Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) are a popular breed of domestic duck known for their unique looks, calm temperament, and excellent brooding abilities. As Muscovy ducks have become more common on small farms and homesteads, many duck owners wonder if Muscovys make good broody hens and mothers. In this article, we’ll look at the brooding and mothering instincts of Muscovy ducks and whether they are suitable for naturally hatching and raising ducklings.
Muscovy Duck Brooding Behavior
Muscovy ducks have a strong natural brooding instinct and will readily go broody and sit on a clutch of eggs in order to hatch them. Going “broody” refers to when a duck displays nesting behaviors like gathering nesting material, laying eggs in a chosen nest site, and then continuously sitting on and incubating the eggs.
Muscovy hens have a very strong drive to go broody and will often try to hatch any eggs they can find, even if the eggs are not fertile. Their broodiness and dedication to incubating eggs makes them well-suited for being used as natural incubators and mothers.
Some key points about Muscovy brooding behavior include:
- Muscovy hens will lay between 8-16 eggs in a clutch before going broody.
- They will firmly sit on their nest and eggs, rarely leaving the nest to eat, drink or defecate during the 35 day incubation period.
- Muscovy hens pluck feathers from their breast to line the nest, providing insulation for the eggs.
- They aggressively defend the nest from predators and other ducks, hissing, pecking, or attacking threats.
- Muscovy hens can even hatch and care for the eggs of other waterfowl like geese or chickens.
The persistence Muscovy ducks show when incubating eggs helps ensure good hatch rates. Even if some eggs are infertile or fail to develop, their commitment to brooding results in high rates of success.
Muscovy Duck Mothering Ability
In addition to being excellent brooders, Muscovy ducks show strong mothering instincts and will care dutifully for ducklings. Muscovy mothers are very protective and provide young ducklings with warmth, food, and protection.
Some key traits about Muscovy ducks as mothers include:
- They frequently communicate with ducklings through soft chirping and murmuring sounds.
- Muscovy mothers are highly vigilant and on guard against predators or threats to the ducklings.
- They will aggressively chase away other animals, ducks, or humans that get too close to the ducklings.
- Muscovy hens will lead ducklings to food and water sources, teaching them to forage and drink.
- Muscovy mothers diligently brood ducklings at night or in cold weather to provide warmth.
- They will fiercely defend and protect ducklings from harm.
Muscovy hens remain strongly bonded with their ducklings for several months, continuing to watch over, teach, and protect them as they grow. Their strong natural instincts make them attentive, nurturing mothers.
Advantages of Muscovies for Brooding
There are several advantages to using Muscovy ducks as broody hens to hatch and raise ducklings:
- Their 35 day incubation period is shorter than other duck breeds like Pekins or Mallards that take 28-30 days to hatch eggs.
- Muscovy hens will go broody more readily and frequently than most other duck breeds.
- They are committed brooders and perseverant mothers, seldom abandoning a nest.
- Muscovy ducks have good hatch rates and produce healthy, hardy ducklings.
- Muscovy mothers are protective and nurturing, having strong mothering instincts.
- They will adopt and raise ducklings that aren’t their own.
- Minimal human intervention is required when letting a hen go broody and raise young.
Using natural brooding requires less artificial incubation, allowing the mother duck to do the work. This can be easier for small-scale waterfowl keepers. The strong mothering drive of Muscovy ducks makes this a very feasible approach.
Disadvantages of Muscovy Brooding
While Muscovy ducks have many positive attributes for natural hatching and raising of ducklings, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
- It takes longer for ducklings to hatch under a broody hen than in mechanical incubators.
- Broody hens may abandon the nest if disturbed too frequently.
- Some eggs may fail to hatch in natural brooding conditions.
- Broody hens stop laying eggs while incubating, reducing total egg production.
- Muscovy hens may fight over nest sites or compete for eggs to brood.
- Broody ducks require dedicated nesting space and materials provided.
- Mother hens with ducklings need adequate space for rearing young.
These factors require planning and preparation to ensure good results. Even with the challenges though, many waterfowl keepers feel the benefits of natural brooding outweigh the disadvantages.
Ideal Brooding Conditions for Muscovies
To successfully use Muscovy ducks for natural hatching and rearing of ducklings, certain conditions are recommended:
- Provide nest boxes or protected nesting areas with bedding materials like wood shavings, straw, or hay.
- Allow hens to go broody when they desire, providing fertile eggs for incubation.
- Avoid disturbing the broody hen, allowing her to remain on the nest.
- Supply food and water within reach of the nest so the hen does not have to leave for long periods.
- Monitor and candling eggs after 1-2 weeks, removing any unfertilized or non-developing eggs.
- Provide brooders or heat lamps to help ducklings stay warm after hatching.
- Give mother ducks and ducklings safe enclosure space with shelter and room to forage.
- Be prepared to intervene and take over care if any issues arise with the broody hen.
Creating the proper environment helps broody Muscovy hens successfully hatch and raise ducklings. Some oversight is still needed, but most of the work can be left to the mother ducks.
Hatch Rates with Muscovy Brooders
When conditions are ideal, Muscovy hens have excellent hatch rates from their brooded eggs. On average, hatch rates typically range from:
- 80-90% forMuscovy eggs incubated by Muscovy hens.
- 70-80% for chicken eggs incubated by Muscovy hens.
- 60-70% for goose eggs incubated by Muscovy hens.
These hatch rates are quite good for natural incubation and on par or better than artificial incubators in some cases. The tight bonding of the broody hen ensures consistent conditions for developing eggs.
The table below compares typical hatch rates by species when brooded by Muscovy hens:
Species | Hatch Rates |
---|---|
Muscovy Duck Eggs | 80-90% |
Chicken Eggs | 70-80% |
Goose Eggs | 60-70% |
As long as the broody hen has a suitable nest and is not excessively disrupted, hatch rates for duck and chicken eggs under Muscovies should be excellent. Goose eggs may have slightly lower success due to their larger size.
Tips for Using Muscovies as Brooders
Here are some helpful tips for successfully using Muscovy ducks to brood and raise ducklings:
- Allow multiple hens to go broody if possible, providing each a separate nest area.
- Candle eggs after 1-2 weeks and remove any infertiles so the hen doesn’t sit on bad eggs too long.
- Provide nourishing food and calcium-rich grit to brooding hens so shells develop strong.
- Monitor brooding hens daily but avoid disturbing the nest excessively.
- Prepare brooder areas for ducklings in advance so they can transfer safely after hatching.
- Supplement feed for ducklings and allow enough space for the mother hen and ducklings together.
- Watch to ensure the mother duck doesn’t abandon ducklings as they get older.
- Be prepared to separate ducklings if the hen becomes too aggressive or stops caring for them properly.
Following these tips will give Muscovy hens the best chance at successfully brooding and rearing healthy ducklings.
Conclusion
Muscovy ducks are one of the best duck breeds for natural incubation and brooding of eggs. Their strong motherly instincts also make them very nurturing and protective for rearing ducklings. While using broody hens requires more preparation and oversight than artificial incubation, it can be rewarding for small-scale waterfowl keepers. The excellent hatch rates and robust ducklings produced under Muscovy hens makes them a great choice for those interested in natural hatching. As long as good conditions are provided for nesting, hatching, and rearing, Muscovy ducks are absolutely amongst the best choices for brooding. Their natural talents and behaviors evolved for incubating and raising ducklings make them perfectly suited for the job.