![]() ![]() The use of feathers for sex identification purposes is relatively reliable. The female caruncle tends to remain condensed around the eye region of the face. The caruncle of a male is considerably larger, stretching from the eyes and bill tip to the neck and even to the back of the head in some cases. It almost looks like a red mask on their faces.Īfter their size, the caruncle is one of the easiest ways to differentiate between a male and female Muscovy.Īt approximately 15 – 17 weeks of age, a male will start to develop a red, bumpy mass around the eyes.Ī female, however, will not start developing her caruncle until roughly 20 weeks of age.Įven with the development of a caruncle in both males and females, it is possible to distinguish between the sexes. CaruncleĬaruncle or the red tissue on muscovies’ faces is a feature unique to this breed of ducks. On average, an adult male Muscovy can weigh up to 10-15 lbs (4.5 6.8 kg) and reach lengths of, on average, 31 inches or 79 cm.įemales, on the other hand, weigh between 5-7 pounds (2.3 – 3.1 kg) and measure about 23.6 inches, or 60 cm. While examining a range of body parameters, it was observed that male Muscovy ducks had a significantly higher body weight, body length, breast and thigh circumference, bill, neck and wing length, and total leg length. ![]() However, this is assuming the male is a fully matured adult.Īlthough not conclusive, there are some specific signs you can look out for that will allow you to gauge an idea of what sex your Muscovy duck may be.Ī Spanish study in 2011 used discriminant analysis of sexual dimorphism to find significant differences in the size of male and female Muscovies. ![]() How To Sex Muscovy DucksĪs we’ve just explored, males have distinct morphological traits that distinguish them from females. Muscovies reach sexual maturity by the 29th week (males) and the 28th week (females). They start to wander on their own from there out. When the offspring hatch, they stay close to their mothers for about twelve weeks for safety and warmth.Īt 12 weeks, the chicks are young adults, though not yet sexually mature. It takes about 35-37 days for egg incubation in muscovies. If you are raising a domestic duck, you can also provide her with a nest box to lay her eggs. To lay her eggs, the mother duck will create a bird nest for herself in natural cavities in trees. Depending on the weather, the mother duck can have as many as three to four broods, totaling between 60-120 eggs. Speaking of breeding, mating season for muscovy ducks starts in August and covers almost the entire year up to May.Īfter mating, the females lay eggs. The females are a lot quieter than the chatterbug males, but they can also be the more aggressive of the lot, especially during the breeding season. They typically grow to be about 6.6 pounds and about 25 inches in length. Female Muscovy DucksĪs mentioned above, females are a lot, dare I say, prettier than males! Their caruncles are less pronounced and usually not as rough. The caruncle, or the red warty-like facial skin, is also more pronounced in males. In fact, males are almost double the size of females. Males are considerably larger than female Muscovies, also referred to as hens. Male Muscovy ducks, also known as drakes, are relatively easy to identify based on their physical characteristics. This means males and females look considerably different. ![]()
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