Love Hate Relationships Part Two

Considered to be a pest along with rock doves, European starlings, house sparrows, and monk parakeets many people are quite fond of the Muscovy ducks.Opps - The Muscovy is NOT a duck! It is a unique ducklike species of tree-perching waterfowl. It originated in the South American rainforest where its wild ancestors still reside. For lack of a better classification, it is generally referred to as a duck, although it is as genetically different from ducks as donkeys are to horses. In fact, as with donkeys and horses, when you breed Muscovy to domestic, mallard-derived ducks, their offspring are always sterile and are referred to as “mules.”These quackers are non-native dabblers common in suburban ponds and lakes. Dabbling Ducks float on shallow water and then pivot headfirst with tails skyward to feed underwater. They inhabit fresh and brackish ponds, marshes, and streams. Gadwalls are more common in central and north Florida and during fall and winter. They are more likely to dive while foraging and feed farther from water than most dabblers. Muscovy Ducks are native to Central and South America. The population in Florida is thought to be the result of released and escaped domestic ducks that have hybridized with native ducks. They are the most common waterfowl found in suburban areas. They usually nest on the ground but may nest on balconies and ledges. In contrast, wild Muscovies are wary of humans and nest in tree cavities. Muscovy Ducks are loved and hated by the public. While always eager for a hand-out, they often become persistent. They can transmit parasites and diseases, including duck plague, fowl cholera, paratyphoid, avian tuberculosis, and chlamydiosis, to native ducks and, in large numbers, foul small ponds. [http://www.nsis.org/gallery/brd-muscovy.html]

According to Bob Pedrin of Ridgefield, Washington, “Muscovy are the only domestic ducks that do not come from Mallard stock. They are a South American species, originating from Brazil. The original (wild type) coloration is black and white, but domestication has produced many more colors. These colors include; blue, blue and white, chocolate, chocolate and white, white, black, black and white, lavender, and calical. Day old duckling colors range from a solid pale yellow to yellow and black, the feet are yellow and black. Muscovy hiss rather than quack. The males can grow to be quite large, weighing 10-15 lbs. Most of the females are 5-7 pounds but can reach up to 9 and sometimes 10 lbs. Their feet have strong sharp claws and are built to grasp, so that they can perch on branches. Muscovy are unique because of their bright red crest around their eyes and above the beak. Although, often considered ugly because of these large red warty caruncles. They are, however, very personable, interesting birds. They are quite intelligent and entertaining.Unlike most domestic waterfowl, Muscovy will often fly up and roost. They are very good flyers, especially the smaller females, but are known more for flying around than flying away. We have a hen that tours the neighborhood. Never landing anywhere but home. They do not swim much because their oil glands are under developed compared to most ducks. Muscovy hens can set three times a year, and the egg clutches can vary from 8 to 21 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 35 days.

Muscovy when crossed with other breeds, produce sterile offspring. For instance, if you cross a Muscovy male with a Pekin female (the large white domestic duck like Donald the Duck type pictured) you will hatch mules; if you cross a Pekin male with a Muscovy female the progeny are called hinnies. Whereas a Pekin takes 28 days to hatch and a Muscovy takes 35 days, a mule or hinny takes 32 days to hatch. Approximately 60% of mule ducks are males. Some of their characteristics are like the Muscovy as they are large, quiet, slow moving and have long claws but are also like Pekin as they swim well, the males and females are much the same size and they do not fly. Hinnies are not grown commercially. Male hinnies are much larger than female hinnies, like the Muscovy, yet the females look Pekin but fly quite well. Mules and hinnies cannot reproduce. Both males are sterile and only the hinny females lay eggs (though they cannot hatch). If you have Muscovy and Pekin together, the chances are poor that they will cross but if they do, a hinny will probably be the result as Pekin males can catch Muscovy females easier than Muscovy males can catch Pekin females. By the age of about three months, the males are nearly twice as large as the females. I don't know if this is always the case. But, I've found that in younger Muscovies, the feet of the males are often larger. It is quiet, a good forager and is naturally broody. Muscovy are good mothers and hatch and brood their ducklings efficiently.”

Many people consider the Muscovy to be the best duck for …… yup, eating. Originating in the warm climates of South America, the Muscovy duck is a breed apart from the rest. It needs no fat for protection against cold weather and therefore is by far the leanest domesticated duck breed. Long the favorite of Europeans, Muscovy is now becoming the duck of choice here in the United States. Muscovy duck has a unique taste: it is lean, meaty, tender and flavorful. A 4 lb. Muscovy has the highest yield of any duck available and 50 percent more breast meat than other ducks. Muscovy breast meat is 99 percent lean and the skin of our duck has 50% less fat than the Moulard or Pekin varieties! Did you know that Muscovy ducks have less fat and less calories per pound than turkey?

Tastes like chicken you say? I dunno myself.

The Muscovy duck (Carina moschata) is one of the most loved exotic pest in South Florida. People like them as pets, thus both children and adult feed them a lot. This friendly environment has contributed to the excessive increase in duck population. When there are too many ducks, the nutrient level in the lakes increases dramatically. This can cause excessive algae growth, as well as cattail growth, which in turn hampers the growth of other important native organisms such as duck-potatoes, alligator-flags, and many others. Furthermore, the Muscovy also competes with other birds, such as Coots and Moorhens, which are much more environmental friendly species (i.e. their excrement contains less nutrients and therefore causes less disturbance in the ecosystem).

Florida International University who continues to work to restore the Everglades area says, “If you are environmental friendly, then DO NOT FEED THE [Muscovy] DUCKS!!The wild Muscovy Duck is native to Central and South America (Hilty and Brown 1986). The feral form found in Florida is a heavier-bodied, domesticated duck. They have lived and flourished in Florida for many years, in close association with humans. The Atlas map shows them to be widespread and abundant in cities and towns, but none have been found living and breeding in a truly free, nonhuman-dependent state. Check out any updated information available at FWC's exotic species web site. In many places, these large, ungainly birds are considered pests due to aggressive panhandling and because they defecate in swimming pools and on patios and docks. They feed on aquatic plants, grasses, seeds, insects (Johnsgard 1978), and on human handouts, such as bread.Per Charles L. Geanangel, “The Muscovy Duck breeds in urban and suburban lakes and on farms throughout the state. Click for more info. Apparently, no pair bond is established, at least among domesticated Muscovy Ducks. Matings are promiscuous and a form of rape, where the male overpowers the female. They nest in tree cavities or on the ground. In suburban and urban areas, they nest under shrubs in yards or on condominium balconies. Clutch size is usually 8 to 15 eggs. The incubation period is about 30 to 35 days (Johnsgard 1975a, 1978).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shares the flowing information: Muscovy ducks are a non-native duck that may be a nuisance by reducing water quality, or digging nesting burrows in shrubbery. The Commission does not come and remove these. The best approach to them is to stop feeding them. Flock size may partially controlled by removing some eggs from the nest, shaking them vigorously, and then returning them to the nest. Relocating and releasing non-native species like the muscovy is illegal. From the Wildlife Resources Handbook a fact sheet, is available, as well as a urban duck guide. Laws Protect Domestic and Non-domestic AnimalsLaws have been enacted to safeguard our native wildlife heritage from problems caused by domestic animals. Florida Statute 372.265 prohibits the release of animals into the wild that are not native to Florida. The purpose of this statute is to protect Florida's native wildlife from disease, destruction, and competition by the release of non-native animals.Strictly interpreted, this statute requires all domestic animals to be kept in some type of confinement where they cannot wander from the owner's immediate property into wild habitats or public waters. Local laws may prohibit keeping barnyard animals and may require removal if improperly confined or if causing damage or nuisance complaints. Handling domestic duck problems also must follow certain laws. Non-native, non-migratory ducks such as Muscovies are not protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, all animals--including pets and barnyard animals must be treated in a humane manner (FS 828.12).

Methods of Control

1. Ceasing all feeding programs.
2. Repelling birds from the problem area by barking dogs, frequent loud noises, chasing and other harassment methods.
3. Locate nests, vigorously shake eggs to render them unhatchable then return the shaken eggs to the nest so that the hen will continue to attempt to incubate them instead of re-nesting.
4. Removing viable eggs from nests and replacing with plastic eggs used by the poultry industry to induce laying by young hens. The Muscovy hen may continue to sit on the plastic eggs and consequently will not produce any young.
5. Removing all except one or two viable eggs. This will keep the hen occupied with incubating, and hatching these instead of re-nesting and laying another full complement of eggs.
6. Humane lethal techniques should be used only as a last resort. Intravenous injection with pentobarbital sodium is a fast-acting, highly effective, and humane lethal technique recommended for small animals by the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. This drug may be administered by a veterinarian. Local laws may prohibit specific methods or the killing of any birds.

Relocating and releasing non-native species into the wild is a violation of FS 372.265 and Florida Administrative Code 39-4.005. These control techniques are legal ONLY for Muscovy ducks and MAY NOT be used for mallards or other native species.

All said, they are not really the best thing to have around the lake as they tend to prevent other natural species from having a better chance at thriving. A couple are no big deal, too many and they get sick and it gets ugly.

But, if you DO like ducks, here’s a great site for some duck stories.

Welcome to the pond. We tried to count them but they cluster and are fast little critters. Looks like about 15 of them hatched this past weekend. Two are black and the rest are yellow. We got over there and tried to give the babies some nutritional feed before they get hooked on the bread diet. Generally the feed scares them but this crew did manage to eat a bit of it. They are so tiny! You can see the bread chucks we used to try to lure Mom into bringing the hatchlings to the good food. Well, good as in healthy, I guess to them bread is the good food.

Guess we got to watch Mom pulling guard duty. She's a little more aggressive than the Mom Mallard, but both of them get the job done and watch over the little ones. I think she was screaming something like, "Buzz off Henny!"