Muscovy duck ...or is it a drake?

[Anne W]

Do muscovy drakes have a curl on their tail feathers like other breeds? I bought 2 females last october, supposedly around 5 months old - one was already bigger but I put that down to perhaps being older. This week I saw 'her' trying to mount an aylesbury. It's behaviour seems different too.

[Davidd]

Hi , no muskovies dont have curly tails- if one is much bigger then it is a drake- they will all be the same size up to a point then the drakes shoot away to twice the size- long before they get very red faces- i normally tell by the size of the duckling. hope this makes sense
regards, David

[Anne W]

Yes it does David - I did think by now they should have been the same size. Drat it! I really didn't want a drake - I don't want to breed and I didn't want the girls pestered.

[Davidd]

hello, i have two drakes- they are not much bother- only in the spring! very quiet and just sit around all day- i only use the muskovies to hatch my Exhibition Toulouse- so dont breed many ducks- only every few years to add to my old girls- hopefully i have the first goslings of the season due on Sunday! fingers crossed- it has been so cold here- down to minus 6 for the last few nights!
David

[Anne W]

Yes - they are quiet - I won't get rid of him but might have to change his name from Daisy! I wonder if there is a demand for muscovies? I wouldn't mind having a clutch of them if I thought I could sell some on. There doesn't seem to be many breeders of any poultry around here - everything I would like is hours away.