Three surprising facts about Muscovy ducks!

• Muscovy ducks have an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years, but in captivity they can live up to 20 years.
• These ducks do not make much noise. Unlike other ducks, they only make sounds when attacked or overexcited.
• If they are excited or feel threatened, their tail will begin to wag continuously. Additionally, males may make hissing or panting sounds.

Scientific name Muscovy Duck

Muscovy ducks’ scientific name is Caira moschata , they belong to the order Anseriformes , which includes 180 species of waterfowl. They are part of the family Anatidae which includes aquatic birds such as:

• Duck
• Goose
• Swan

Members of Anatidae are distributed across all continents except Antarctica. They are adapted to floating, swimming, and in some cases, diving in shallow water.

There are 174 species in 43 genera in this family. Their common name is Muscovy ducks, but they are also known as musk ducks or Barbary ducks.

The Siamese duck has only one subspecies called the domestic Siamese duck ( Cm domestica ).

Size and appearance

The Muscovy duck is a large bird with a wingspan of up to 64 inches. They are quite heavy and can weigh up to 15 pounds. However, females are smaller and weigh between 6 and 7 pounds. They have long, wide bodies, males measuring about 30 inches, and flat, fan-shaped tails.

Because females are lighter, they fly better. Males struggle to get off the ground because of their heavy bodies. Therefore, captive females need to have their wings clipped to prevent them from escaping.

Muscovy ducks are typically black and white, but there are several variations, including:

• Black
• Blue
• Chocolate
• Green
• White
• copper
• lavender
• ripple
• Ban

The male’s black plumage changes color when sunlight hits it, but like many birds, the female appears silent and dull. This is because they need to blend in with their surroundings when sitting on the nest.

The Muscovy duck’s head is most distinctive with its dark red/black mask and bright red spots, which develop more rapidly in males than in females.

In addition, moles have more colors and occupy a larger area on the body of males. A distinctive feature of adult males is the red-black knob at the base of their beak.

Both sexes have erect crests of feathers on their heads, which they erect when nervous or excited. However, males have a more prominent crest, which forms part of their mating rituals. Their eyes are golden brown and have eye-catching membranes that help them see underwater.

Another unique feature is their webbed feet ending in long claws, allowing them to perch on trees. This is why they are nicknamed the “greater wood ducks.” Finally, their legs and feet are black.

Movement and timing patterns

Musk ducks do not migrate. However, during times of drought, they will move from inland habitats to coastal marshes and lagoons.

Behavior, reproduction and molting

Musk ducks are diurnal birds and do not migrate. However, they are agile and active animals, sleeping in trees at night to avoid predators. They spend their days in shallow water and graze on land.

These ducks are social and often live in pairs and small groups. However, males are territorial, especially when competing for food and mates, and both sexes can be very aggressive.

Females fight, but not as often as males. Surprisingly, females will peck at ducklings if they try to eat the same food source.

Muscovy ducks communicate by raising and lowering their heads, wagging their tails, and making noises including quacks and hisses. The male’s call is deep and breathy, while the female makes a cooing sound.

Diet

These unusual ducks are omnivores and their preferences include:

Reproduction

Musk ducks do not mate for life; They are polygynous, meaning one male mates with multiple females within their territory. Other animals that perform this mating behavior are:

The mating season of Siamese ducks takes place from August to May, the female can lay from 8 to 16 white eggs. They build nests in crevices and cavities and incubate eggs for 35 days. The female takes great care of her eggs and only leaves the nest once a day to eat, drink and bathe.

Ducklings are born fully developed but can sometimes take up to 24 hours to break through their shell. Their mother teaches them to eat right away and they eat grass, corn, insects and grains in their first weeks, but anything they encounter is fair game.

Males will often watch over the cubs for several weeks and accompany them as they search for food, always keeping a watchful eye. Ducklings achieve independence in about 60 to 70 days and females become sexually mature at 28 weeks. However, males mature a week later at 29 weeks.

Longevity

These ducks live as long as 8 to 12 years in the wild. However, in captivity, musk ducks can live up to 20 years.

Communicate

Unlike most ducks, the Muscovy is silent and only makes noise when excited or threatened. Females call softly while males call in low, calm, breathy sounds. In addition, if they feel threatened, they will make hissing and panting sounds.

Predators, threats and conservation status

Muscovy ducks need to be aware of danger wherever they go. In the wild, they make a great meal for predators such as:

And domestic ducks also have to worry about dogs and cats.

Population threat

The biggest threat to Muscovy ducks is habitat loss due to deforestation. Other threats are hunting, egg collecting, and crossbreeding with domestic birds.

Muscovy ducks are listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List and have population sizes ranging from 50,000 to 499,999 individuals. However, their numbers have gradually decreased over the years due to habitat loss.

Ecological Muscovy duck

Muscovy ducks play an essential role in their ecosystem as predators of terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals, making them a mainstay in population control. In addition, they are also a food source for predators in their habitat.

domestication

Various Native American tribes in North America had domesticated the Muscovy duck by the time Columbus reached the Bahamas. Later, in the ^16th century, some of them were transported to Europe on the ship Santa Maria.

They are now traded as “Barbary Ducks” and are very popular because their mildly sweet meat is reminiscent of roast beef with the tenderness of veal.

Their color often determines their flavor. For example, white musk ducks are popular because their meat tastes the best, while dark ducks have more melanin in their skin, which can be unappealing.

Muscovy ducks as pets

Muscovy ducks are very calm and gentle, making them great pets. However, they need a source of water to survive. So, if you are thinking of raising Muscovy, you need to provide them with a pond or lake with plenty of plants around the water body.

But that’s not all; The tree needs to be large enough, with a hole or cavity in the trunk so ducks can nest. Luckily, they also thrive in nesting boxes if the plants aren’t suitable.

They do not like physical interaction with humans and are more likely to forage for their own food. However, you can give them multivitamin and mineral supplements to ensure they stay healthy. However, always check with your local veterinarian before giving any supplements to ensure they are safe. Fortunately, Muscovy ducks are less susceptible to disease than other duck species.

Health problems

Muscovy ducks are generally healthy. However, a study conducted in Colombia found that these ducks have health problems. They are more susceptible to Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites, both of which thrive in tropical temperatures. Luckily, these parasites are zoonotic, meaning they are not harmful to humans.

Additionally, they are victims of worms and lice, but with proper medication, it is not a problem. Another concern is duck plague, an acute disease with a high mortality rate. Fortunately, there is a vaccine in the United States.

Feeding

Muscovy ducks are omnivores, eating plants and preying on other animals. Therefore, ducklings need a special diet that includes flock feed supplemented with brewer’s yeast. They also enjoy mixtures of grass, corn and grains. As they mature, the juveniles will begin to eat insects, crustaceans, and slugs along with the adults.

All adult Muscovy ducks need is all of the flock’s food, and they will get the rest themselves from gardens and water bodies.

If you have a pest problem, Muscovy ducks are great pets to keep because they will eat all flies, slugs, termites and snails.

But if you want to pamper them, you can feed them chopped lettuce, fresh vegetables, pesticide-free grass, and corn.

Set up Coop and roaming

Muscovy ducks like high places to perch, so your coop needs a sturdy perch. Good companions include chickens, who get along well with these quiet ducks.

If you don’t have perches in your coop, you can add large chicken nest boxes, which will work, but how big should the boxes be?

The best sized nesting boxes for Muscovy ducks will be 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide and deep. If you have two or more of these large ducks, it may be beneficial to open the box so they can nest together.

You can’t keep ducks and geese in coops forever. They need time to enjoy free range and will use this opportunity to chase pests and scour the area around the water for larvae, crustaceans and roots.

If not allowed to roam, they will show resentment and will thrive if allowed to graze outside the cage.

If letting them roam freely is not an option, you can let them run, but they need space no matter where they are. At a minimum, they need 15 square feet and some type of water source.

They often fall victim to dogs, raccoons, foxes and cats, so make sure they stay in a safe area where predators cannot reach them.