The Muscovy is NOT a duck! It is a unique ducklike species of tree-perching waterfowl. It originated in the South American rainforest where its wild ancestors still reside. For lack of a better classification, it is generally referred to as a duck, although it is as genetically different from ducks as donkeys are to horses. In fact, as with donkeys and horses, when you breed Muscovy to domestic, mallard-derived ducks, their offspring are always sterile and are referred to as “mules.”
Muscovy females are probably the best natural mothers of any fowl, as measured by their success at incubating their eggs and raising their young to adulthood. They will lay up to three times per year, 8-21 medium white eggs, and will loyally sit each clutch for an incubation period of 35-37 days. They bravely protect their young and have been known to beat off cats, dogs, foxes and other marauders.
Domesticated Muscovies are bred in a rainbow of colors including black, white, blue, silver, chocolate, and lilac. Patterns include solid, pied, white-headed, barred, bibbed, and ripple. As adults, both sexes have patches of bare skin around the eyes, rather than feathers. Most of this is covered in bright red “caruncles,” which superficially resemble warty outgrowths. It is an interesting look that takes some getting used to, but a "mother's love" is blind!
Tame, quiet, and able to forage for most of their keep, Muscovies are inherently hardy, vigorous, and robust. They are quite personable, funny, and are the only fowl imagined to have a sense of humor – cat and dog baiting being a specialty!
The Muscovy’s claim to fame is that it is particularly fond of insects. For years, some Canadian farmers have sworn that a few Muscovies took care of all fly problems on their farms. In 1989, two Ontario biologists (Gordon Surgeoner and Barry Glofcheskie) decided to put this to the test.
Starting with laboratory trials, the entomologists first put a hungry five-week-old Muscovy into a screened cage with 400 living houseflies. Within one hour, it had eaten 326 flies. Later, they placed four Muscovies in separate cages containing 100 flies each. Within 30 minutes over 90 percent of the insects were gone. It took flypaper, fly traps, and bait cards anywhere from 15 to 86 hours to suppress the fly population that much.
Moving to field tests, the researchers placed pairs of two-year-old Muscovies on several Ontario farms. Videotapes showed the birds snapping at houseflies and biting flies about every 30 seconds and being successful on 70 percent of their attempts. With that efficiency, they achieved 80-90 percent fly control in enclosures such as calf rooms or piggeries. The birds were given only water and had to scavenge for all their food. Females seemed to eat about 10 percent more flies than males, and individuals of any age between 8 days and two years were equally effective.
If you are looking for a low-cost investment in rearing fowl for food, eggs, insect control, or even just amusement, Muscovies should be seriously considered.
Muscovy are not prone to disease; thrive in hot, wet & humid environments where most domesticated waterfowl perish; are not affected by cold winters, and can also tolerate arid lands as well. Muscovies can be kept happily without access to a pond or other large body of water, providing they have a bucket deep enough to clean their bodies and dunk their heads to clear their eyes. Their underdeveloped oil glands (as compared to mallard-derived, domestic ducks) limit their water play, although they can both swim and dive well.
Both males and females are quackless, producing only a muffled “puff” from the males; females are almost mute, usually chirping only to their ducklings. However, both can make a soft hissing sound when challenged. Their feet have very sharp claws for clutching tree branches and many a handler has been accidentally scratched! The male has a unique crest of feathers on his head that will rise when he is alarmed or protecting his bevy.
The male’s mature weight can reach upwards of 15 lbs; almost double that of the females’ 9 lb adult weight. Because of this, their flying skills are not quite as sharp as the females who are well-known for flying around as though sightseeing, rather than for flying away! With the lift of a hill, fence or strong wind, a male’s broad and well-rounded wings eventually will get him successfully airborne.
The researchers point out that employing Muscovies on farms does not eliminate all need for insecticides, but it greatly reduces the amounts required with many natural benefits. Muscovies are biodegradable, will not cause a buildup of genetic resistance, are non-poisonous, and taste better than flypaper! Indeed, it is reported that their meat is excellent – compared often to high-grade veal (without the objectionable tactics to gain this taste and texture).
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