advice for potential duck owner

[DQ]

I am considering ducks. I am really drawn to the muscovy. However, I am insistent on low maintenance animals. I have a small pond. Maybe 1/2-1 acre depending on how dry it is. It is some distance from the house and is certainly subject to predation. We have bobcats, coyotes, mink and other typical predatory potentials including domestic dogs that are simply a fact of life around here.

I would like to hear your experiences with just how independent muscovies can be. I like the idea that they will roost and that they appear to be prolific breeders and there are even feral populations. I am thinking that this means they might have a chance of hacking out a living for themselves at my place with a bit of supplemental feed and if deemed necessary a shelter. I am would like to at least have a "catch pen" that I would feed them in regularly in order to be able to manage them but I don't want to pen them. some initial questions....

I read that they roost. Does this mean they are going to prefer the trees surrounding the pond rather than housing?

Do ducks lay in predictable places like chickens? Will I be able to collect eggs for use or would it be a lost cause without an enclosure.

Do they tend to wise up to predatory potentials and contribute to their own survival or are they too domesticated? (i'm wondering if the so called feral populations are really just in parks where they have few threats)

Any tidits of information, things I need to know or even a "get real they would just end up lunch" is appreciated.

[Cyngbaeld]

My neighbor has muscovies, close to the house and inside a 6 ft chain link and loses birds frequently to predators. He even has hot wire.

You need to either lock them in a tight pen with overhead wire that is predator proof or get a livestock guardian dog that will stay with them 24/7. I keep 3 Great Pyrs with my livestock or I wouldn't be able to have any birds or goats here.

[olivehill]

I'd wager the six foot chain link is actually the reason Cyn's neighbor loses birds frequently. You either have to go completely predator proof or give the birds a fighting chance. Locking them up in an enclosure predators can access is just penning the buffet up for easy pickin's.

We had muscovies for a bit, don't anymore, but ours mostly chose to roost in the trees. A few went into the chicken coop at night but not most. Never lost one to predators and we have lots of predators here.

[GrannieD]

I've had muscovies for many years...tho the hens occassionally get some good flight & land on a roof I've never had them roost in a tree...You will be providing food for varmits if you do not confine them at night..tops & secure sides on pens or house...also muscovies will freeze their feet as they don't have the abundance of down to protect the feet if they sleep on snow & ice..they will go on your pond,but are not pond ducks so they won't live there ...They are great fly catchers in the yard ..youngsters are quik & fun to watch for japanese beetles..Mine watched when I picked the tomatoe worms & came begging to get in on the harvest..The drakes get too heavy to fly,but hens like to get up ,but never very far..If you get adults they'll often leave so you do have to make a home base for them...They easily become moochers & want to live in your space which you might not like too much...Good Luck GrannieD

[Mainelyhappy]

Hi... I added 3 Muscovy's to the place last spring. They eschewed the nice duck house and insisted on sleeping in the open. I fretted, I worried, they were fine. My yard is fenced with field fence, so a variety of preditors can get in. They ducks hung close to the house and had no problems. They like to spash and bathe but as someone else said they are not as motivated to be in the water as other ducks. My two hens raised 23 ducklings... they are in the freezer and delicious! The eggs are fabulous to bake with, too. Now that winter is upon us they sleep in the insulated coop MOST nights, on the roost. If the weather is mild they stay out. The hens, after they moulted, could fly quite well. Even the HUGE drake was able to get up enough lift to get over the 4ft fence and meander the front yard. I learned to clip wings, problem solved. They are fabulous bug catchers, quiet, and very entertaining to watch. I suggest you try some! Daryl in Maine

[DQ]

Thank you all. I lose more chickens when they are penned than not, because critters...make that dogs....can get them cornered, but they are up by the house and that probably deters some of the more shy predators.

I thought they would want to stay by the pond so that might be an issue. I have enough poultry poop that ends up a little to close to home...literally.

I will think on it some more and decide if I am willing to make the investment despite the potential for loss.

If I acquired adult birds would they acclimate to a new home well? Are they likely to stick around where people feed them or go looking for their old place?

[pancho]

I raise a few muscoveys.
Both sexes can and will fly. Sometime they will fly just for the joy of flying. Mine will roost on top of the house sometimes and will roost on the ground sometimes. I have never seen them in a tree.
Domestic dog will destroy muscoveys. Many muscoveys will try and fight predators, especially during the daytime. Anything their size or smaller will not bother them.
Hawks and owls are not usually a problem. Possums, skunks, and house cats are not a problem. Coons can be a problem but not a bad one.
The predators you will have to worry about is coyotes, bobcats, and domestic dogs.

[Runestone]

I have a flock of 20 Muscovies. Mine will go into the insulated duck house during the winter without much problem especially if you put the food down for them In the summer, some will stay out all night, usually under the duck house or in some raspberry bushes. I only lost ducks to a neighbour's dog
I won't let them stay out all night in the winter because of frostbite but in the summer, I've learned not to freak out if they decide it's too nice to go in...they LOVE mosquitoes
A couple of my drakes have been airborne and most of the girls like to fly. I won't clip wings because I want them to have at least a fighting chance to get away from a predator. Mind you, we live in the middle of 35 acres of hayfields so if they do fly, they tend not to go farther than a field.
I got my first Musovies as adults and just kept them in the duck house for a couple of days, fed them well and I never had a problem with them leaving.
I love my Muscovies - they are really easy to keep and their eggs are marvellous