Functional Rustic
Chirping
Good morning Back Yard Chickens from Functional Rustic on this cold Michigan day. I joined the duck loving community back in May of 2017 when we got our Muscovy ducklings. Not only have I learned a lot about ducks; those quirky creatures inspired me to start my own repurposing business out of their barn. BackYardChickens.com is my go to resource to read tips on keeping the ducks happy and healthy. I thought it was about time I make my own account so I can get involved in the discussions and get answers to my numerous duck questions.
It is 3 degrees outside today and a very chilly 20 degrees in the barn with my 7 Muscovy ducks and a turkey. The barn isn't heated, obviously, so keeping the ducks alive and the water liquid has been the focus. My only heat source right now is 2 heat lamps. One above the water bowl and the other on the other side of the stall. Both are about 2.5 feet off the ground. I thought for sure they would huddle beneath it, but they are content up on their perches. The heat light does wonders for keeping the water liquid. I just refill the tub each morning and evening.
Much to my surprise, my hens started laying eggs a few weeks ago. I didn't think they were old enough to start laying and it was below freezing! Add that to the ever growing list of surprising things the Muscovy do. In any case, Goldie is sitting on a clutch of at least 15 eggs. She is quite the broody gal. All the ducks seems protective of the eggs. Whenever I get near the nest they all start talking and wiggling their butts.
Amelia Air Duck was sitting on a clutch of 20 before Christmas but abandoned the nest when it got cold. Actually, I thought she had abandoned them. She made her nest in an out building away from the barn around Thanksgiving. After sitting on the eggs for a few weeks she stopped sitting on them. Since it was getting to be consistently below freezing I moved Amelia Air Duck and her eggs to the barn with the rest of the ducks. She never went back to the nest. After candling the eggs I saw they were at different stages of development. I tried to hatch them myself - tried. They started to smell and were not growing at all so a few days ago I tossed them in the yard.
The plan all along was to eat the duck eggs - but since I was not expecting them to lay eggs so early I was not looking for them. (The can hide them very well if they want to). Since I don't know how long the eggs have been laying around when I find them - I'm hesitant to eat them. I'm terrified of cracking open an egg and part of a duck comes out. So, I am just going to let them try to hatch the ducklings. I have a bunch of brooder boxes and am prepared to raise ducklings inside if they do hatch. Besides, I need to change my ratio of drakes to hens. My mom also has Muscovy who are laying eggs so the plan is to swap our ducklings and get more hens for our flocks.
I love to talk about my feather babies so feel free to ask questions or leave your Muscovy stories. To find out more about my Muscovy Ducks check out our website at www.FunctionalRustic.com
Happy
to have you join the family. Enjoy your time here at BYC! 
