Re: Muscovy duck

jofirey wrote:
"Christina Websell" <spamfree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:57ta47F2ej50uU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Adrian A" <anca@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:-Lydnbt20vKNJovbnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Christina Websell wrote:
Just before my operation I visited another poultry friend to get him
on board for emergencies in case June couldn't make any day as her
father is very poorly in hospital.
I spotted a Muscovy drake in a very small hutch. He was in there for
fighting another drake after Mr Firkin Fox wiped out their ducks.

I have thought about him ever since, pacing up and down at the front
of the hutch.
My friends have helped me get the ex goose hut in order yesterday and
today, it is all ready for him to be shut up safely at night.
He has a half barrel to swim in 45 gallons.
You know what this means? I need to get him a couple of ducks.
<sigh>
Please point
I envy you, I love Muscovy ducks, years ago when I used to catch the train
to Westbury in Wiltshire there was a large pond near the station with
several Moscvies living there, I used sit and watch them for ages.
He is here! He arrived yesterday evening and I placed him straight into his hut with food and water to get used to his bedtime accomm.
What a handsome chap, he is the colour they call lavender and white.

He seemed pleased to be let out this morning although he hasn't been exploring much yet, he has much more space here but it's overwhelming him a bit. Neither do I think he is used to eating out of a feeder, he had ignored the one in his hut and seems to need his mixed corn and pellets thrown on the ground for him. He's also ignored his "swimming pool" and wants to drink out of a bucket.
He seems so amiable! When he eats his food he wags his tail. When I talk to him he wags his tail too. He's not the slightest bit nervous of me, I can stand right next to him without him moving away.
I was at the neighbour's for a BBQ this evening. At 7.40 I said "I will just nip next door to shut up the chickens and get the duck into his hut - I may be some time.."
There was no sign of Francis (Drake) when I went into the orchard. I searched all around. Nothing. That was because he had already put himself to bed in his hut.!! There he was lying on the woodshavings when I peeped inside, and he was like "Eh? It's bedtime and here I am in my bed." I think I love him already :-)
I have never known this before. It's always been days before I have got new waterfowl to go into a hut in a new home at dusk voluntarily. It usually means both arms out shepherding to have them dodge away at the entrance at the last minute - this can go on ad infinitum at first.

Tomorrow I hope he will explore the orchard a little more, learn to feed from a feeder so he can eat food overnight (it's light before I get up) and discover his swimming pool. I know for a fact he never had one before so I will let him notice it at his own pace. He has to step up two steps to get into it. It's no good burying it in the ground as it needs cleaning and refreshing with clean water often.

Next thing will be to find him a couple of girls. I don't think it will be that easy.
Oh, btw, I only asked two things of his previous owner. 1. Please worm him before he comes. 2. Please clip one of his wings so he doesn't fly off.
He forgot to worm him, he said. When Francis flexed his wings this morning he took off 6 feet with all wing feathers intact. Muscovies can fly really well, so I had to do it myself. He obviously forgot to do that too.

Tweed


He may need the girls to teach him about the water.

Woo Hoo! Pool party at Tweed's house! Those girls will show him what that's all about ;)

Sam, closely supervised by Mistletoe
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Muscovy duck
    ... I spotted a Muscovy drake in a very small hutch. ... I need to get him a couple of ducks. ... hut with food and water to get used to his bedtime accomm. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Muscovy duck
    ... I spotted a Muscovy drake in a very small hutch. ... I need to get him a couple of ducks. ... hut with food and water to get used to his bedtime accomm. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Muscovy duck
    ... I spotted a Muscovy drake in a very small hutch. ... his hut with food and water to get used to his bedtime accomm. ... and discover his swimming pool. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)