About Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks are an excellent choice for backyard flocks or homesteads. They are different from other breeds of ducks because they are not descendants of wild mallards, but originate in South America. Muscovies are kind of like a cross between a duck and a goose. They have claws on their webbed feet, allowing them to roost in trees like chickens.
These beautiful ducks are very quiet, making them perfect for those who have neighbors close by.The males make a low hissing sound and the females make a quiet trill, that is very different from the loud quack of females of other breeds. Muscovy ducks are clam and gentle, and can be quite friendly. They are wonderful mothers and will hatch their own brood if given the chance. They lay around 100- 180 eggs per year as they are seasonal layers.
Muscovy ducks are great foragers and love to eat everything from grass, to kitchen scraps, to flies and other bugs. We have watched our ducks chase flies around and gobble them up, greatly reducing the fly population on the farm.They are so much fun to watch!
Muscovy meat is very tender and tasty and the flavor and appearance is more like roast beef or veal than like other types of duck meat. It is considered a delicacy and is delicious and nutritious as it is not as greasy as other kinds of duck meat. Males typically weigh 10-15 pounds as adults and females 6-8 pounds. It is important to clip the female's wings as they can fly out of the pasture due to their lighter weight. Males can only get a few inches off the ground and do not need their wings trimmed as adults.
Muscovies come in a variety of colors. We have black, chocolate, white, blue, and silver here on our homestead. They can be solid colored, pied, rippled, barred, bibbed and the black colored ones often have an iridescent green sheen to their feathers.
If you are interested in finding out more about these wonderful birds or to be added to the waiting list for ducklings, please contact us. We are happy to answer your questions!
|