Rescued Muscovy Duck

[Chip2po]

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding a Muscovy duck my family rescued, but first some background… We have a big flock of Muscovy ducks that live in my small neighborhood. They have a pond close by and neighbors that feed them daily. They are basically considered neighbors by everyone.

Now, my question. A couple of months ago, we noticed a 5-7 week old duckling in my neighbor’s front yard (where the ducks regularly go to feed) with an injured leg that was abandoned by the mother. We took her in, rehabbed her, and even bought two Perkins to keep her company. I believe these two Perkins are what saved her. She was instantly happier and is now a fully-recovered, full grown hen. However, I struggle with the feeling that maybe letting her join the other ducks in the neighborhood and be free would be better for her. She is a bit aggressive with the Pekins sometimes and has a very independent personality compared to them. You can definitely tell that she is more of a wild duck than the Pekins.

I have read all about the laws in place to prevent abandonment, but I’m not sure this would be considered an abandonment as she would still be fed daily by all the neighbors who very much love and care for the neighborhood ducks. I’m more concerned with her being accepted by the other Muscovys and figure out their daily pattern.

I really could use some advice because I don’t want to keep her contained in a small backyard if she would be happier and thrive better with the other Muscovys in the neighborhood.

(Obviously, I’m not considering releasing the Pekins as I know they wouldn’t survive. Only the rescued Muscovy)

I appreciate any insight you can all provide.

 

[sourland]

Is there any way you could allow her voluntary access to the lake and wild flock? That way the choice would be hers.

 

[Chip2po]

Is there any way you could allow her voluntary access to the lake and wild flock? That way the choice would be hers.

I absolutely could. My only concern would be how to get her back if things don’t work out. She is a fast runner.

 

[sourland]

If things don't work out, she has the option to return on her own.

 

[ruthhope]

Your female muscovy can fly. Actually juvenile male muscovy can fly, too. She will leave if she wants to and return if she wants to.

I released two rescued and rehabbed muscovy juveniles at the end of September, in a back yard adjoining a retention pond. Under Florida law, Muscovy can only be released on private land. We delayed releasing them until after hurricane Helene but no sooner were they out in the wild, than Hurricane Milton was announced. There was nothing I could do but hope for the best. We were only on the margins of both hurricanes. The two disappeared before Milton passed by, but, two days later, they were back with a family group of 2 adults with 4 or 5 juveniles some 3 or 4 weeks older than my two. We know that the family were older as they had been raised by their wild muscovy parents in the back yard that I released the two in. Quite a high percentage of the family ducklings had been prey to predators. The parent muscovy accepted the two new ones into the group. All of those muscovy fly in and out now when they want feeding!

The first photo is the day they were released at the end of September. The 2nd photo is when they returned after Hurricane Milton and the 3rd photo is of the family group they returned with

 

[Chip2po]

Your female muscovy can fly. Actually juvenile male muscovy can fly, too. She will leave if she wants to and return if she wants to.

I released two rescued and rehabbed muscovy juveniles at the end of September, in a back yard adjoining a retention pond. Under Florida law, Muscovy can only be released on private land. We delayed releasing them until after hurricane Helene but no sooner were they out in the wild, than Hurricane Milton was announced. There was nothing I could do but hope for the best. We were only on the margins of both hurricanes. The two disappeared before Milton passed by, but, two days later, they were back with a family group of 2 adults with 4 or 5 juveniles some 3 or 4 weeks older than my two. We know that the family were older as they had been raised by their wild muscovy parents in the back yard that I released the two in. Quite a high percentage of the family ducklings had been prey to predators. The parent muscovy accepted the two new ones into the group. All of those muscovy fly in and out now when they want feeding!View attachment 3989764
View attachment 3989767View attachment 3989768

The first photo is the day they were released at the end of September. The 2nd photo is when they returned after Hurricane Milton and the 3rd photo is of the family group they returned with

@ruthhope thank you so much for sharing those photos. Your post gives me hope. The pond in my neighborhood where all the ducks congregate is surrounded by houses and all the properties’ backyards are right on the water, so anywhere I release them here is going to be private property. I have a 6’ fence around my backyard and she has not even attempted to fly away, so my guess is the Pekins have become her adopted family and she does not want to leave them, even if she does bully them around a bit. My neighbor across the street keeps a feeder in the yard full of corn, etc. every day and his yard is basically the duck cafeteria. They come back and forth from the lake to his yard throughout the day. I’m thinking I might put the Pekins in the pen one of these days when the ducks are all out in his lawn eating and then open the front gate so she can see them and decide whether she wants to join them or come back to her “sisters”. That way at least I can feel like I have her the choice.