Author Topic: Flying muscovey. (Read 1950 times)

MAK · « **on:** November 12, 2012, 04:34:13 pm »

We are trying to reduce the number of young ducks we had in June ( one a day) whilst building the adults a new duck house and secure area, within and just outside, a barn. What with other jobs I forget to clip the wings of the adults new feathers. As I was gathering her egg the mum took off - over her duck house, the chicken enclosure, the pigs field, a stream, 20 feeding limousin calves and into their field. Quite a sight!
2 years ago we forgot to clip the adults new feathers too. Two of them flew away but sadley we found bits of them in a field.
All clipped today except the large drake - I don't want to tackle him and he is probabley too big to fly anyway ( grumpy old thing).

Lesson learnt : watch out for birds flexing their wings and their new flight feathers.

harry · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2012, 05:32:24 pm »

going to keep muscovys next spring,,,, i suppose no need to clip drakes wings if hes got a load of girls to wasname

colliewoman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2012, 07:07:14 pm »

I don't clip my two muskies wings as they don't get penned away at night. I reckon the can fly out of mr foxies way if need be

Mine don't go off too far though, dunno why. Don't blame you for not doing the drake, I love my Daffyd to bits but I ain't picking him up for anything! Them claws hurt

MAK · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2012, 07:59:54 pm »

Foxes - My ducks are in an enclosure about 4'6" high so the foxes we have heard last week could jump this. Maybe I should have not been so hasty in wing clipping as the one flew off just strolled back when she heard the grain bucket. Good point Colliwoman - I really must think before I act.