Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have 3 adult rouens they are about 8 months old. 2 males and 1 female. about 2 months ago we aquired 3 muscovys that were then about a day old. we have kept them seperated them from the adult . now that they have there adult feathers and are of a good size we have been introducing them to the adults daily for short periods of time. the problem is the adult males are very aggressive with them. at what point is it safe to leave them alone together. or how do we deter this behavior?

Hey,

It sounds as though your rouens have formed a strong bond within their own group and don't want to make anymore friends, they may come around within time.. it's going to have to be a waiting game.

I just want to pre-warn you that if you have got more than one male Muscovy then i really would strongly recommend that you seperate them from each other, and be very careful when they are with the rouens. Male muscovys are very territorial and will fight even to the death over space and in particular females if they are kept in a confined space and can not escape from each other. Male Muscovys can be very social and friendly birds towards people and tame easily, but are not so kind to each other. Keep a good watch over them when they become sexually mature for any signs of contiuous fighting.
It's actually best to keep ducks, like many birds, in hareems - one male to several females.
This is their natural behaviour, and i don't think it would be wise to even chance a serious fight.

Hope this helps

Mel X

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. I BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE 1 MALE MUSCOVY. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A HUGE OUTSIDE PEN THAT THE ROENS AND MUSCOVYS SPEND THEIR TIME IN DURING THE DAY BUT I HAVE FENCED IT OFF SO THEY ARE ON SEPERATE SIDES. AT NIGHT THEY LIVE IN THE SAME ENCLOSURE BUT IT IS SEPERATED BY CHICKEN WIRE THIS WAY THEY CANNOT GET TO EACH OTHER BUT GET USED TO BEING AROUND EACH OTHER. DAILY I LET THEM INTERACT WHEN I AM THERE TO SURPERVISE. YESTERDAY THEY WERE ALL FINE SO I LET THEM ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES . WHEN I WENT BACK ONE OF THE ROUENS WAS ATTACKING ALL 3 MUSCOVYS. FOR THE TIME BEING I WILL KEEP THEM SEPERATED IF I AM NOT THERE. WORSE COMES TO WORSE THEY WILL JUST LIVE APART. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

Hi

No problem, im glad i helped in a small way. It's a good thing you've only got the one male Muscy, i've got 4, each with 2 females.. so i've got duck enclosures all around my garden, and although i love having them all it takes up alot of my time looking after them all and maintaining their enclosures
The Rouens are probably trying their hardest, and for the moment are succeeding at being the dominant ducks, but that might change when the Muscys become sexually mature.
I hope they settle down soon, otherwise like you said they may have to be permanently seperated.

Mel X

thatnks again for the advice. do you think the rouens may not be as agressive if i were to only have female muscovys. i do have a friend who owns a duck farm that im sure would take him. although i would hate to see him go. im just concerned about the safety of all the ducks. another question. my rabbit lives with the ducks and gets along great with the rouens - so far with the muscovys as well. do you think as the muscovys get older they will be a threat to the rabbit?

Hey

If i was you i wouldn't rehome the male Muscy just yet, but just keep in the back of your mind that it may have to be an option later on. It's hard to say if the Rouens would get on well with just the female Muscys, but there wouldn't be the need for as much competition as with males. The only problems you might have is over nesting places, as female Muscys go VERY broody and will defend their nests, so make sure that if you do put all your ducks together, to allow plenty of areas for resting and any nesting ducks to reduce any arguments.

When i allow my Muscys and Indian Runners together while i'm cleaning out their enclosures they get along generally ok. Theres an occassional arguement but normally the Muscys win and they all get along again. But they are only together for half an hour at the most, so they are never left alone together.

With your ducks i would just continue doing what your doing, keep a good eye on them, if the situation gets worse then keep them apart, and if it gets better then try leaving them together for longer periods, but always be at hand incase anything goes wrong.

Regarding your rabbit, i wouldn't like to say whether it'd be ok or not. Male Muscovys have been known to kill ducklings so it may be abit risky keeping them together.

Hope this has given you some help,
Mel X

thank you very much. you have been a great help.