Considerations

As with all additions to the family, Muscovy too have things that must be considered before bringing them into your home. Because of their large size and the strength they posses behind their strong legs and claws handling them can be a bit more tricky than other ducks and poultry. Also, they are a perching bird. With their claws they are able to climb incredibly well to get to areas they would like to perch. The hens are exceptionally broody and go to great lengths to hide their eggs and by taking their eggs from one spot may mean they will not lay there again making collecting eating eggs a bit like an Easter egg hunt. The females and young ducks can fly, however the adult drakes often do not get far off the ground or can be earth bound due to their weight. Adult drakes often will fight with other drakes and even stand up to much larger predators in order to protect the territory they would like or females they find most suitable. The Muscovy also will leave messy dropping which are great to fertilize grass but messy none the less. Feathers even will be found just about everywhere , certainly more so during the molt. Even though they are great eaters of weeds they are just as great at eating prized flowers and vegetables. Plants that you wish them not to eat would need to be out of reach from the flock. If you are raising a mixed species flock you will want to consider the possibility of the breeds mixing. Muscovy not being from the Mallard family can breed with ducks of the mallard family but the resulting duckling is referred to as a "Mulard duck" or "Mule duck". The "Mulard duck" will be sterile and unable to reproduce further. A Muscovy Drake over a Mallard Hen will produce offspring that grow fast like a Mallard and Large like a Muscovy. This combination is used often for production of Foie Gras. A Mallard drake over Muscovy hens is not an optimal combination for meat nor egg production.

In areas of the United Stated including Florida the Muscovy are considered a nuisance bird. Control of them and eradication of them is underway in many areas. To control the birds deemed nuisance people use sound and chasing to run the ducks off. Many areas ask you do not feed them so they do not find people to be sources of easy and food. Some areas have gone as far as too "Shake eggs". Egg shaking is just that... to shake the eggs and render them un-hatchable. This is only done Before incubation has started. The nest is found and all but two of the eggs are marked as shook while the other two are marked as fertile. Two of the eggs are left alone so the hens mothering instinct is complete. The shaken eggs will not hatch and can be removed after the hen leaves with the two hatched ducklings. The eggs are not immediately taken out of the nest because if the hen feels she is not in a secure area she will leave behind even one or two viable eggs in search of a good nest she feels she will not be disturbed in and have an entire clutch. One of the reasons they are seen as a nuisance is the native species. It is believed that native species are negatively affected by Muscovy eating the native foods, taking nesting grounds, and breeding with native species.