BT control -Muscovy ducks wanted

moomin · Post by **moomin** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:14 pm

Does anybody in the South-East have Muscovy ducks for sale? Research has shown they clear about 90% of flies from around farm buildings/dung heaps etc. It was in Farmers Weekly years ago and I've just remembered! They eat mosquitos so I thought I might get some as part of my BT control!
Thanks,
Di

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:26 pm

Khaki Campbells may be a good alternative if you can't get your Muscovys, I am not sure if they eat as many midges but I know they do eat them because I have watched ours and their egg laying is second to none, up to 440 each in their first year of laying - so I am told anyway. They often lay twice.

Incidentally if you are new to ducks, when we first had ours we were advised if we wanted to get most of the eggs not to let them out until 10am, it has worked well for us.

Also ducks will usually wander further into the paddocks etc with a drake.

Good idea!

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:52 pm

If serious midge control is the object of the exercise, why not get an electronic midge trap? Whilst keeping ducks is fun, I can imagine that if you have sufficient ducks to control the midges to any significant extent you will have a plague of other things in the muck created by the ducks. I have kept various sorts and geese, and in our wet climate the certainly make a lot of smelly muck. That was one reason for giving up poultry quite a number of years ago, when the wonderful Edwina put the kybosh on me supplying shops with free range eggs unless I had a lot of testing done for salmonella. We never actually had muscovy ducks, but having seen them on various farms I think they are probably the muckiest ducks around. May not be so much of a muck problem in the wonderful dry climate of Kent of course.

Duncan

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:37 pm

Di - I think that's a brilliant idea. If everyone on the south coast bought thousands of ducks, it would keep the midges where they ought to be. :laugh:

PS. I've got some Indian Runners you can have for free!

Edited By Broomcroft on 1204483353

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:18 am

I'm with Duncan on this one, ducks (and geese) are mucky. And to have enough to clear the midges from an area is likely to mean it isn't suitable for anything else. We have a few (uninvited) Moorhen, Mallard and an occasional pair of Canada geese on the top pond. I don't imagine they are making any difference to the midge population elsewhere on the farm and I certainly wouldn't want them in the barn. Fortunately wildfowl understand this, domestic ducks presumably wouldn't. :p

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:36 am

I don't know Sylvia the Khaki Campbells never seems to go into the sheds but having said that need subtle hints to go into theirs after dark!

The drake leads them out to the fields near the house and they pop back several times for a bit of feed and then they are off again eating bugs, they clear the thing we call lawn as well.

You are right though they are messy, hence we never have more than 5 ducks and a drake and if they poo on the garden path, it isn't very nice!

Stephanie

moomin · Post by **moomin** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:34 am

Thanks everybody for your advice.
Muscovies are the only ducks not derived from mallard stock. They are tree dwellers rather than water dwellers and they are not messy. They haven't got so much oil in their feathers as other ducks. They will roost in trees [my neighbour had some and they used to roost in a tree at night away from foxes]. They eat far more insects than other ducks and they will also eat mice and baby rats etc.
I used to keep Khaki Cambells about 25 years ago and I was glad to see the end of them! Memories of wet evenings trying to get 100 of them in off 18 acres of hillside where they had decided to go worming, dog and I soaked to the skin; washing dirty eggs and all the mess and muck. I wouldn't have ordinary ducks again, thanks for the offer Clive.
Haven't got electricity in the buildings Duncan so couldn't use electronic equipment - still in the dark ages here in Kent!
Going to try Muscovies - they breed well so who knows, might have Moomin ducks populating the south coast!Thanks again everyone,
Di

Jim Taylor · Post by **Jim Taylor** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:31 pm

What does Duncan mean "wonderful dry climate of Kent", It rained last wednesday week!

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:13 am

My muscovies flew over to the neighbours and lived in their pond. (And they were joined by a male from who-knows-where!) Although we were surrounded by trees, I never saw them roost. They are prolific breeders and some folks really prefer them for eating. I have read they will also eat slugs but they are large birds and I haven't noticed their poo being any less messy!

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:09 am

If Muscovies aren't from Mallards, don't tell me they are related to the tiny Mandarins or the elegant longer legged tree ducks we kept years ago ??? That is some bit of evolution if they are.

John C · Post by **John C** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:15 am

They are almost a half way house between a duck and goose. Their eggs take longer to hatch ordinary ducks and if they interbreed with them, then their progeny are sterile mules.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:07 pm

Muscovies are actually a separate breed. Hence the difference in incubating time. They aren't a duck and they aren't a goose, but they are very dirty creatures. I'd much rather stick to laying ducks, although our Pekin ducks are good eating. :D

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:27 pm

A couple of days ago, the midges were about. My eyebrow was bitten. I have today received an order form from my vets for vaccine for the dreaded BT. In anticpation.....