Glimmercroft Muscovy Ducks

E-mail Laura Workman, Glimmercroft, Lynnwood, Washington

I am extremely enthusiastic about Muscovy ducks as a perfect addition to a homestead. They are friendly and inquisitive, quiet, provide effective pest control, and are a low input source of excellent meat and eggs. I don't think I'd ever own any other kind of duck. Muscovy ducks are the only domesticated duck that is not a Mallard derivative, so they have some unique characteristics.

They tend to graze more than other ducks, much more like geese, and so are less dependent on purchased feed. They also forage well for bugs, slugs, mosquitoes, and the like.
They do not need a body of water in order to breed, and tend to make much less mess than Mallard derivatives.
The hens lay well, set well, and once their babies hatch, they are devoted mothers.
They very rarely quack. Instead the hens chirr or peep, and the drakes make a hissing sound. On the whole the breed is very quiet.
They require very little shelter. Mine prefer to be outside unless it's absolutely pouring rain.
Their meat has a different flavor from that of other ducks. It is quite tender and mild, rather like a very nice filet mignon. The meat is also very lean. Since Muscovy ducks get a larger part of their nutritional input from grazing, I suspect the meat is higher in Omega 3 fatty acids than that of other ducks.

You can click on the pictures below to see larger versions!

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This page updated May 5, 2006.