Muskovy question.

[EriLynCap]

Young male muscocvies can easily be confused with females especially when there are no females to compare them to. Young males do make a variety of sounds, but as they mature the sounds become more limited until only a huffing is made. Females do continue to make a variety of sounds including a hiss similar to the male huffing. The hiss is usually only when they are very ajitated or broody. I'm not sure if the new comers would be enough to make a female hiss frequently. The mounting at this age was likely an act of dominance and could have been done by either sex. The sound or sounds it is making will be your biggest clue if it is male or female. Size is also a tell tale sign. Females mature around 6 pounds. Males grow considerably larger than females.

Thank you... I feel like it will be a bit longer before I can stop second guessing myself with her. The hissing is throwing me off but I have a hard time thinking of a male mothering younger birds... She will let the chickens approach but if they get to acting silly she runs up flapping her wings and chasing them off... Do males step in with parental instincts for younger newcomers?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Mine didn't with the adopted kids, but then again he's an old stick in the mud. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics in my flock evolve next Spring.