Flying ducks

BareFootDuck · **Joined:** Mon May 07, 2012 3:06 pm **Posts:** 24

Ok swampducks, your 16 Muscovies can't fly, but for ColacWaterfowl to say muscovies don't fly at all, is not correct.

ColacWaterfowl · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:43 am

I said that based on 23 years with waterfowl and hundreds of muscovy that did not and could not fly but there is always an exception to the rule

muscovieduck · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:47 am

sorry, I was just speaking from experience with my particular ducks. Perhaps mine are smaller than average I'm not sure, they're definitely not mammoths that's for sure. I keep my girls clipped, though every so often I take a while to get around to it after they grow back and I find them sitting on top of my fence, the other week I had to rescue one from the walkway beside my house trying to get back through the fence, I've also had to round them up from the park a few times. I have 5-6ft fencing. I don't bother clipping my drake as he won't leave the girls, I have a retaining wall that he flies from and goes a good 10m from that, but I'm not sure he could jump the fence from the ground. I just don't take the risk as I'm in suburbia and in an area where I often see dogs wandering unsupervised.

So I guess compared to other breeds of duck, muscovies are not good flyers, but it is possible for them to fly, especially when they are of smaller size, the heavier the bird the poorer it can fly until it is completely grounded by its weight. Whether or not your females are inclined to fly may be down to your particular birds, mine seem to fly readily, though don't stray far from my property when they do, other's birds are disinclined to fly. I think that's the fairest and most logical way to put it. So with a roofless pen, you can give it a go, but if you find they are escaping, you may need to look at clipping their wings until they're bigger/heavier.

ColacWaterfowl · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:19 am

We can all only speak from experience so its good you share yours and we all should thank you for that. I always say never say never so with the light bred muscovy its always possible to fly a small distance but to "fly away" like a wild duck such as a whistler or woody no. I enjoyed reading your posts muscovyduck

RMS-Waterfowl · **Joined:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:56 am **Posts:** 3

I do not have muscovies any more I moved on from them a few years ago but when I did I did have 1 or 2 ducks aka females that could get limited flight I would not call it flying per say but they could get over the fence if they were really keen. All of my drakes where just to heavy for any elevation off the ground so they did not even try just too lazy. The original question asked about ducks that could fly away and I can say muscovies will not fly away

likemeducks · **Joined:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 4

Yes I think someone jumped the gun, Kippin asked the best flyers and they have no roof on their coop and muscovies are not by any stretch of the imagination good or even reasonable flyers as we have all said.

BareFootDuck · **Joined:** Mon May 07, 2012 3:06 pm **Posts:** 24

Hi Kippen, have a read of this, it's about Muscovies, and backs what I say, Muscovy ducks can fly and fly well.
http://www.muscovyduckcentral.com/whymuscovy.html

I can remember having Muscovy ducks in the mid 60's and then again in the late 70's and both lots could fly very well.
Even recently I had young Muscovies that would climb over fences, they never got to fly because I made sure I cut the wings.

Just my experience.

BareFootDuck · **Joined:** Mon May 07, 2012 3:06 pm **Posts:** 24

Here's another web site about Muscovy ducks, different source but same story.
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issue ... Smith.html

Muscovies are excellent flying ducks. As a matter of fact, given their preference, they like to roost in trees. If you provide a house for them with "perches" or "roosts," they will get on these at night. Be careful of the claws on the ducks. They have these to help them cling on to the roost. I have never seen them use these claws to scratch the coil. If you do not want your Muscovies to fly, you can clip off the third section of one wing before the ducklings are one week old. When we do this, we use "Blood Stop Powder," even though they very seldom bleed very much. While this might seem a bit cruel, it is necessary for people in the commercial Muscovy duck business to do this, otherwise the ducks could all fly off.

swampducks · **Joined:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:53 am **Posts:** 10

Have a read of this barefootducks, it's about Muscovies ect.., and backs what we say
ttp://dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/pdf ... 1_2012.pdf

Quote - Captive-raised, domestic ducks and geese (such as Muscovy ducks, Egyptian geese, etc.) that are poor flyers because of their weight
and wing development.

swampducks · **Joined:** Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:53 am **Posts:** 10

And another
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Hun ... decoys.asp

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