How long do muscovy ducklings stay with mom and other questions.

[FL Zoo Mom]

I have a momma and four babies that hang around my yard. A couple months ago I nursed one of the babies back to health with a lot of help from you all. Since then they've all been healthy and happy but over the last week or so I've noticed some interesting behavior exhibited by mom. There's been a male that's always been around and has hung out with mom and babies but in the last week mom has been actively chasing him away from the food that I put out. He would get about a bite in and then she goes head down and chases him away. The babies don't pay him any attention but mom wants nothing to do with him being around. I guess she got her wish because he disappeared yesterday and I haven't seen him since. This is very new behavior for her though and I can't figure out what she's so upset about.

Also, the babies are fully grown now (I think they're about 4 months old) but still get upset if mom is out of sight. They venture a little ways away from her (maybe 10 - 20 yards) but they stop and start crying if they notice they can't see her anymore. She doesn't hurry back to them like she used to, though. At what age do they become independent? Since I put a little food out for them every morning do you think they'll just stay or will they finally fly away and do their own thing?

I figure this is the best place to ask since none of my Google searches are turning up anything.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have a momma and four babies that hang around my yard. A couple months ago I nursed one of the babies back to health with a lot of help from you all. Since then they've all been healthy and happy but over the last week or so I've noticed some interesting behavior exhibited by mom. There's been a male that's always been around and has hung out with mom and babies but in the last week mom has been actively chasing him away from the food that I put out. He would get about a bite in and then she goes head down and chases him away. The babies don't pay him any attention but mom wants nothing to do with him being around. I guess she got her wish because he disappeared yesterday and I haven't seen him since. This is very new behavior for her though and I can't figure out what she's so upset about.

Also, the babies are fully grown now (I think they're about 4 months old) but still get upset if mom is out of sight. They venture a little ways away from her (maybe 10 - 20 yards) but they stop and start crying if they notice they can't see her anymore. She doesn't hurry back to them like she used to, though. At what age do they become independent? Since I put a little food out for them every morning do you think they'll just stay or will they finally fly away and do their own thing?

I figure this is the best place to ask since none of my Google searches are turning up anything.

Hi, @FL Zoo Mom ! I missed this post somehow...glad to hear the little ones are still doing well. Based on my experience with my (arguably domestic) Muscovies, 4 months is on the long side of mom still looking after her babies. I just watch the broodies to see when they lose interest in the ducklings, and it seems to occur at about 8 weeks or so.

My guess is that if you keep putting food out for them, they'll keep coming around...at least until they want to find mates, then they may venture further afield. Or they might just stick around and wait for handouts.

 

[Going Quackers]

In my well beyond countless number of clutches i have found -varies- to be the best reply, some mums hang out with their children for ages, while others do not.

Typically by 6-8wks they back off even more so towards the drakes. If you put out food they will continue to come around, a way to a ducks heart is def through it's stomach lol.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

I must have missed the notifications of the new posts!

About a week ago the babies all of the sudden started acting like real ducks. No more crying if they couldn't see mom and they started doing their own thing. I see them now on their own or with one or two of their siblings. They're not always waiting for me when I get up in the morning anymore, either. They still know I'm the food lady but their range has expanded to more of the neighborhood and they don't just live on my deck or side yard anymore.

Tomorrow their pool comes up since they can fly and they're waterproofed now so if they want to rinse off or swim they can go in the canal without fear of drowning. They do have fun playing in it though so I'm going to miss seeing them flapping around in there.

 

[A little Daffy]

I have a momma and four babies that hang around my yard. A couple months ago I nursed one of the babies back to health with a lot of help from you all. Since then they've all been healthy and happy but over the last week or so I've noticed some interesting behavior exhibited by mom. There's been a male that's always been around and has hung out with mom and babies but in the last week mom has been actively chasing him away from the food that I put out. He would get about a bite in and then she goes head down and chases him away. The babies don't pay him any attention but mom wants nothing to do with him being around. I guess she got her wish because he disappeared yesterday and I haven't seen him since. This is very new behavior for her though and I can't figure out what she's so upset about.

Also, the babies are fully grown now (I think they're about 4 months old) but still get upset if mom is out of sight. They venture a little ways away from her (maybe 10 - 20 yards) but they stop and start crying if they notice they can't see her anymore. She doesn't hurry back to them like she used to, though. At what age do they become independent? Since I put a little food out for them every morning do you think they'll just stay or will they finally fly away and do their own thing?

I figure this is the best place to ask since none of my Google searches are turning up anything.

FL Zoo Mom,
I've wondered the same thing. I have 3 Muscovies that are six weeks old today. They come out of their pen and follow me around but still find comfort in the pen. These are the 3 I raised from eggs that the momma abandoned.
If I see some adults in my front yard (waiting for food) then I will escort them out there in hopes they learn something. Not working though. The adults got indignant, and left. The little ones just ignored them.
I hope they will be on their own by Sept. I'm leaving on vacation!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@A little Daffy these ducklings look to you to take care of them. That's what happens when we hatch and raise the feed them etc.
They are yours now not feral. The onbes coming around for you to feed them may not ever accept them or they them. These ducklings are so use to being cared for by you now they know your place as their home. To keep them from being killed or abandoned, call Muscovy Haven in S Fla and see if they will take them

 

[A little Daffy]

@A little Daffy these ducklings look to you to take care of them. That's what happens when we hatch and raise the feed them etc.
They are yours now not feral. The onbes coming around for you to feed them may not ever accept them or they them. These ducklings are so use to being cared for by you now they know your place as their home. To keep them from being killed or abandoned, call Muscovy Haven in S Fla and see if they will take them

Thank you, Miss Lydia.
If they don't want to leave that's totally up to them. They have a home here if they wish.
I just figured they would want to leave like all the baby ducks do.

 

[User1234]

I have had Muscovy babies leave the mom early around 6 weeks but I’ve had some that never truly want to leave her it really depends on the babies and how good the mom is.

 

[Miss Lydia]

These duckling's mom is @A little Daffy lol

 

[MelissaAppenrodt]

Do I need to separate my mature Muscovy drake from the mom and her day old ducklings or can he be in the same pen?