++ WANTED ADVICE ON MUSCOVYS ++

jarry · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:30 pm

I HAVE A FEW HUNDRED MUSCOVYS AND THEY HAVE STARTED BITING EACH OTHER WINGS AND TAIL, THEY HAVE DRAWN BLOOD AND EVAN MEAT,
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO STOP THEM DOING THIS?

thanks jarryd

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Jarryd, There must be enough room in the pen to hold all the birds plus if you only have one feed and water supply this will cause many problems. If too many birds are kept together they will start to peck (bite) each other. If any bleeding, the problem will become worse, as more birds start to peck. You need to thin them out and if you only have the one feed and water supply try doubling and don't put young birds in a pen with a large number of adults as they will be targets.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

thats alot of birds and as p.a said there will have to be enugh room muscovey jase will be able to add to this thred

danniella · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:52 pm

we have about 80 muscovys running around on 9 acres and if they dont have a constant supply of food they will start to eat each other

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:38 pm

jarryd wrote:

I HAVE A FEW HUNDRED MUSCOVYS AND THEY HAVE STARTED BITING EACH OTHER WINGS AND TAIL, THEY HAVE DRAWN BLOOD AND EVAN MEAT,
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO STOP THEM DOING THIS?

thanks jarryd

hi there jarryd.
how old are your birds mate? mussies can be very nasty to each other, i dont keep my young birds near my older birds until there at least 7 / 8 weeks, even older birds will be nasty to each other , the best way to keep that many birds is to keep them in the biggest area you can, i have 5 girls and 5 drakes , and i find thay are still nasty with each other, keep your younger birds together , and try to keep all your spare drakes together away from the others , also spread out there feeders and drinkers and see how you go ? as that also helps ,
let us know how you go

regards jase

jarry · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:25 pm

they are anywhere from 5-12 weeks old

ma27 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:24 pm **Posts:** 69

They sound like mine and it will be only a few that do it they bite the new feathers as they are coming through.I have found it is more the males what to do maybe give them some added vitamins minerals as If they are like mine they will be eating the pulled out feathers as well.They do grow out of it sometimes or if you can isolate the main offenders would be good but try the vitamins/minerals.

jo-chicken · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:21 pm

Yeah I think it may well be a case of too many ducks together. They should settle if they are given some more room...

jarry · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:48 pm

they are all free range though,
they have alot of land to rome and BIG dams to play in,
jarryd

ma27 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:24 pm **Posts:** 69

What do you feed them? as I still think it is nutritional.

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