16 ducklings
They really don't enjoy harsh Winters and can be vulnerable to cold
- Claire, 09 May 2011
Muscovies have masses of personality and are a hundred times smarter than chickens. Although mine have never been aggressive, I would think twice about allowing small children to handle them: the males can be very strong and I have dislocated a thumb trying to catch one. Mine lay almost daily during the Spring and Summer but begin later in the season than other fowl. They are pretty miserable in the snow and have not enjoyed recent Winters. I've never allowed them free range of the whole garden (too many foxes) but, having seen them strip their sizeable run of vegetation, I am not convinced that's a good idea anyway despite the snail cull.
Out standing Birds
- Johno, 28 October 2010
Being a breeder my self i would say to everyone who has a smaller garden to buy these birds. they dont need water to swim in and they kill all snails and insects very good birds..
The best!
- Charlie, 22 August 2010
Muscovys are really hardy birds, my brother has 7 and he has no slugs what so ever, pure white one's are nice too.
Good Allrounders
- Natalie, 12 February 2010
I had a muscovy that sat on a nest of 18 eggs last yr in February through snow, driving rain and gale force winds that came straight off the sea- very hardy resiliant birds, good mothers, very friendly and make good table birds.
Read all 6 reviews for Muscovys
Breeders Clubs for Muscovys
British Waterfowl Association
E-mail: info@waterfowl.org.uk
Website: www.waterfowl.org.uk
Tel: 01892 740212
Domestic Waterfowl Club
E-mail: hatcher579@btinternet.com
Website: www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/
Tel: 01488 638014
To view all chicken breed clubs click here.
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Average Rating:
3.5 Out of 5 Stars (Based on 6 reviews)
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