[lord flynn]

Hi
I was wondering if they are all ar5eholes? Mine is coming up two and I've had him since he was about 8 weeks old. He was hand reared (not by me). He's always followed me about hissing and dancing and it does drive me a bit batty but he only does it to me. Occasionally I have to drop him in a trough to cool him off. I get that its partly his job (he has three hens) to be territorial and I get that this time of year, he may be a bit more full on. But he attacked the dog this morning which is no joke.

I love the muscovy hens, they are fab creatures but I could really do without this. I could do without a male so I guess my question is:

Are they all awful? If I get another is it likely to be the same?

[Fleecewife]

They taste quite good......

No, our first was lovely and lived for quite a long time.  The problems started when the eggs started hatching and we had gangs of teenage Muscovy drakes on the rampage.  They gang raped the females and nearly drowned them by piling on top of one poor duck at a time in the pond.  They never went for us though, ever.  The older they get, the lazier they get, and it's difficult to even get them to go for a swim.  They do pair up nicely though, so it seems a shame to have no drake at all - I think you just need a different and less aggressive drake.
The females are much brighter than the males, and being lighter can fly well.  The drakes try but find it more difficult to get lift-off.  When the ducks get really fed up with them they will take off and just skim the top of a fence, while the drakes smack into it as they can't get the height.  The ducks fly on to get some peace and quiet somewhere else 

[lord flynn]

tbh I don't have the strength to neck him myself or I'd have done it this morning! If you fancy barbary duck I can pop him over at the weekend? 

My girls all fly but they loop the property and come back. I hatched some last year but sold the (very lovely) drake that I hatched before he got old enough to be a nuissance.

[Fleecewife]

Thank you but we still have one in the freezer  .  I must admit we got a gamekeeper who is a friend to come and bump off our lot, 6 at a time.  I think he used the broomstick method, but I didn't stay to watch    I hate all the flapping. We used my Baby Belling water boiler, which I keep for dyeing fleece, to dunk them in to loosen the feathers before plucking.  As always I get the job of gutting 

We did sell several trios at Perth when the rare breeds sale was there, and came home with more per trio than anyone was getting for sheep, and a couple of orders for more.  I think it was because they were lavenders and sooo beautiful when young.

We must exchange visits sometime - we can probably see each others houses - we have about 1/4 of the view filled with Tinto Hill, well maybe not quite that much.  We only have a handful of laying hens now - ducks produce too much green stuff to squelch through.

[Hevxxx99]

Same here: never had a problem with drakes other than over-enthusiasm mating in the season.  I've had quite a few and some are worse tha others, but never been attacked by one.  I have been attacked by turkey stags and cockerels (including Pekin bantams!) though. As it isn't a trait I wish to pass on to the next generation, they head freezer-wards fairly rapidly.

[lord flynn]

I usually use the broomstick method but I'd not try it with him-I did a big cock bird with it last year and think that was the limit of my capabilities.


I could have sold my muscovies several times over last year! they are messy but such characters.




we should visit although I am somewhat embarrassed at the state of the place right now! The whole of our south view is Tinto as in, in its shadow all winter (we are very, very close to it).

[Fleecewife]

We'll wait til summer    Our place is a disgrace too, mud and mess everywhere, nothing we can do about it in the snow and heavy rain. A lovely breezy summers day is the only time to visit smallholdings 

[macgro7]

Our muscovy drake became very territorial recently ( breeding season started). The females don't mind him, in fact if they don't want to mate with other Drakes  (campbell) they attack them! The females! They can be vicious too!
Otherwise they are fantastic birds. The best meat ever.
We have a beautiful blue drake which is about a year old now.

[goosepimple]

We've had pain in the arch males and some gentlemanly ones.  But generally they are a pest at this time of year.  I'd just keep females and get fertilised eggs from a neighbour (ahem) if you want ducklings.

You must have a local gamekeeper who could either shoot him or neck him for you - we had quite a few done this way by our local fella who is a monster of a man with hands like shovels, he still said they were strong birds though.

[macgro7]

Muscovies are very strong birds. Strongrr and harder to kill and hold than geese.
Plus they have massive claws.
But the taste is fantastic so they are worth it.
My one started laying eggs again.
Before I was gonna use them only as broodies for goose and other duck eggs but we like flavour of muscovy more than normal ducks?

[goosepimple]

Brilliant eggs.  Big fat jelly fish inside a concrete shell.  Excellent for poaching (in a pan that is).

[lord flynn]

We've had pain in the arch males and some gentlemanly ones.  But generally they are a pest at this time of year.  I'd just keep females and get fertilised eggs from a neighbour (ahem) if you want ducklings.

You must have a local gamekeeper who could either shoot him or neck him for you - we had quite a few done this way by our local fella who is a monster of a man with hands like shovels, he still said they were strong birds though.

there is a gamekeeper locally, will ask about. I do worry about delivery men and the OH but it seems its just me he's after and the dog was collateral damage. its a shame as he's a splendid looking dinosaur.