Muscovy duck and Indo-duck are the same or not: differences and which is better

Many farmers are wondering if Indo-duck and Muscovy duck are the same thing or not. In addition, it is not clear to which category the common duck should be placed. Obviously, these varieties have a lot in common, but there are significant differences between them. Each of the presented types has its own advantages and disadvantages, which play an important role in choosing a bird for farming.

What is the difference between indo ducks, musky ducks and common ducks

Indo-duck, which is popularly called the Muscovy duck, contrary to common misconception, is not a hybrid of a duck and a turkey.The bird belongs to the arboreal species, which distinguishes it from the standard representatives of the group, most of which are waterfowl. The name "Indian duck" is an abbreviation of the phrase "Indian duck". This is due to the fact that Indian tribes were actively engaged in breeding mallards.

Found wild in South America and Mexico. These animals differ from ordinary ducks in the following ways:

• body elongated, wide, elongated head, short neck;
• there are red skin growths on the front;
• there is a crest on the head (rises when frightened);
• specific gait - when moving, the mallard shakes its head back and forth.

By crossing females of ordinary ducks with drakes of indout, you can get a hybrid duckling. Such offspring are called mulards. Muscovy ducks and mulards are very similar.

Birds also differ in character: musky ducks have a calm disposition, easily make contact, do not scream, while ordinary mallards make a lot of noise when frightened.

Which is better to choose

Compared to ordinary ducks, musk mallards have a number of advantages:

1. Endurance - easily endure low temperatures. The room where the ducks are kept does not need to be heated. It is important that the floor is always dry in cold weather.
2. No body of water required.
3. Strong immunity to viral infections.
4. It is easy to distinguish a drake from a female (the latter is half the size).
5. Muscovy ducks are exemplary mother hens: they patiently incubate their eggs, do not leave the nest, and care about their offspring.
6. Birds don't eat much, while common mallards are constantly hungry. Favorite food is earthworms and insects.
7. Meat has the best qualities compared to ordinary ducks. A dietary and at the same time nutritious product obtained from indoutka is much tastier, more tender, does not emit a specific smell. The share of muscle mass in meat is 43-48%.
8. The bird is well carried. The eggs are edible. At the same time, mallard eggs are not suitable for eating due to their poor taste.
9. The Indian duck does not make noise, unlike its waterfowl relatives. An exception is the hiss of the drake, which is why these birds are sometimes called mute.
10. Has a friendly disposition.
11. Clean.

In addition to its advantages, muscovy duck has a number of disadvantages that must be considered when choosing:

1. The bird grows one and a half times longer than an ordinary duck (but it reaches larger sizes).
2. Long incubation period - more than a month.
3. Birds are greedy for shiny, so they can easily swallow a dangerous object (nail, wire, screw, glass).
4. Doesn't tolerate dirt, so bedding should be changed regularly in a birdhouse.
5. Cannot tolerate dampness.
6. Indo-ducks fly fast and high, so they need to clip their wings. Otherwise, they will simply fly away from the yard.
7. Do not tolerate the neighborhood of other birds. Therefore, they have to be kept separate from the rest.

Muscovy duck is the second name of the Indo-duck. At the same time, these birds do not belong to standard mallards. Also, breeders bred hybrids obtained from representatives of both varieties - mulards. Compared to classic ducks, musky ducks have a number of advantages that distinguish them favorably from other relatives.

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