A few more Muscovy questions...

[LaynaDon95]

1) I have a drake that walks with his butt way up in the air and his chest drags the ground. Is that normal?



2) I haven't seen any "action" going on yet. Do they only mate at a certain time or year or something? 0.o I seriously doubt that, but why haven't I seen or heard anything? These are ducks we're talking about here.

3) I live in Texas, so when should I expect broodies? It's about that time isn't it? What is their average breeding season around here?

 

[Kevin565]

1) I have a drake that walks with his butt way up in the air and his chest drags the ground. Is that normal?



2) I haven't seen any "action" going on yet. Do they only mate at a certain time or year or something? 0.o I seriously doubt that, but why haven't I seen or heard anything? These are ducks we're talking about here.

3) I live in Texas, so when should I expect broodies? It's about that time isn't it? What is their average breeding season around here?

1. No that is NOT normal. I have no idea what that is.

2. They may not be mating due to his handicap. In general they should be mating now.

3. I think Spring and Summer is the main breeding period with the best fertility

 

[LaynaDon95]

He doesn't even walk much. He takes a few steps and lays down, takes a few steps and lays down. :\ I guess I'll contact the lady I bought him from. There is a stump in the chicken coop that he's usually on, so I know he ca get around... I don't know.

 

[ian4379]

that drake definately has something wrong with him, possibly dodgy legs by the look of it. i think it'd be kinder to put him down, he could be in pain.. that would be the reason why he isnt mating, plus you wouldnt want to breed with him either, just in case his problem is genetic.

 

[LaynaDon95]

What's dodgy legs? I looked it up but found nothing.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Would it still be safe to eat him? Could this be a disease? What do you guys think?
I'm going to get in touch with the lady I got him from and ask for a new drake and ask if she wants this one back. If not, and it's safe to eat him, that's what we'll do.
Also, we do have a younger drake. I'm not sure how old he is, she said under a year. He walks fine and looks healthy. When should I expect him to start mating the girls?

(I'm pretty sure this is him... It's hard for me to tell unless I'm looking at them in person.)

 

[Kevin565]

What's dodgy legs? I looked it up but found nothing.

This could have been caused by lack of Niacin deficiency. It is possible to make a Duck Wheel chair for next to nothing. If you said he can get around I wouldn't be so quick to Cull him. How is he swimming? Staying a Float?

Would it still be safe to eat him? Could this be a disease? What do you guys think?
I'm going to get in touch with the lady I got him from and ask for a new drake and ask if she wants this one back. If not, and it's safe to eat him, that's what we'll do.
Also, we do have a younger drake. I'm not sure how old he is, she said under a year. He walks fine and looks healthy. When should I expect him to start mating the girls?

(I'm pretty sure this is him... It's hard for me to tell unless I'm looking at them in person.)

Could you eat him? Yes. Disease? Could be but I'm thinking a defiency. My Muscovy drake was already mating by 8 months

 

[LaynaDon95]

The one that's walking funny hasn't gotten into the pool yet. Only one of them has discovered the pool so far. We just got it set up last night after they were roosting.

So maybe try giving them extra niacin and see what happens? Would lack of niacin keep the seemingly healthy drake from mating?

 

[Kevin565]

I think you will be surprised how much more agile he will be once in water. I would defiantly at least try some Niacin Supplements. I think he is too old for him to make a full recovery but stranger things have happened. It's worth a try. And no a Niacin defiency would not keep a healthy Male from mating

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'll see what I can do. I'm only keeping 1 drake, so I don't need a weird one. If she wants him back, great, if not we'll probably be finding out how muscovies taste.
I've heard ducks mate pretty much all the time, so I don't know what's going on. I hope we didn't get 2 bum drakes! Surely we didn't. The lady we got them from has 60 birds, all hatched from her own ducks, so I know she has good drakes. I have no idea. It's kinds stressing me out. If one of them would just mate a girl in front of me, I would be happy! =P