Natural Pest Control and Healthy Eggs
Sara raised many varieties of poultry as a child and has always enjoyed having ducks. They are entertaining, hardy, and always seem to have a joyful outlook on the world - celebrating the loudest in the seemingly worst of the rainy and cold weather. In the fall of 2019, Madison showed a strong interest in raising waterfowl, and she started her flock with both Cayuga and Muscovy ducks.
The addition of ducks to our farm helps with insect control and naturally reduces the number of bugs on our farm. In addition to the larvae of flying insect, ducks love slugs and snails, which happen to be a host for a parasite called meningeal worm, or p. tenuis. This parasite can cause severe neurological damage to small ruminants, which is of particular concern for our goats and llamas.
Madison with her waterfowl
Muscovy Ducks
Distinctive Appearance
Muscovy ducks are the only domestic duck not descended from mallards, and are actually closer related to geese. They were domesticated centuries ago by different indigenous peoples in Central and South America. They are quite adaptable and thrive in cooler climates as well. Muscovy ducks feature a mask of red skin around the base of their bill and around their eyes, which gives them a very unique appearance. They also hiss and bob their heads to communicate with each other, instead of quacking like regular ducks.
Excellent Mothers
Muscovy hens are attentive and protective mothers, hatching multiple large broods of ducklings every year, if allowed to do so. Muscovies are heavy, fast growing meat ducks who are excellent foragers and can fly very well, often choosing to roost on rooftops and in trees, if given the opportunity.
Superior Meat Ducks
Muscovy drakes get very large and can reach up to 18 pounds, while hens are a bit smaller at 9-11 pounds. The taste of Muscovy meat has been compared to roast beef, while being leaner than the meat from a typical mallard-descended duck. They are sometimes referred to as "Barbary Ducks" in a culinary context.
If you are interested in adding some of these unique birds to your farm or homestead, or are looking for drakes for your table, we generally have a number of ducklings as well as adult birds available during the summer and fall.
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