Muscovy Drake X Cayuga Hen MULES, will females lay eggs?

[Egzermalda]

There is some conflicting information out there about Female Mules laying eggs? Most seem to say no, but some resources say they do. All seem to agree that Hinnies (Male Mallard derived X Female Muscovy) will lay infertile eggs. I have a hatch of 7 Mules out of my Cayuga Hen covered by a Muscovy drake. My flock of ~150 birds consists of Chickens, Turkeys, Geese, Peafowl about 20 Muscovy hens, 10 Muscovy drakes, 2 Cayuga hens and a Blue Runner X Khaki Campbell hen. There are NO mallard derived drakes. All 3 mallard derived hens set nests. 2 had no hatches. The Cayuga hen hatched 7, all clearly Mules. Her nest was on the other side of the pond from where all the Muscovy hang out. 6 of the ducklings are black with bibs and one is Chocolate with a bib. I do not know which Muscovy drake(s) fertilized her eggs but I do have several Chocolate and Lilac drakes as well as Blue and Black which may be carrying chocolate. All 3 mallard derived hens are back on nests. I have witnessed the Cayuga who hatched these ducklings being bred by a black Muscovy drake, but not the other two.
Questions. 1) Is the lone chocolate duckling female, as the mother was black and the Chocolate would be sex-linked?
2) Does anyone have any information supporting the idea that female Mules lay eggs? As that would change my long-term plan for these ducklings. 3) Research says 60% Mules are male, but that male and female are the same size. Which is what I am seeing so far, no differences in size, feathering rate or behavior so far at ~ 6 weeks of age. How do you sex Mules? They males are destined for the table, but I would be interested in growing out the females just to satisfy my curiosity about the egg laying, unless I learn definitely that they will not lay.
FYI, so far these Mules have been extremely hardy and independent. Mom hatched 7 and 7 are thriving, free ranging on a large pond, with virtually no care from mom or any of the rest of the flock or me. From day one they were scattered all over the pond in groups of 2 or 3. I think mom brooded them at night for about a week and then she was done. They were terrified of me and have had very little human provided food, although that is changing as they figured out I am a source of yummies. I have never touched any of them, but I can now get fairly close. Around the time they hit 2-3 weeks of age they started grouping together and have been inseparable since. They all appear to be the same size, and feathering at the same rate, and no behavioral differences. No signs of caruncles or quacking. It's funny how the bibs make them look like Swedish ducks.
Link to Mule Videos in my One Drive account for those interested. Mule Videos

 

[Luv Ducks]

I hatched out three Mules a couple of years ago. I got 2 drakes and 1 Hen. They were all about the same size. I could tell I had drakes by their behavior with my Hens. They chased them endlessly and would not leave them alone. My Mule has never laid any eggs but she is my friendliest duck. I rehomed her two brothers. I no longer have my Muscovy Drake as I rehomed him. He was about 15 pounds and hard on my Hens. Her Mom was a Rouen Hen. They claim there is something special in the Mule Duck's liver when it comes to taste. I would not know, I don't eat my ducks. Mine are pets. Yours are beautiful. Mine ended up having the Rouen Head, big gray black body. She's a real piggy and first to get the lettuce I give them as a treat. She will not let me touch her though but I still love her. Good luck with yours. They do say Hinnies will lay eggs that are not fertile and Mules will not.

 

[Egzermalda]

I hatched out three Mules a couple of years ago. I got 2 drakes and 1 Hen. They were all about the same size. I could tell I had drakes by their behavior with my Hens. They chased them endlessly and would not leave them alone. My Mule has never laid any eggs but she is my friendliest duck. I rehomed her two brothers. I no longer have my Muscovy Drake as I rehomed him. He was about 15 pounds and hard on my Hens. Her Mom was a Rouen Hen. They claim there is something special in the Mule Duck's liver when it comes to taste. I would not know, I don't eat my ducks. Mine are pets. Yours are beautiful. Mine ended up having the Rouen Head, big gray black body. She's a real piggy and first to get the lettuce I give them as a treat. She will not let me touch her though but I still love her. Good luck with yours. They do say Hinnies will lay eggs that are not fertile and Mules will not.

Thanks, that answers some questions and confirms some things I have read.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thanks, that answers some questions and confirms some things I have read.

You are most welcome.

 

[ProudRedneck]

Hinny momma here... would like to say my hinny hen has only laid 1 egg in her life, and it was the size of a fairy egg..She was born 01/16/2023. My Hinnies (2 drakes+ 1 hen, dark ones in picture below) resulted from my Silver Appleyard drake and Muscovy hen.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Hinny momma here... would like to say my hinny hen has only laid 1 egg in her life, and it was the size of a fairy egg..She was born 01/16/2023. My Hinnies (2 drakes+ 1 hen, dark ones in picture below) resulted from my Silver Appleyard drake and Muscovy hen.

View attachment 3904946

Good to know. I always thought I would like Hinnies more than my Mule because of the egg laying factor. I guess not, lol.

 

[PolishDuckMaster]

Cześć, czy mój kaczor Pekin na zdjęciu zapłodni bez trudności kaczka piżmowa? Jak wyglądają kaczki po kaczorze pekińskim i kaczce piżmowej? Do mojego kaczora Pekin przełożona kaczka piżmowa. Pozdrawiam .

 

[Rosebud25]

Cześć, czy mój kaczor Pekin na zdjęciu zapłodni bez trudności kaczka piżmowa? Jak wyglądają kaczki po kaczorze pekińskim i kaczce piżmowej? Do mojego kaczora Pekin przełożona kaczka piżmowa. Pozdrawiam .

I can't help other than translate - Hello, will my Pekin drake in the picture fertilize the Muscovy duck without any difficulty? What do the ducks look like after Pekin drake and Muscovy duck? A Muscovy duck was transferred to my Pekin drake. Best regards .

 

[Luv Ducks]

I can't help other than translate - Hello, will my Pekin drake in the picture fertilize the Muscovy duck without any difficulty? What do the ducks look like after Pekin drake and Muscovy duck? A Muscovy duck was transferred to my Pekin drake. Best regards .

Someone please translate this back to them. My Mule has never laid an egg. She was born from a Muscovy Drake and a Rouen Hen. Her head looked like a Rouen and her back gray like her Drake dad. She never got any red on her face at all and had a half white ring around her neck. I hope this helps them and thanks for translating for me.

 

[Rosebud25]

Cześć, czy mój kaczor Pekin na zdjęciu zapłodni bez trudności kaczka piżmowa? Jak wyglądają kaczki po kaczorze pekińskim i kaczce piżmowej? Do mojego kaczora Pekin przełożona kaczka piżmowa. Pozdrawiam .

Proszę, ktoś im to przetłumaczy. Moja Muła nigdy nie zniosła jajka. Urodziła się z kaczora piżmowego i kury Rouen. Jej głowa wyglądała jak u Rouen, a grzbiet szary jak u jej ojca Drake'a. Nigdy nie miała czerwonej twarzy i miała półbiałą obrączkę wokół szyi. Mam nadzieję, że to im pomoże i dziękuję za tłumaczenie.