Can Domestic Muscovy Ducks Fly?

Domestic Muscovy ducks can quickly fly away from your yard. These ducks are excellent flyers like their wild counterparts. They instinctively fly, especially when they suspect potential threats. While Muscovy ducks can’t sustain their flying ability for long, these ducks can still fly far away from their captive habitats.

How Far Can Muscovy Ducks Fly?

Most Muscovy ducks can fly at a speed of between 40 and 60 mph. Female Muscovy ducks are excellent flyers, flying at an average speed of over 50 mph. Juveniles are capable of flying at a speed of around 80 mph since they are lightweight and quite energetic. Muscovy ducks are pretty much more like wild ducks, and hence they can fly for longer distances.

Will Muscovy Ducks Fly Away?

It is pretty unusual for domestic Muscovy duck species to fly away from their captive homes. Nonetheless, Muscovy ducks can still fly away and escape from their habitats. For instance, your Muscovy ducks can fly away if they don’t get a sufficient amount of food. They can also fly away during summer as they try to find a place to swim and cool down their bodies due to high temperatures.

Furthermore, Muscovy ducks can fly away as a mechanism to avoid predators. They will fly away from your yard if predators prey on these ducks.

The other reason that can make your Muscovy ducks fly away is seasonal changes. Muscovy ducks have a lot of excitement when they see other ducks flying during the migration process, especially in winter.

Some Muscovy ducks can fly away if other ducks in the flocks are a threat to their safety. These timid ducks, particularly juveniles, can fly away from older members of your duck flock in an attempt to avoid getting into altercations with the more senior members.

At What Age Can Muscovy Ducks Fly?

Muscovy ducks are fairly excellent flyers. These ducks can fly well between 8 and 12 weeks old. Older ducks also have a perfect flying capability. These ducks can still fly a substantial distance despite their age and weight. Even three-year-old Muscovy ducks can still maintain a decent flight.

Can Muscovy Ducks Fly with Clipped Wings?

Wing-clipping is a vital routine for duck keepers. While most duck breeds lose their ability to fly after clipping their wings, Muscovy ducks are an exception. Clipping the wings of these ducks will slow down their flying speed. However, the ducks will still regain their flying momentum once their wings grow back after clipping.

Regular wing-clipping will stop your Muscovy ducks from flying away. Follow these tips on how to properly clip your Muscovy ducks’ wings to prevent your birds from flying away.

– Move your Muscovy ducks in a quiet and calm area

Consider the environment where you are clipping your Muscovy ducks. The best way to trim these ducks is by taking them to a quiet and calm environment free of distractions.

Such an environment will keep the ducks relaxed. Moreover, a quiet and peaceful environment will reduce anxiety in your ducks as you prepare to clip their wings.

– Position the duck properly

The way you position your ducks while clipping their wings is quite crucial. Ideally, it would help to place your Muscovy ducks on their back as you clip their wings. You can wrap your Muscovy duck in a towel while clipping its wings.

Cover your ducks’ neck and head with a towel or a garment and then remove one of its wings from underneath the garment or towel. Hold the wing gently at the wrist bone. Extend the wing fully to get a suitable place to clip the wing.

– Mind the blood feathers

Before clipping your Muscovy ducks’ wings, check for the blood feathers to avoid cutting the wings at the wrong place, causing excessive bleeding. Blood feathers have a pink color. They also have blood vessels which you can easily see after pulling your birds’ wings.

– Clip off the ducks’ primary feathers

With a sharp pair of tin cutters or scissors, clip off your Muscovy ducks’ primary flight feathers. Start the clipping process from the outside area of the ducks’ wings before clipping the inward part of the wings. Clip each feather of your ducks’ wings at a time.

– Release the ducks to their habitat

After clipping both wings of your Muscovy ducks, release the birds back to their habitat. The ducks will be calm since you didn’t cause injuries to their wings. Better still, the ducks won’t fly away from your yard since they won’t have the ability to make them fly out of your yard.

How to Keep Your Muscovy Ducks From Flying Away?

While Muscovy ducks are awesome flyers compared to other duck species, you can still keep your ducks from flying away. Check these handy tips on how you can stop your Muscovy ducks from flying away.

– Provide a safe environment for your ducks

Muscovy ducks are pretty timid, and they fly away if their habitat isn’t safe. Make your Muscovy ducks feel secure in your yard to prevent the probability of the birds flying away.

For instance, ensure your yard is free from predators that can scare away your birds, prompting them to flee away as they seek a safer place to live.

– Clip their wings

Clipping wings can discourage your Muscovy ducks from flying away. Wing-clipping denies your ducks the flying ability, which stops them from flying away from your yard. Clip your ducks’ wings at least after every six months to keep them from flying away.

– Provide water to your Muscovy ducks

Muscovy ducks can fly away in search of water. Provide your birds with clean water for drinking and bathing to discourage them from flying away from your yard as they search for water.

– Provide your bird with ample food

Muscovy ducks will fly away to search for food. Provide ample food in your backyard to prevent your Muscovy ducks from flying away as they search for food.

Conclusion

Domestic Muscovy ducks can fly like other wild duck species. Luckily, Muscovy duck owners can provide their birds with essential things to discourage them from flying away. Wing-clipping and providing your ducks with water and sufficient food will ultimately stop your ducks from flying away.