New Ducklings, Old Towns, and Lessons in Quacking

So the big day arrived.

In the midst of dealing with a very aggressive bear (read: feathered-massacre-level aggressive), we made the drive—30 miles one way—to pick up our new Muscovy ducklings. For context: said bear wrecked nearly our entire chicken flock, destroyed our fencing, and turned our coop into modern art. It’s been a week.

But back to the ducklings.

I’m incredibly lucky to have connected with a fellow homesteader who shares my obsession—ahem, I mean, passion—for these quirky birds. This is my second duck purchase from him. (And if you happen to be in Southwest Virginia and want well-bred Muscovies that haven’t been overly domesticated into little feathered golden retrievers, drop me a note. I’ll hook you up.)

We had perfect weather for the drive, which took us straight through the town my parents moved to when I was nine, when we first came to Virginia from Iowa. I hadn’t visited in years. So I took my husband on a little memory tour. We even stopped by the same restaurant my family used to eat at—and the same family still owns it. Wild. A blink of an eye, and 40 years just... go.

But this post is about ducks. 

Duck Deals and Parking Lots

We met up with our guy and made our illicit duck deal in an Exxon parking lot. I should probably be more concerned about how often this kind of thing happens to me.

We had a great chat while I bombarded him with my many “new duck mom” questions. We talked Muscovies, meat rabbits, and all the tasty ways to cook both (recipes incoming, don’t worry).

The ducklings—eight of them—were a blur of yellow and chocolate brown, with tiny blue and brown eyes peering up at us. They were shockingly quiet for the ride home, nestled into straw in a big storage tote. (Pro tip: lid off. Do not smother your ducks. Please.)

Settling In

Once home, we got them set up quickly. A few were loudly offended by the move, but by bedtime everyone had found the food, the water, and—because ducks will be ducks—were sitting in said water.

Ducklings Are Not Chicks (No Matter How Chick-Shaped)

Let’s get into some basic duckling care, because trust me, they are not just waterproof chickens.

  • Warmth: Ducklings are hardier than chicks, but still need heat. Use a brooder plate if you can—lower fire risk, lower chance of accidentally roasting your future flock.
    Bonus: They will absolutely sit on top of the plate like tiny royalty. It’s a thing.

  • Feed: Use a duck-specific commercial starter like this one from Manna Pro if available. If not, supplement chick starter with brewer’s yeast or crushed niacin (vitamin B3) tablets. Ducklings that seem weak or slow often perk right up with niacin.

    I also feed niacin-rich foods through winter to my adults, especially since deficiency can show up as pale or even orange caruncles.

  • Swimming: Yes, they’re ducks. But don’t assume they can swim well from day one—especially if raised without their mama. Give them a shallow pan they can easily exit. Supervised splash time only.


Muscovy-Specific Notes

This past year has been a steep learning curve with Muscovies, but I adore them. They’re quirky, calm, and absolutely worth the effort. I'm hopeful this new batch gets us back on track—feathered feet and all.




In Closing:

Keep calm

And

Quack on

🦆

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