Muscovy ducks, sexing and feeding Questions?

[stillman]

My Muscovys are about 7 weeks, I have four birds in total all purchased from one clutch. After reading a lot on sexing I am convinced I have 4 drakes or 3 ducks and a drake. Initially I was thinking size but now I am mainly looking at feathering and size of feet. # birds are feathering up nicely and one is not. So hopefully he is my only drake otherwise I will be doing some butchering.

Just love them I have kept jap quail and chickens in the past but the Muscovy's being so quiet and relatively slow moving are proving a fantastic addition. I have been doing heaps of research on green fodder for ducks. As I will be eating these birds my focus is a full and balanced pesticide free diet. So far they have taken to kale, sweet potato leaves and clover really well. My new project is in green fodder sprouts. Using Australian sweet lupin, wheat, barley and oats to spout, allowing the sprouts to grow for 9 days and feeding roots and all. There's a few websites dedicated to it. No fertiliser required just water and this can be reticulated in a flood and drain system or similar. At 7 to 9 days yield is 1:8 so for every 100g I can produce 800g green fodder. Even if I buy certified organic seed I am saving from commercial feed. I will also be feeding a grain blend to my birds and they will be free ranged to ensure a solid and diverse diet. But I am really excited by the prospect.  

This is the one I think is a drake

i111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/stillmanz/muscovys/DSC_0195_zpsb8072928.jpg

the three I think are ducks but verdict is out. I amonly basing it on the fact that they are very well feathered compared to the other bird.

i111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/stillmanz/muscovys/DSC_0198_zps26330c8b.jpg

Another shot with the 3 I believe are ducks facing one way and the suspected drake facing the opposite direction.

i111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/stillmanz/muscovys/DSC_0199_zps9ed685b9.jpg

Anyone with a good eye for sexing these birds please give me you opinion.

[blackox]

These birds are still kind of young to get a good idea of who's male/female. But if you ask me I'd say that you have two males and two females, out of what you do show. You should know for sure in another month or so, after that they should be easily distinguishable. The size of the males will be a dead giveaway.
A big thing that I look at when sexing them at this age is body shape and how they hold their tails (both sexes hold their tails at different angles). The whole body shape thing is kind of hard for me to explain, so I'll probably let you find that out for yourself. It's been a while since we've raised muscovies so my memory of them is a little rusty. (We ate so much muscovy meat that we eventually got sick of it, we also wanted a breed that was a better layer.)

[stillman]

Thanks for the reply, yeah I am hoping for two ducks at least I have a home for one drake at my fathers any more would go to the kitchen. Nice birds, I like them because they are quiet and I am on a suburban block.

[raymondo]

At what age can they be slaughtered for the table?

[stillman]

I think about 10 to 12 weeks. They grow really quickly with a high protein diet and lots of greens.

[synergy]

Longer than 12 weeks we found they get tough.

[macmex]

I raise Muscovies and have butchered them, even at a couple of years of age. If you cook them longer, they will still be tender. I have never prepared a Muscovy that came out tough on the table, which wouldn't have been tender if cooked longer. It doesn't hurt to go an hour longer than what you think is done. My #1 method of cooking, on the first time around, is to roast them in an open pan. After this we use the meat in stir fries, tacos and even soups and stews. The meat makes a fabulous stew!

Also, we truly love their eggs. I like them better than chicken eggs. They are twice the size too! At the end of the year we are often down to just duck eggs, as our chickens moult and start their winter rest before the ducks.

George
Tahlequah, OK