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Post by muscovyfan on May 10, 2007 14:58:44 GMT -5
Hi, I'm fairly new to muscovies. I previously kept several Campbell and Pekin hens for egg purposes but never had a drake. I now am on my second breeding pair of muscovies (the first pair survived the winter only to become coyote food after they layed their first 5 eggs!) and my hen hasn't started a nest yet. I am getting a bit impatient. I know it is a bit early yet, and I have been told that muscovies usually lay later in the year... but I also know that a lot of people already have ducklings. Should I be looking for another hen or should I give her a bit more time? Any thoughts?
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Post by Entekuken on May 11, 2007 14:07:03 GMT -5
It depends on several factors. How old is your hen? It takes approximately 10 months from hatch for a duck to begin laying. Is your hen too old? How long ago was she bought? Stress can put a duck off of laying and if you've just recently bought her the stress from that may be holding her back. I've gotten my first hatch of 3 ducklings already which is unusually early for around here...of course, that's why there were only three hatched I do believe! We had snow and freezing temperatures as late as April 13th so I wasn't expecting ducklings until way late this year.
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Post by muscovyfan on May 11, 2007 15:54:22 GMT -5
This is a young hen. I am not sure of her exact hatch date but she is around 9-10 months old. (I have photos of her on the MSN muscovy group) That makes me feel a little better though, I was beginning to think she was a dud! My Campbells that I used to have started laying when they were 3 and 4 months old. Muscovies are so much different! I have a lot to learn. Thanks for answering my questions. I hope to figure out this photobucket thing soon and I will post some photos.
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Post by muscovyfan on May 20, 2007 11:24:32 GMT -5
Update: Angel has finally laid her first egg! I am so excited. The drake sat on it all night so I hope he doesnt mess her up for hatching them out. I wish she would use the raised nest box... Howard insists that the dog house is his. Maybe I should separate them until she is ready to set? Evidently he shares when no one is looking. Oh well, I have an egg and I am happy! ;D
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Post by feralnature on May 22, 2007 23:17:36 GMT -5
Yep, Muscovies are a horse of a different color, or duck rather...and congrats on that egg...pretty soon, you'll have Muscovies coming out of your ears!
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Post by muscovyfan on May 23, 2007 8:19:32 GMT -5
Four eggs and counting!!!!
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Post by muscovyfan on May 31, 2007 14:27:23 GMT -5
She now has 11 eggs. Does anyone know how many I should expect for her first nest? It has been really hot and humid. Will that affect how many hatch? I haven't been disturbing them, I figured mother nature is pretty smart. We'll just see what happens!
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Post by muscovyfan on Jun 2, 2007 12:42:29 GMT -5
She started setting last night with (Im guessing) 13 eggs. Now she has left her nest and has been off of it for several hours. She is out foraging in the yard. Is that normal? I have her food and water close to her nest so she won't have to go very far. It is really warm and humid here right now so I cant imagine the eggs will get too cold. While she is off I think I will go and get a good count. Also, should I expect her to lay any more once she starts setting the nest? I know... too many questions!
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Post by Entekuken on Jun 11, 2007 15:20:36 GMT -5
Hi MF...Sorry I haven't been around. I'd had computer problems in addition to my currently crazy schedule! Congrats on your new nest! The amount of eggs a duck will lay prior to setting depends on many factors. As a general rule you can expect about 10 - 16 on average but that will vary from bird to bird.
I'd move the food and water away from the nest. Muscovy, when setting, will hop off the nest and poop an enormous, smelly, nasty poo that you don't want anywhere near the nest. It's okay for her to get off the eggs for awhile and get a bite to eat and take a bath - it won't hurt the eggs and is part of the process. The goal is to keep the nest as hidden as possible, not only for the ducks peace of mind but to keep out possible predators. I know of a man who'd put his feed & water next to a bird's nest and I cautioned him about it but before he could go out and move them the bird and the entire nest had been decimated, the bird gone without a trace.
You're very correct when you say Mother Nature is pretty smart. These ducks have been programmed to procreate and they're the most qualified domestic duck to handle the job. You can help make things run more smoothly, but in my experience things like this should be done before a bird starts to lay.
Once she begins setting she shouldn't lay any more eggs, however if you have other ducks they might continue laying in that nest.
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Post by muscovyfan on Jun 11, 2007 18:40:17 GMT -5
Hey, Yes I have already discovered the enormous amount of nasty poop! Wow does it ever smell bad. And do not stand behind her! Her dog house that the nest is in is within the night pen. I let the drake out in the morning and then lock it back up so nothing can get her. I leave it open after work so she can stretch out. I keep the food and water about three feet away from the dog house. I have a little mallard/campbell cross duckling that I have recently moved out there with them. It is trying to make nice with her but she is not too impressed with it. Oh well, with her on the nest she is having to tolerate the little peep, and it needs company. In about a week or two it should be big enough to go forage with the drake. I am hoping maybe this year or next I can get a different color hen to add to my collection. I have no idea where I can find one local. If I get a self blue and breed it to my pied drake what will I get? I am just guessing ( as in horses) I will have about a 50/50 chance of getting a black base or a dilute. Would that also produce blue pied? I should think that would be very pretty. Do you have a color you would recommend that would give me plenty of color diversity? Brit
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Post by Entekuken on Jun 14, 2007 10:08:30 GMT -5
If your drake is black (I think he is) he could be bred to a chocolate bird which would give black ducklings, the drakelets would carry chocolate. A blue duck would give black and blue ducklings, a silver duck would give blue ducklings, etc. A black x self-blue will give you black ducklings with drakelets that carry self-blue.
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Post by muscovyfan on Jun 14, 2007 22:17:17 GMT -5
So... ( I just read the genetics list) My best bet is to get either a silver hen or a blue one... If I want to add blue. Whats the difference between blue and self blue? The lacing I think? I found someone fairly close to me that has Muscovies and I am trying to find out what colors they have right now. I want to make sure I know what colors I am looking at. Ugh! Maybe I should stick with my horses! They are alot easier! Thanks for all the help though, Brit
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Post by Entekuken on Jun 14, 2007 23:46:24 GMT -5
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Post by muscovyfan on Jun 15, 2007 22:20:35 GMT -5
I bet you are getting tired of me.... :-) Yes I am also a member of the MSN group and I have seen the photos of your lovely birds. By the way, when I was cleaning my duck pen out, I took the top off the dog house to rinse off the poop and I counted 17... not the 14 eggs I suspected. She had to have laid them after she started setting. Will they hatch at the same time? Or will she stop setting after the others hatch? And can I do anything about that without an incubator? I havent candled or anything, like I would know how anyway. I hope they are all fertile, I would hate for any of them to be rotten. Too many questions!
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