Muscovy duck: description of the breed, pros and cons, breeding at home

Besides common ducks, muscovy ducks can be found in the areas of poultry farmers. They are popularly called Indians because of the growths on their heads that resemble turkeys. In addition to this feature, they have other differences in characteristics from ordinary ducks. Consider the description and characteristics of musky ducks, varieties, pros and cons, rules for keeping, feeding and breeding.

History of the origin of the breed

The name "indo-duck" for musky ducks was invented for a reason. They really are somewhat reminiscent of turkeys, but they have nothing to do with them.This is not a hybrid of 2 species of birds, as some people think. This is a separate species of duck native to South America. Before they were domesticated, they lived there in the forests, along the banks of tropical rivers.

Muscovy ducks were exported from South America to Europe and other countries. At first they were kept in parks as an exotic bird, along with swans and peacocks, and then as a common farm bird.

General description and characteristics

The body of musky ducks is long and wide, the neck and legs are short. The wings are developed, the feathers are long, which allows the bird to fly. On the sides of the head, drakes and females have red growths that secrete fat with a faint smell of musk. Males have more than females. Because of these growths, the head of an indochka looks like a turkey.

The species belongs to tree ducks, therefore, unlike domestic ducks descended from mallards, it does not need water bodies, but swims well. By nature, they are calm and clean, do not run around the yard, do not make a swamp. They do not quack, but quietly hiss.

Plumage color white, black with green, black and white, brown, tortoiseshell, smoky. Both males and females of the same breed are colored the same, they can be distinguished by the size of the body and growths. The weight of an adult duck is 2.5 kg, drakes are larger - 3.2-3.5 kg (maximum - 5 kg). Little ducklings are raised for meat up to 2.5-3 months. During the season, one bird can lay 12 dozen eggs of 75 g each.

Muscovy duck varieties

The coloring that musky ducks have in nature is black, interspersed with white patches on the head, neck and throughout the body. The rest of the colors were bred by people. In birds with white plumage, the eyes are also light, gray-blue. Scarlet growths. Down ducklings yellow, white plumage appears after the first molt.

H

black ducks are covered with black and green feathers, brown eyes, legs and beak are black. The growths are dark red. The down of ducklings is half brown, half gray, they acquire a stable color after the 2nd molt.

Chocolate or brown color is made up of feathers of the corresponding color. There are inclusions of white feathers, from single specimens to white patches on the neck and head. Legs and beak are red, eyes are brown. Light brown duck down.

Blue Muscovy Ducks have gray-blue plumage. White areas are present on the sides and wings. Paws are dark gray, eyes are brown, growths are red. The down of ducklings is gray. Regardless of color, breeds of musky ducks are classified as meat.

Good and bad sides

Pros and consthey are large;have good he alth, do not get sick;ducklings survive almost all;indiscriminate in food;show good egg production;do not need water for bathing;do not scream;hatch ducklings and even chicks of other birds;the meat is not as fatty as that of ordinary ducks.with a lack of nutrients among ducklings, pecking may begin;slow, compared with ducks, weight gain.

As you can see, indo-outs have more pluses than minuses.

Conditions and care

Muscovy ducks can be kept with common ducks and with other birds. For residence, they can equip any building in which it will be warm in winter and cool in summer. In it, the birds should be comfortable, spacious, they do not like to live in cramped quarters.

They don't like dampness either, so the duck house needs to be ventilated every day to remove excess moisture and clean the air.

The conditions for growing musky ducks make it possible to do without a reservoir. However, it is imperative to walk the bird, and not keep it locked up. Movement and sunlight have a positive effect on the body, ducks grow better, start laying eggs faster, and the number of eggs laid increases.

Muscovy ducks are arboreal, so, like chickens, they like to sit on high ground. In the poultry house, you can install wide bars for them near the floor, at a distance of about 15 cm. Indo-ducks will rest on them.

Bottom, on the floor, lay a bed of straw, peat, shavings. As soon as it gets dirty, it needs to be changed. At least 2 times a year, the entire room must be disinfected, drinkers and feeders - every month. Processing reduces the likelihood of infection with bacteria and viruses, the subsequent development of diseases.

What to feed?

Muscovy ducks love green food more than usual. If possible, they should be allowed to graze. When walking on a pasture in the summer, feed costs can be halved. The main diet of the Indians is grain mixture or cereals from cereals, boiled vegetables and root crops, potatoes. As additives, you can add fish and meat and bone meal, fodder yeast, s alt, chalk.Indoutok can be grown on feed specially developed for them. Muscovy ducks grow quickly, but slower than regular ducks.

In winter, adult birds can be fed (per head) with a mixture of 30 g of crushed corn, 20 g of wheat grain, 50 g of barley, 40 g of oats, 15 g of cake, 20 g of bran and millet. To the grain add raw root vegetables, grated on a coarse grater, herbal chopped, shell, s alt, yeast, fish meal and cottage cheese.

Before laying eggs, Muscovy ducks need to be fed intensively, increasing the number of feedings up to 4 times a day. Usually 3 times a day is enough. In addition to the frequency, you must also observe the feeding regime, that is, give food at the same time that the birds get used to. Along with the feed, you need to change the water in the drinkers. Ducks can scatter feed, so feeders should not be more than half full.

Breeding rules

Parent pairs should be made up of 1 drake and 2-3 ducks. To obtain musk ducklings, purebred parents are selected. If you cross an Indo with a Beijing one, you get mulard hybrids. They outperform their parents in every way - they are bigger, grow faster, carry better, live longer.

The development period in a duckling egg is 28 days. Eggs can be incubated by duck, chicken or turkey. In the presence of a home incubator, breeding will be artificial. With natural breeding, ducklings can be left with their mother, but they can be separated from other birds so that they do not accidentally injure them. If the ducklings hatched in an incubator, they are grown in a brooder for a month. It sets the temperature and humidity conditions - 25-30 ˚С and humidity 60-70%. Ducklings up to a month old should not fall into water bodies, they have not yet developed the secretion of fat, with which birds lubricate feathers.

Feeding domestic musky ducklings is necessary with boiled crumbly cereals with the addition of greens, grated vegetables, and powdered milk. By 2 months, the chicks reach a weight of 2 kg. If you need to get fatty meat, continue feeding up to 5 months.

Ducks lay well until they are 3 years old. Then they need to be replaced with young ones. A good adult hen can be recognized by a soft and voluminous belly, a wide cloaca, widely spaced flexible pubic bones, smooth and clean feathers.

Possible diseases

Diseases that can affect Muscovy ducks are divided into 3 groups: infectious, non-infectious and parasitic. The cause of infections is poor bird care, unsystematic cleaning of the premises, feeders and drinkers, cleaning and disinfection of inventory. Bacteria and viruses enter the bird's body through contact with dirty bedding, eating and drinking from dirty feeders and drinkers.

Non-infectious - metabolic diseases, digestive, occur due to malnutrition, deficiency or excess of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, lack of exercise, crowded content, violation of temperature and humidity.

Parasitic diseases also develop from non-compliance with the conditions of detention by the owner, cleanliness in the house. Muscovy ducks become infected with parasites through contact with sick birds. Any disease can be avoided or reduced the likelihood of its development, if you clean the house, keep the room and equipment clean. Diseases of digestion and metabolism are prevented by drawing up the right diet, timely feeding of musky ducks, giving food in the required amount.

How long do they live?

Wild ducks live 8-12 years. This is the maximum life expectancy, in reality, many die earlier from diseases or predators. Domestic, grown for meat, live up to 3-6 months. Laying hens are left for 3 years, then they are also sent for meat. Breeding drakes can be used up to 5 years, then they are also changed.

But, if you do not take into account that ducks are used for household needs, then life in the poultry yard is preferable for them than in the wild. Keeping a duck as a pet will allow it to live as long as possible.

Muscovy ducks are larger than normal ducks and have lean meat. Calm, do not make noise and do not need a reservoir. These are the main advantages due to which they have become popular with domestic poultry farmers. Despite the difference from ordinary ducks, they can be kept and fed in the same way.

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