Today is Saturday, so this morning after I did my feeding and watering chores all around, I sat down at 7 or so with the Muscovy to drink my coffee and eat a snack when these very sedate ducks suddenly became very active. They were running from one end of their enclosure to the other like kids on a playground and playfully nudging each other with their beaks. Normally they just laze around the yard and preen or wash up in the water. This flurry of playful activity in such bucolic birds was pretty funny to watch.
They spent a lot of time around the pool all morning but didn't get in. Then I noticed that right around lunch time, when it was really hot, they were sort of taking turns submerging themselves and getting thoroughly soaked in the pool. It's big enough for a couple of them but they seem to prefer to bathe alone. I was glad to see them using the pool to cool off instead of just drink out of it. I also noticed that their feathers don't really seem waterproof like other ducks... they got really wet instead of beading up. Interesting.
The Campbell's almost never stop moving! During the hottest part of the day they did lay down in the tall grass though. But for the most part they're on the move constantly! They dabble in their bowl, run over to the corner of their enclosure to eat some bugs, run over to this corner to put their beaks in the mud, then play follow the leader around the perimeter to start all over again. All the while they're gossiping quietly to one another.
I did notice that the Muscovy seemed to be pairing off already. Some of the females have chosen a male to spend time with. The little gals nibble under the boys feathers and playfully nuzzle at their necks. The boys hardly seem to notice though (sound familiar? LOL!). But I see that the same girls are feeding next to and sleeping next to these males so I can only assume that they're sweethearts. The girls are also companionable with one another but do have their little hierarchy. They're very diplomatic about the whole thing but it's easy to see when they find it necessary to assert themselves.
I have one Muscovy male who's developed "angel wing" which doesn't cause him any discomfort but because it sticks out oddly some of the others pull at it until it starts to bleed. I don't think they're doing it to be disagreeable, they honestly don't seem to be able to help it. I've separated him during the day by putting him in with the run with the Campbells - he's not terribly pleased to be hanging out with those busy little birds but they don't bully him and vice versa so it's working out OK. When the Campbells rest they like to snuggle up with him in the grass but at night he refuses to sleep with them in their bed so I've decided to let him sleep with his pals rather than have him injure himself trying to escape. In the next couple of weeks he'll get all his flight feathers in and it won't be such an issue anymore.
They spent a lot of time around the pool all morning but didn't get in. Then I noticed that right around lunch time, when it was really hot, they were sort of taking turns submerging themselves and getting thoroughly soaked in the pool. It's big enough for a couple of them but they seem to prefer to bathe alone. I was glad to see them using the pool to cool off instead of just drink out of it. I also noticed that their feathers don't really seem waterproof like other ducks... they got really wet instead of beading up. Interesting.
The Campbell's almost never stop moving! During the hottest part of the day they did lay down in the tall grass though. But for the most part they're on the move constantly! They dabble in their bowl, run over to the corner of their enclosure to eat some bugs, run over to this corner to put their beaks in the mud, then play follow the leader around the perimeter to start all over again. All the while they're gossiping quietly to one another.
I did notice that the Muscovy seemed to be pairing off already. Some of the females have chosen a male to spend time with. The little gals nibble under the boys feathers and playfully nuzzle at their necks. The boys hardly seem to notice though (sound familiar? LOL!). But I see that the same girls are feeding next to and sleeping next to these males so I can only assume that they're sweethearts. The girls are also companionable with one another but do have their little hierarchy. They're very diplomatic about the whole thing but it's easy to see when they find it necessary to assert themselves.
I have one Muscovy male who's developed "angel wing" which doesn't cause him any discomfort but because it sticks out oddly some of the others pull at it until it starts to bleed. I don't think they're doing it to be disagreeable, they honestly don't seem to be able to help it. I've separated him during the day by putting him in with the run with the Campbells - he's not terribly pleased to be hanging out with those busy little birds but they don't bully him and vice versa so it's working out OK. When the Campbells rest they like to snuggle up with him in the grass but at night he refuses to sleep with them in their bed so I've decided to let him sleep with his pals rather than have him injure himself trying to escape. In the next couple of weeks he'll get all his flight feathers in and it won't be such an issue anymore.
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