Muscovyducksare do it for their appetite for insects , including flies . By allowing Muscovy ducks toroam free - rangein areas where tent flap are present , they can consume bombastic quantity of fly , larvae and other insects . This reduces the population of these pest on the farm .
Besides being a nuisance , flies and other insect pestscan be a serious problem on a farm . It ’s estimated that stable flies alone be the livestock industry $ 2.2 billion per class . That is n’t counting houseflies , face flies and horn flies , which all spread disease and reduce feed efficiency and milk output . method of mastery let in predator WASP , insect powder and mechanical control , all of which can be expensive and not always effective .
On the contrary , keeping Muscovy ducks is a simple , cheap and natural result that could work for small- and big - scale farms .
Researchers in Canadahave tested Muscovy ducks as an alternate way of pest control condition in swine and dairy farm adeptness . In field of operations trials , Muscovy ducks were effective in controlling more than 90 percent of the adult and larvae pilot population in unsympathetic calf and sow pen . The ducks did n’t require any supplementary provender and had access to flies , water and spilled ( emaciate ) feed . At the determination of the studies , the ducks were easy trade for twice the original cost of the duckling .
In addition to the studies , there is also plenty of anecdotal evidence of people using Muscovy ducks on their farm . The ducks follow the stock around and even snatch pests off their hides while the farm animal are resting . Muscovy are also said to control mosquito , flea , ticks and other insect pests as well . Linas T / Adobe Stock
Beyond Bugs
Many people keep these duck for other reasons as well . Muscovy duck have a tame and gentle disposition . When they get conversant with you , they ’ll be you and even waggle their tail like dogs when they are happy to see someone . This makes them popular as favourite . They also have good - sample heart and soul , which some say resembles thin pork barrel , and are practiced producers of eggs .
Moreover , for lovers of quiet , these ducks do n’t quack .
The Muscovy duck breed is aboriginal to Mexico as well as South and Central America . It seems to have no connection to Moscow ( once called Moscovia or even Muscovy ) , and why it stand its name is a clandestine unknown .
Linas T/Adobe Stock
It ’s a declamatory duck’s egg , with male weigh up to 15 lbf. and female half the size . Muscovies are n’t derived from the violent mallard stock such as other duck’s egg and are as much related to the goose as to the duck’s egg . They come in many people of color , the most popular being blank and dark . Probably the most distinguished feature of the Muscovy duck’s egg breed is its mask and ruby caruncula on the face . These are bigger and more salient on the males . They are also honorable fliers and have strong sharp claws , which they use to roost in tree .
Raising Recommendations
Raising Muscovies is easy , with minimal costs . Muscovy ducks are a healthy and racy stock , though they can be susceptible to frigidity . Therefore , it ’s salutary to start with ducklings in springiness or summer . Provide them with a nonmedicated chick or duckling starter along with orchis , greens , boiled peas and grit .
You ’ll also need to supply them with some niacin supplements . Boiled peas are a good source of niacin , as well as brewer ’s yeast . After they are 2 week of historic period , phase out the baby provender and switch to a grower / starter feed arrest about 15 percentage protein or start mixing in 20 per centum hustle oat to lower the overall protein level .
Muscovy ducks are even less pee repellent than other stock , so it ’s very important to keep all water pans very shallow to avoid drowning . Even mother - raise duckling should be best kept from swimming until they are at least 2 weeks of historic period .
After they are 2 to 4 weeks sometime , Muscovy duckling can be let out to scrounge on insects and eatage supplemented by unmedicated layer provender . However , do n’t to let them swim until they are fully square on the belly .
Although Muscovy duck are n’t as messy as other duck , they still need urine . They should be able to dunk their head to lubricate their membrane and require piss while eating to dampen their intellectual nourishment .
A kiddie kitty will work well . A pond is idealistic . In winter , a warm bucket of water is greatly appreciated .
Barbara C/Adobe Stock
Despite being a half - dotty stock ( they have even become a pesterer in some parts of Texas and Florida ) , Muscovy duck will need shelter at night to protect them from inhuman and predators . Any secure , well - ventilated and draught - free enclosure is suitable . Adding a cryptic stratum of litter will aid keep them warm , and providing roost post will be greatly appreciated . Barbara C / Adobe Stock
Eggs & Meat
Muscovy ducks typically start laying orchis after about six calendar month . As seasonal layers , they take a intermission during winter and CV laying in February . Unlike other strain , they do n’t lay testis continuously .
After put 15 to 20 eggs , the Muscovy duck’s egg will become musing and take a break , even if you remove the egg . They lay about 60 to 120 eggs per twelvemonth , which does n’t make them the best breed for egg lay . Nevertheless , their egg are tumid , nutritious , tasty , and a great byproduct of efficient fly control for the homestead .
Muscovy duck are first-class female parent and will raise ducklings by themselves . They have a longer brooding period of 33 to 35 days and diligently sit on the eggs all the clip , from time to time taking prisonbreak to do out and eat . They can even be used to hatch eggs of other domestic fowl and waterfowl . Muscovies can elicit two to three Set of duckling a year , making them a great duck breed for self - sufficient meat production .
Muscovy duck have drear red and very lean meat that is highly prized for its taste , standardised to be given gammon or veal . They reach butchering size in three to four months and are a popular heritage meat duck breed .
Muscovy duck are a great addition to any homestead . So , if tent-fly are a nuisance on your farm , believe add some of these wonderful ducks as a low - cost fly lying in wait that also cater perfect egg laying and meat yield .
At a Glance
Muscovies love forage on pasture , where they convert slugs , escargot , mosquitoes , green goddess , ship’s boat grass , Chuck Berry and other edibles into tasty , thin meat and eggs . Muscovy female only lay around 50 to 100 eggs a year , but they make devoted meditative birds that will gladly arrange their own testicle , as well as those belong to other waterbird , and vigorously defend their young from perceived enemy . These hoot can make friendly , fascinating favorite , too .
While all other farmyard ducks get from the wild Mallard , the domestic Muscovy arose from a perching , hole - nesting tropical duck’s egg species , the wild Muscovy .
Domesticated by the autochthonous people of South America , this large strain served as an efficient , pest - rust source of kernel and fresh eggs for century , and still does today . Some sources reflect the breed ’s Russian name add up from a shipping troupe ( called the Muscovite Company ) that may have ferry these duck from the New World to Britain during the 1500s .
Muscovy are fiend of the duck world , with drakes tipping the scale at around 15 pound and female person press about 8 pounds . Some unkind people call these ducks ugly . More educated Muscovy fancier describe their appearance as strange : brilliant red skin adorned with fleshy “ caruncles ” surrounds the drake ’s eyes and note , while the female ’s face has a less warty appearance .
Muscovies show off a number of unlike coloring material diversity , including White , Chocolate , Blue and Black .
Thanks to their tropical roots , Muscovies permit red-hot weather well ( always allow for them with water system ) , but they do require shelter during freezing weather . Unlike domestic ducks derived from Mallards , these quackless domestic fowl utter unruffled squeaks and hiss , making them a just strain choice if noise is a concern . Use carefulness when handling these hefty ducks : Muscovy possess powerful wings , claw feet and hard , hooked invoice , as well as the thin-skinned disposition to wield them .
This article primitively appeared in the Nov./Dec . 2023 yield ofChickensmagazine .
