Muscovy Ducks

Our Muscovy ducks ("Scovies") were one of the first birds we added to our farm. They are definitely my favorites (don't tell the others) with their gentle, quirky personalities and dog-like excitement to see us - their tail wagging, head bobbing, full on dance party makes me laugh every day. A great choice for folks with neighbors close by - these birds are a lot of personality in a very quiet package. Females make beautiful trilling and cooing sounds (plus their trademark broody hen squeak) and males sound like miniature dragons with their whisper-like puffing, hissing, and hushed rumbling vocalizations.

A word to the wise: despite their size, Scovies are very capable flyers. And we're not talking the jump and glide type of flying, we're talking waiting for their breakfast on the telephone pole flying. If you do not want your ducks flying circles around your house every morning (a sight to behold but somewhat alarming at first) they do just fine with having the flight feathers on one of their wings clipped. They will need to be clipped yearly after they regrow their feathers post-molt.

We provide our free ranging birds with free choice feed year round, but the Muscovy flock prefers to forage and are very easy on the feed bill. Although they are seasonal layers Muscovies are an outstanding dual purpose bird. Drakes can be processed at 14-16 weeks and dress out well. Their meat is delicious - very much like a lean steak - and versatile in the kitchen. A favorite in our house is to use it like beef in stews.

They are consistent layers during the warm months (March-November in our climate) and prolific breeders. Muscovy hens are renowned for their mothering abilities. This year (2022) our ten hens have hatched and raised over one hundred ducklings, with clutches ranging in size from six ducklings to an impressive twenty two ducklings!

Our flock is comprised of a chocolate pied drake, a blue pied drake, and hens in many colors (chocolate, white, black, blue, and bronze). We have several patterns in our flock including bibbed, pied, barred, and the rare and highly sought after ripple and looney. One of our drakes and many of our hens also carry the canizie (aka white head) gene. Because of how varied and colorful our flock is you can expect ducklings in all the colors listed above plus the possibility of silver and lilac/blue fawn.